/ ".Opinion Express." en-us https://opinionexpress.in/india-reign-supreme-in-t20-world-cup-2026 India have won the T20 World Cup 2026, delivering a dominant performance in the final against New Zealand national cricket team. The match turned into a one-sided contest after Sanju Samson produced a sensational knock at the top of the order, giving India national cricket team a massive total. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-reels-under-israeli-bombing-campaign-as-war-intensifies https://opinionexpress.in/khamenei-killed-in-joint-us-israel-strike Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, has reportedly been killed in a sweeping joint operation by the United States and Israel, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in Middle Eastern geopolitics in decades. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB confirmed his death, describing it as “martyrdom” and stating that the 86-year-old cleric was killed in his office during coordinated aerial strikes on Tehran. https://opinionexpress.in/us-israel-attacks-iran Explosions struck Tehran early Saturday after Israel launched what it called a preemptive operation, sharply escalating tensions across the Middle East. The Associated Press reported, citing an official, that the United States also took part in the strikes. https://opinionexpress.in/we-must-fight-terrorism-together-pm-in-israel Addressing the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), PM Modi emphasised India’s solidarity with Israel in the face of terror, saying, “No cause can justify the murder of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism. India has also endured the pain of terrorism for a long time, and we have a consistent and uncompromising policy of zero tolerance with no double standards.” Recalling attacks such as the 26/11 Mumbai strikes, which also claimed Israeli lives, he highlighted the shared challenges both nations have faced and the need for coordinated global action against terrorism. https://opinionexpress.in/kharges-climb-grassroots-credibility-to-national-command In the long and complex history of the Indian National Congress, few leaders embody organisational loyalty and grassroots credibility as profoundly as Mallikarjun Kharge. His election as Congress President in October 2022 marked a historic departure from nearly a quarter century of Gandhi family stewardship, making him the first non-Gandhi party chief in 24 years. At a time when the party was confronting electoral setbacks and internal introspection, his elevation signalled both continuity and institutional renewal. Rather than emerging through charisma-driven mobilisation, Kharge rose through decades of disciplined organisational work, reinforcing the Congress tradition of leadership shaped by structure and ideological commitment rather than spectacle. https://opinionexpress.in/india-ai-global-summit-kicks-off-at-new-delhi India is set to stake its claim in the global artificial intelligence race as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, drawing an unprecedented constellation of global tech leaders and policymakers. The gathering signals New Delhi’s ambition to move from being the world’s back office to becoming a frontline innovator in frontier AI models. https://opinionexpress.in/bnp-storms-back-to-power-inside-bangladeshs-2026-political-earthquake The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is heading towards a sweeping electoral triumph, marking a dramatic political turnaround years after student-led protests forced the exit of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. As of early afternoon trends, the BNP and its allies have secured 208 seats, comfortably outpacing rivals and setting the stage for a decisive mandate. Rahman himself registered emphatic victories in Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6, underlining his renewed political clout and nationwide appeal. https://opinionexpress.in/india-vs-pakistan-clash-in-the-t20-world-cup-2026-is-set-to-go-ahead The high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup 2026 is set to go ahead as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, according to sources familiar with the discussions, bringing temporary calm to what had threatened to become a major diplomatic and sporting flashpoint. https://opinionexpress.in/trade-deals-not-old-scandals-pm-modi-targets-opposition Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday unfolded amid sustained sloganeering by Opposition members, prompting sharp political barbs and an eventual walkout. The Prime Minister entered the Upper House around 5 pm, a day after he was unable to respond in the Lok Sabha due to repeated disruptions and allegations that Opposition MPs had crowded around the Speaker’s chair. From the moment he began speaking, chants accusing the government of dictatorship and demands that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak drowned out his remarks. As the din continued, Mr Modi paused and trained his fire on Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. Referring to the 83-year-old leader, the Prime Minister remarked that he could afford to remain seated and shout slogans because of his age. The jibe did little to calm tempers, with Opposition MPs continuing their protest before staging a walkout. https://opinionexpress.in/the-arithmetic-of-the-indiaus-deal In trade diplomacy, language is never ornamental. It frames intent, signals leverage, and moves markets long before lawyers move clauses. When President Donald Trump announces an India–US “trade deal” via social media, investors hear closure, even if diplomats know it is only a pause. That is the grammar of Trump-era economics: tariffs are declared publicly to shape sentiment; the paperwork trails behind, negotiated quietly. The February 2 India–US announcement fits that script. https://opinionexpress.in/no-big-bang-just-balance-a-realist-union-budget In her ninth consecutive budget, which includes an interim one, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman combined a grand futuristic vision with micro-technical tinkering, partly shied away from big-ticket reforms and immediate radical changes, and did not focus too much on the financial numbers that seemed weak and unstable. https://opinionexpress.in/union-budget-2026-is-poised-to-mark-a-decisive-break-from-a-75-year-old-convention For the first time, Part B of the Budget—traditionally reserved for tax proposals and policy fine print—is likely to take centre stage, laying out a comprehensive vision for India’s economic trajectory, according to sources. https://opinionexpress.in/ajit-pawar-dies-in-tragic-plane-crash Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar has died in a devastating plane crash on the morning of January 28, 2026. The aircraft, a Learjet 45XR (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR Ventures, was en route from Mumbai to Baramati for a series of scheduled public meetings ahead of the local body elections when it came down near Baramati airport while attempting to land. https://opinionexpress.in/padma-awards-2026-announced-actor-dharmendra-gets-padma-vibhushan https://opinionexpress.in/india-beats-nz-in-second-t20-match Suryakumar Yadav has slammed his long-awaited fifty as India are closing in on a win against New Zealand in the second T20I in Raipur tonight. Ishan Kishan fell for 76 off 32 balls. Earlier, the Black Caps scored 208 for six after being invited to bat first. New Zealand relied on a blistering 26-ball 44 from Rachin Ravindra and brisk cameos from the other top-order batters to get off to a flying start. However, the Indian bowlers pulled things back after the onslaught. Mitchell Santner then provided the visitors with a late flourish with a scintillating 47 not out off 27 balls, helping his team go past 200 https://opinionexpress.in/trump-drops-tariff-warning-to-european-allies-over-greenland-dispute President Donald Trump on Wednesday stunned allies by abruptly canceling his proposed tariff measures against European partners, signalling a tactical retreat after he and NATO’s leadership agreed on what was described as a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security. The move came just hours after Trump had doubled down on his controversial assertion that the United States should “get Greenland, including right, title and ownership,” even as he insisted that military force was not his preferred option. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-led-alliance-poised-to-capture-bmc-as-thackerays-slip Polling was held for 2,869 seats across 893 wards, with a turnout of 52.94 percent. The results underscore a major political realignment in Maharashtra’s urban landscape. https://opinionexpress.in/pentagon-moves-uss-abraham-lincoln-strike-group-to-middle-east The United States has begun redeploying a major naval force from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East as tensions rise sharply between Washington and Tehran amid widespread unrest inside Iran. The US Defence Headquarters, the Pentagon, has confirmed that a carrier strike group is being moved from the South China Sea to the area of responsibility of US Central Command (CENTCOM), which covers the Middle East. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-bristles-as-greenland-rules-out-us-reaffirms-ties-with-denmark Greenland has firmly rejected any notion of joining the United States, pushing back against renewed annexation rhetoric from US President Donald Trump and reaffirming its place within the Kingdom of Denmark amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. https://opinionexpress.in/over-2000-people-killed-in-iran-protests-official Iran has acknowledged for the first time that the death toll from its ongoing nationwide protests has reached a staggering figure, with an Iranian official telling Reuters that around 2,000 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed over the past two weeks. The admission marks the most serious official confirmation yet of the scale of violence unleashed during one of the most intense internal crises the Islamic Republic has faced in years. https://opinionexpress.in/young-india-finds-calm-with-gurudev-sri-sri-ravi-shankar A key highlight was the *Inspirational Youth Trailblazers of India Awards*, recognising young individuals whose courage, creativity and service have made meaningful societal impact. Awardees included *Lt. Col. Rishi Rajalakshmi* (Indian Army) for gallantry, *Indian cricketer Sai Sudarshan* for sporting excellence, *Rapido Founder & CEO Rishikesh S.* for entrepreneurship, and *actress Sanchita Shetty* for excellence in Arts & Entertainment.Other honourees represented sustainability, organic farming, cinema, sport, social work and resilience, with special mentions for filmmaker *Rahul Riji Nairji* and endurance cyclist *Ninga Thojam Soni of Manipur*. https://opinionexpress.in/two-democracies-one-enduring-bond When relations bend under pressure, it is often the ambassador who steadies the arc, and the new US envoy to India is poised to help the partnership find its balance once more.; The relationship between the United States of America and India has always been essential, not merely at the level of Governments, but equally, and perhaps more enduringly, at the level of people-to-people engagement. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-claims-iran-wants-to-negotiate-amid-protest US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s leadership, headed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, has reached out to Washington seeking negotiations, even as the Islamic Republic grapples with widespread anti-government protests and mounting international pressure. https://opinionexpress.in/us-targets-venezuela-president-wife-captured US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States would temporarily run Venezuela following American military strikes and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, marking a dramatic shift in US policy and raising fresh questions about sovereignty, nation-building and regional stability. https://opinionexpress.in/as-we-cross-over-to-a-new-year When the last firework fades and the city’s festive glow softens into a gentler light, something else begins, sort of a private ritual of looking inward. As we read this today, the calendar has turned, greetings have been exchanged, and the world appears eager to move forward. Yet for many of us, it is precisely in this pause that reflection finds its place, not as an act of performance or resolution, but as an honest reckoning with what has been lived and what remains to be understood, to be acted upon. Socrates’ reminder that the unexamined life is not worth living may sound severe only until one recognises its profound intent. It is less a judgement than an invitation. An invitation to resist living on the momenta and tides of time. It asks us to pause and notice what shapes and shades our days have taken. https://opinionexpress.in/pro-pakistan-jamaat-voice-targets-tarique-rahman A senior lawyer aligned with the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh has issued what amounts to a death threat against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman, only hours after his return to Dhaka following 17 years in exile. The threat, significantly, invoked India — underscoring Jamaat’s deepening unease over Rahman’s political resurgence. https://opinionexpress.in/indiaoman-trade-ties-enter-new-era-with-historic-cepa India and Oman on Thursday signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The agreement was signed by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Oman’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. It would lower trade barriers, enhance market access and provide a stable and predictable framework for businesses operating in both economies, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/strategic-drift-in-bangladesh-alarms-india India is facing its most serious strategic test in Bangladesh since the Liberation War of 1971—not because of war or humanitarian collapse, but due to a profound political and security realignment unfolding next door. A parliamentary committee headed by Shashi Tharoor has warned that while Bangladesh may not descend into chaos, the shifts underway pose a long-term threat to India’s regional primacy and security interests. https://opinionexpress.in/messis-goat-tour-ends-on-a-high-in-india Football icon Lionel Messi concluded his much-anticipated three-day India tour in Delhi on Monday, ending a whirlwind visit that blended adulation, spectacle and controversy. The Argentina and Inter Miami forward drew massive crowds wherever he went, underscoring his unmatched popularity in a cricket-dominated nation. https://opinionexpress.in/targeted-violence-at-jewish-festival-shocks-australia A mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening has left at least 11 people dead and dozens injured during a Jewish community gathering marking the first night of Hanukkah. Two gunmen opened fire on a crowd at the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, sending hundreds of families, children and elderly attendees into panic as they fled for cover. Eyewitnesses reported hearing dozens of shots and scenes of chaos, with terrified beachgoers running for safety and some trying to administer aid to the wounded.  https://opinionexpress.in/a-big-bjp-win-in-kerala The results in the local body elections in Kerala have come as a setback for the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state ahead of elections next year, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front ahead in four out of six municipal bodies and 14 district panchayats, against the ruling coalition's six.  https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-slams-nehru-indira-gandhi Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday rejected Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s allegation that the NDA government initiated a special discussion on Vande Mataram with an eye on the upcoming West Bengal elections. He said linking the national song with electoral politics was “unfortunate” and showed a lack of understanding of its historic significance. https://opinionexpress.in/indigo-limps-back-to-normalcy IndiGo’s operations showed significant improvement on Tuesday, with the airline confirming it is on course to operate over 1,650 flights—up from 1,500 the previous day. In its latest evening status update, IndiGo said that 137 out of its 138 domestic and international destinations are now fully operational. The airline also reported a sharp recovery in its on-time performance, which rose to 75 per cent from just 30 per cent a day earlier, signalling a return to stability after widespread disruptions. https://opinionexpress.in/rokos-india-beats-sa-to-click-odi-series India sealed the ODI series in commanding fashion with a nine-wicket thrashing of South Africa in the decisive third match at Visakhapatnam, showcasing a near-perfect all-round performance. Chasing 271, the hosts cruised home on the back of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden ODI century — an innings marked by exquisite timing, fearless strokeplay, and growing maturity at the top of the order. His fluent ton set the tempo for India’s chase, while Virat Kohli anchored from the other end, compiling his 76th ODI fifty with characteristic control and precision. Rohit Sharma, too, played a vital hand, striking a polished 75 that ensured India never lost momentum. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-explore-new-sectors Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin committed to broaden economic ties and enhance cooperation in defence and energy at the 23rd annual Russia-India Summit. The summit comes amid ongoing pressure from Washington, DC, on New Delhi to reconsider its longstanding partnership with Moscow as the Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-poised-to-deepen-military-ties-during-putin-modi-summit Indo-Russian defence cooperation is set to gain fresh momentum as President Vladimir Putin arrives in India for the Annual Summit on December 4&5. The visit comes on the heels of Operation Sindoor, where Russian-origin platforms once again underscored their critical role in India& battlefield dominance. From the S-400 air defence systems to Sukhoi fighter jets and BrahMos cruise missiles, Russian technology formed the backbone of India military strategic edge. https://opinionexpress.in/india-prevail-in-nerve-shredder-as-sa-fightback-falls-short India clinched a thrilling 17-run victory over South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi on Sunday, sealing a high-scoring contest marked by momentum swings, standout individual performances and tense endgame drama. https://opinionexpress.in/sir-b-n-rau-indias-forgotten-constitutional-sage India’s Constitution bears the imprint of many hands, but few contributed as quietly and profoundly as Sir B. N. Rau — remembered today, 72 years on. https://opinionexpress.in/airbus-a320-software-upgrade-near-completion-after-global-alert Indian airlines are racing to complete a crucial software and hardware upgrade across their Airbus A320 fleets after a global safety directive issued by Airbus. By Saturday evening, most of India’s A320 aircraft had already undergone the mandatory update, with full compliance expected before the midnight deadline https://opinionexpress.in/siddaramaiahshivakumar-rift-eases-after-power-sharing-agreement The leadership rift between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar appears to have been eased through a carefully crafted power-sharing formula, though the full contours are still being finalised by the Congress high command. After months of behind-the-scenes strain over succession, the two leaders projected unity by meeting over breakfast today, signalling a political reset intended to prevent internal turmoil. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-to-freeze-migration-from-3rd-world-countries US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a sweeping new immigration policy, declaring that the United States would “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries” in the wake of an incident where an Afghan national opened fire at two National Guard personnel near the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/many-feared-dead-after-fire-ravages-7-high-rise-buildings-in-hong-kong A massive blaze tore through a high-rise housing complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday, killing at least 44 people and leaving hundreds unaccounted for in what officials say is the city’s deadliest fire in decades. Firefighters were still battling pockets of flames on Thursday morning at Wang Fuk Court, an eight-building estate in Tai Po with nearly 2,000 apartments, as exhausted residents looked on in shock. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-hits-all-time-high-after-14-months-markets-cheer Nifty soared to a fresh all-time high this morning, extending a strong upward trajectory fuelled by growing optimism over potential interest rate cuts in both the US and India. The benchmark Nifty 50 index, which represents the 50 largest companies listed on the National Stock Exchange, climbed past 26,277 points — surpassing the record set in September 2024. https://opinionexpress.in/historic-rout-south-africa-crush-india-break-24-year-home-barrier South Africa shattered India’s long-standing aura of invincibility at home, storming to a 2-0 Test series sweep that will be remembered as one of the most commanding visiting performances on Indian soil. After a sharp, clinical three-day win in Kolkata, the Proteas delivered a crushing blow in Guwahati, sealing a historic 408-run victory — the biggest defeat India has ever suffered in a home Test. It also marked South Africa’s first series triumph in India since the 2000-01 tour. The Guwahati result eclipsed India’s previous worst home loss, a 342-run defeat to Australia in 2004. For the Proteas, it was their most emphatic win in India since 1996, reaffirming their dominance and resilience in subcontinental conditions. The visitors combined disciplined fast bowling with relentless spin to dismantle India twice in five days. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-banerjee-attacks-ec-bjp-for-sir Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp, multi-pronged offensive against the BJP, alleging the party is “trading Gujarat for Bengal” and resorting to electoral fraud to secure victories. Addressing a massive protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, she predicted the BJP would face a stunning defeat in Gujarat next year, claiming the party was ready to sacrifice its home turf to capture Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/justice-surya-kant-takes-over-as-new-chief-justice-of-india Justice Surya Kant, a distinguished jurist known for his role in several landmark judgments, was sworn in on Monday as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. He succeeds Justice B.R. Gavai and will serve a tenure of nearly 15 months, demitting office on February 9, 2027, upon attaining the age of 65. https://opinionexpress.in/rajnaths-statement-sets-political-circles-ablaze Defence Minister Rajnath Singh invoked history, heritage, and civilisational identity as he reflected on the legacy of Sindh and its deep cultural ties with India. Speaking at an event, he said that although the Sindh region is not part of India today, “borders can change,” and there may come a time when the land could “return home” to India. https://opinionexpress.in/ani-v-openai-indias-ai-copyright-litmus-test-in-the-global-copyright-challenge How the Delhi High Court resolves ANI v. OpenAI will determine whether India treats AI model training as lawful learning or copyright infringement - a choice that could reshape global debates on authors’ rights, innovation, and the future of generative AI. https://opinionexpress.in/new-power-games-in-nitish-100 Nitish Kumar’s emphatic victory in last week’s Bihar election — with the Janata Dal (United) winning 85 of 243 seats, a dramatic improvement over its 2015 tally — has secured him another term as Chief Minister. But the post-poll power equation suggests the seasoned leader will share more space with the BJP than ever before. In a striking shift, Nitish has handed over the crucial Home portfolio, which he has controlled for nearly two decades, to BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, who returns as Deputy Chief Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-scripts-history-with-10th-term-as-bihar-cm Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record-breaking tenth time on Thursday at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan, marking a resounding comeback for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The ceremony doubled as a powerful display of NDA unity and electoral strength after the coalition swept last week’s Assembly polls with 202 of 243 seats. https://opinionexpress.in/owaisi-condemns-bomber-calls-suicide-strikes-un-islamic A video of Red Fort bomber Dr Umar Nabi, in which he describes suicide bombing as a “martyrdom operation”, has surfaced during the ongoing probe into the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) module behind the Delhi blast. Investigators told The Indian Express that the clip was retrieved from Umar’s mobile phone, which he had allegedly asked his younger brother to dispose of after the attack. The brother, picked up from the family’s Pulwama home on the night of the explosion, is said to have confessed that he dumped the device on Umar’s instructions. His elder brother is also in custody. https://opinionexpress.in/founder-of-al-falah-university-arrested-by-the-enforcement-directorate The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, founder of Al Falah University, in a money laundering case linked to the terror-financing network behind the November 10 Delhi blast. Siddiqui was taken into custody under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after investigators uncovered financial irregularities and suspected diversion of funds by the Al Falah group. https://opinionexpress.in/sheikh-hasina-gets-death-penalty-for-crimes-against-humanity Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has handed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a death sentence after finding her guilty on three counts of crimes against humanity linked to last year’s student-led uprising that toppled her Awami League government. The verdict, delivered by a three-member panel headed by Justice Mohd Golam Mortuza Majumder, marks a dramatic culmination of a turbulent political chapter and months of highly charged proceedings. https://opinionexpress.in/many-indians-feared-dead-in-bus-tanker-collision-in-saudi-arabia At least 45 people are feared dead after a bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker near Medina in Saudi Arabia, leaving the vehicle engulfed in flames. Local media reported that around 42 of the victims were Indian nationals, most of them from Hyderabad in Telangana. The accident occurred around 1.30 am IST near Mufrihat, as the group was travelling from Mecca to Medina after completing Umrah rituals. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-test-aura-shattered-on-home-turf India’s dismal collapse to 93 all out in the second innings handed Temba Bavuma’s South Africa a stunning 30-run win in the first Test at Eden Gardens — a defeat that raises serious concerns about the team’s mental toughness, batting discipline and overall preparedness under coach Gautam Gambhir. Chasing a modest 124, which would have been a record fourth-innings chase at the venue but still far from daunting, India imploded from the outset. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul managed just one run between them, triggering a slide that exposed the frailties of a batting unit that looked rattled rather than resolute. https://opinionexpress.in/new-my-formula-won-bihar-for-nda-modi The ruling NDA has delivered a landslide victory in Bihar, securing 202 of the 243 assembly seats and leaving the Opposition Mahagathbandhan with just 35. Calling the mandate unprecedented, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the verdict had “taken Bihar by storm,” asserting that while some parties relied on the old “MY” (Muslim–Yadav) formula, voters forged a new “MY” alliance — Mahila (women) and Yuva (youth). He also suggested that Bihar’s wave would influence neighbouring Bengal, promising to end “Jungle Raj” there as well. https://opinionexpress.in/explosives-seized-in-faridabad-go-off-at-jk-police-station Nine people were killed and 32 others injured when a massive cache of confiscated explosives stored at a police station in Nowgam, near Srinagar, detonated on Friday night. The powerful blast tore through the premises while a joint team of police, forensic experts, and local officials was examining the material, which had recently been transported from Faridabad in Haryana as part of an ongoing investigation. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-blast-linked-with-pak-based-terror-outfit Investigations into the deadly car bomb near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed nine people, have revealed direct links to Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), police sources said Tuesday. The blast, caused by an improvised explosive device packed with ammonium nitrate fuel oil inside a Hyundai i20, is believed to have been executed by JeM operative Dr Umar Mohammed from Pulwama. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-says-conspirators-behind-red-fort-blast-wont-be-spared Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday vowed that those behind the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort “will not be spared.” Speaking in Bhutan’s Thimphu, he said he was “in touch throughout the night” with investigating agencies and assured that the “conspirators will be brought to justice.” https://opinionexpress.in/major-terror-module-busted-in-ncr In a major security alert near the national capital, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have uncovered 350 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, along with an assault rifle and 20 timers, from Faridabad, Haryana. The recovery follows the arrest of Dr. Adil Ahmad Rather, a Kashmiri doctor from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, for allegedly putting up Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) posters in Srinagar last month. https://opinionexpress.in/new-defence-post-marks-major-shift-in-pakistans-military-hierarchy Pakistan’s government on Saturday introduced the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill in Parliament, proposing the creation of a new post — Chief of Defence Forces — aimed at ensuring greater coordination and unified command among the three military services. https://opinionexpress.in/a-century-of-passion-and-pride-indias-hockey-journey-turns-100 The nation came together in a spectacular display of unity and pride as the Centenary Celebrations of Indian Hockey concluded successfully at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi today. The event marked 100 glorious years of Indian Hockey a journey that has defined India sporting identity across generations. https://opinionexpress.in/bihar-elections-ist-phase-voting-underway In Bihar’s two-phased Assembly elections, 121 constituencies are set to go to the polls on Thursday in the first phase of voting. https://opinionexpress.in/mamdani-wins-new-york-mayor-poll In a historic triumph for diversity and progressive politics, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani has been elected Mayor of New York City, marking a new dawn in the city’s political landscape. Born in Kampala to Ugandan scholar Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani’s journey from Africa to America embodies the migrant dream—resilience, ambition, and belonging. https://opinionexpress.in/keralas-poverty-paradox-the-politics-of-declaring-zero-extreme-poverty When good intentions masquerade as grand success, the truth about deprivation becomes the first casualty. https://opinionexpress.in/gurudev-honored-as-2025-world-peace-leader On 3 November 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts, the Boston Global Forum (BGF) together with its initiative the AI World Society (AIWS) presented the 2025 World Leader for Peace and Security Award to Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, recognising his lifetime of extraordinary contributions to global peace-building, reconciliation, and humanitarian leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/india-lifts-icc-wwc-title In a historic breakthrough for Indian cricket, the national women’s team captured their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday night. The landmark victory sparked jubilant celebrations nationwide, as BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia announced a ?51 crore reward for the players and support staff, calling the triumph a “monumental achievement that will elevate Indian women’s cricket to unprecedented heights.” https://opinionexpress.in/pms-scathing-attack-on-congress-rjd Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Arrah, Bihar, lauded the success of Operation Sindoor and criticised the Congress and its ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), for allegedly being unsettled by it. He remarked that while the operation shook Pakistan, it was the Congress “royal family” that lost sleep over it. Taking aim at the Opposition alliance, Modi alleged internal conflict within the INDIA bloc over seat-sharing, claiming the RJD forced Congress to accept its Chief Ministerial candidate through “political bullying.” https://opinionexpress.in/sardar-patel-the-iron-man-who-forged-a-united-india Today, India and the world will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India.  Patel, the monumental lawyer, philosopher, scholar, statesman and political leader, universally known as the “Iron Man of India” or “Bismarck of India”, was born on 31 October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat, famous for the iconic Shri Swaminarayan Temple built in 1824. https://opinionexpress.in/nda-unveils-bihar-2025-manifesto-jobs-empowerment-infrastructure-at-core Less than a week before Phase 1 of the Bihar assembly elections 2025, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unveiled its manifesto, promising massive employment generation and women-led economic transformation. Released in Patna by BJP chief JP Nadda and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Sankalp Patra lays out a roadmap to create one crore government jobs and transform Bihar into a hub of development and opportunity. https://opinionexpress.in/us-ends-automatic-renewal-of-work-permits-for-overseas-migrants The US Department of Homeland Security has issued an interim rule ending the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for migrant workers, effective October 30, 2025. Under this rule, foreign nationals renewing their EADs on or after that date will no longer receive an automatic extension, though extensions granted before will remain valid. The Trump administration said the policy aims to strengthen “vetting and screening” to safeguard national security and prevent fraud. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-confirms-nitish-to-stay-as-bihar-cm Union Home Minister and BJP’s chief strategist Amit Shah on Wednesday ended weeks of speculation surrounding the NDA’s Chief Ministerial face in Bihar, confirming that Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister if the alliance retains power. Addressing a rally in the state, Shah declared, “Bihar mein na CM ka pad khali hai, na Delhi mein PM ka pad khali hai. Yahan Nitish Kumar hain, aur wahan Modi ji hain,” underscoring that both leadership positions are firmly occupied. https://opinionexpress.in/map-on-yunus-gift-to-pakistan-general-stirs-diplomatic-uproar A diplomatic flutter has erupted after Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser to the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, gifted a coffee table book to Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. The book, titled “Art of Triumph: Graffiti of Bangladesh’s New Dawn,” reportedly features on its cover an image resembling a map that appears to include parts of India within Bangladesh’s borders. https://opinionexpress.in/make-life-easier-for-honest-tax-payers-sitharaman Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged GST officers to combine firmness with fairness—be polite and empathetic to honest taxpayers while acting decisively against evaders. Speaking at the inauguration of a CGST building, she stressed that the next-generation GST must not only simplify rates but also transform the taxpayer’s experience. “There is no iron wall between you and the trader,” she said, calling for proactive trade facilitation and technology-driven grievance redressal. https://opinionexpress.in/ad-guru-piyush-pandey-the-voice-of-indias-creativity-passes-away Advertising icon Piyush Pandey, the creative force behind some of India’s most memorable campaigns for Fevicol, Cadbury, Asian Paints, and many others, passed away on Friday at the age of 70 after battling an infection. His last rites will be held on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistani-talibans-open-threat-to-field-marshal-munir A series of newly released videos by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has created deep embarrassment for Pakistan’s military establishment, placing Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir under intense scrutiny. The footage features a senior TTP commander, identified by Pakistani intelligence as Commander Kazim, directly taunting Munir and challenging the top brass to personally lead troops into combat rather than “sending soldiers to die.” The videos reportedly show scenes from an October 8 ambush in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district, where the TTP claims to have killed 22 Pakistani soldiers, displaying seized weapons and vehicles as proof. Pakistan’s military, however, has officially acknowledged 11 casualties. https://opinionexpress.in/kabul-to-strengthening-ties-with-new-delhi-yaqoob Kabul has firmly rejected Islamabad’s allegations that India played any role in the recent border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Afghanistan’s Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob termed Pakistan’s accusations as “unfounded, illogical, and unacceptable,” asserting that Kabul seeks to strengthen ties with New Delhi “within the framework of our national interests.” https://opinionexpress.in/the-man-who-made-india-laugh-has-gone-off-script The tragedy of a comic genius lies in being eternally typecast as the jester, even when his art springs from a deeply human place. Govardhan Asrani — the man who made generations laugh till their sides hurt — carried that paradox with quiet grace. He passed away yesterday at 84, leaving behind a legacy that defined Hindi cinema’s golden age. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-diwali-2025 HAPPY DIWALI 2025  https://opinionexpress.in/no-kings-protests-sweep-us-cities Thousands of Americans took to the streets this weekend under the banner “No Kings”, marching in cities across the country to defend democracy and protest what they call President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian overreach.” In Austin, Texas, demonstrators rallied for “the power of the people,” chanting that the United States has had “No Kings since 1776.” https://opinionexpress.in/pakistani-airstrike-kills-three-afghan-cricketers At least three Afghan cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said on Friday. The victims, identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, had travelled from Urgun to Sharana to play in a friendly match. The ACB said the players were killed “after returning home to Urgun” when they were targeted “in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.” Five others also lost their lives in the strike. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-defends-100-per-cent-tariff-on-china US President Donald Trump on Friday defended his proposed 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, calling it a temporary but necessary step to pressure Beijing ahead of his forthcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking to Fox Business Network, Trump said, “It’s not sustainable, but that’s what the number is. They forced me to do that,” adding that he remained optimistic about the outcome of the talks scheduled in two weeks. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-ready-for-two-front-war-khawaja Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has once again stirred controversy by linking India to Islamabad’s escalating tensions with Afghanistan. In an interview with Samaa TV, Asif cautioned that India “could play dirty at the border” and claimed Pakistan was prepared for a “two-front war” amid rising hostilities with Kabul. When asked about possible Indian provocations, Asif said, “You cannot rule that out. There are strong possibilities,” adding that “strategies are in place” though he declined to reveal details. https://opinionexpress.in/former-kenyan-prime-minister-raila-odinga-dies-in-kerala-at-80 Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and one of Africa’s most influential political leaders, passed away on Wednesday morning in Koothattukulam, Kerala, after suffering a massive heart attack during his morning walk. He was 80. https://opinionexpress.in/ashley-j-tellis-arrested-for-unlawfully-retaining-classified-documents Ashley J. Tellis, a prominent U.S. scholar on India and former National Security Council adviser under President George W. Bush, has been arrested and charged with unlawfully retaining classified defense information. The U.S. Justice Department accused Tellis, 64, of printing and concealing over 1,000 pages of top-secret and secret documents at his Virginia home. https://opinionexpress.in/several-pak-soldiers-killed-by-afghan-forces-taliban Taliban spokesperson Zabeehullah Mujahid claimed his forces killed at least 58 Pakistani soldiers and wounded over 30 in retaliatory strikes near the Durand Line in Behrampur, warning Islamabad that no attack would go unanswered. Accusing Pakistan of turning a blind eye to ISIS elements allegedly sheltering on its territory, Mujahid urged authorities to expel or hand over key militants to the Islamic Emirate, asserting there is documented evidence of recruitment and training centers operating via Karachi and Islamabad. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-china-tariff-policy-back-fires President Donald Trump’s preference for one-on-one deals is facing a major stress test as his fragile trade truce with China teeters on collapse. Beijing’s latest move to impose sweeping export controls on rare earths and critical minerals—vital for US defense and tech industries—triggered shockwaves in Washington. Markets initially shrugged off the news, but Trump’s fiery Truth Social post threatening a “massive increase” in tariffs sent Wall Street into a tailspin, marking its worst selloff in six months. https://opinionexpress.in/nobel-prize-in-physics-2025-awarded-for-breakthroughs-in-quantum-mechanics The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to scientists John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis for their groundbreaking work on "macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit." The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award on Tuesday, praising the discovery for opening new pathways in quantum technology. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-pushes-for-urgent-gaza-peace-deal Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Israel and Hamas to act swiftly on the proposed Gaza peace plan, warning that delays could lead to further violence. Writing on Truth Social, Trump emphasized the urgency: “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW – SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!” https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-knocks-tvk-for-upcoming-tn-polls In the wake of the tragic Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives, political tremors are being felt across Tamil Nadu. With Tamil actor Vijay’s political outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), under scrutiny, major national parties are eyeing a new opportunity. Sources reveal that the BJP has reached out to TVK leadership, assuring support if Vijay is unfairly targeted by the ruling DMK. The BJP believes DMK could face strong anti-incumbency in the 2026 Assembly elections and sees Vijay’s massive fan base as a potential game-changer. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-may-lose-geographical-identity-army-chief In a most fierce salvo, India has issued a stern warning to Pakistan: stop supporting terrorism or risk losing your place on the world map. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, speaking at an Army post in Rajasthan's Anupgarh, declared that India will no longer exercise restraint if Pakistan continues state-sponsored terrorism. https://opinionexpress.in/many-pak-f-16-j-17-fighter-jets-destroyed-in-op-sindoor-air-force-chief In a landmark statement that can have far-reaching consequences, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh confirmed that Indian forces shot down five Pakistani fighter jets, including US-made F-16s and Chinese JF-17s and a large surveillance aircraft during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Air Force also struck deep into Pakistani military infrastructure. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-flags-attack-on-democracy While speaking at EIA University in Colombia, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said India's biggest internal threat is the "attack on democracy." Rahul emphasized that India’s diversity, religious, linguistic, and cultural, requires a democratic structure to thrive. “India is a conversation between its people. Right now, that democratic space is under attack,” he said, warning against rising centralisation and suppression. https://opinionexpress.in/many-protesters-killed-in-pok-by-pak-forces Eight civilians were killed Wednesday as violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) entered a third straight day, deepening the region’s unrest. According to sources, four people died in Dhirkot, two in Muzaffarabad, and two in Mirpur. This follows two deaths reported Tuesday in Muzaffarabad, bringing the toll to 10 in just 72 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/us-firms-to-consider-shifting-work-to-india-post-h1b-visa-fee-hike Donald Trump’s dramatic escalation of H-1B visa fees to $100,000 has sent shockwaves through corporate America, prompting firms to re-evaluate their global workforce strategies. With restrictions tightening around skilled immigration, economists and industry leaders say US companies are accelerating a shift of critical, high-value work to India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs). https://opinionexpress.in/massive-protest-in-pok-against-pak-army-government Two people were killed and 22 injured on Monday in violent clashes during protests in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where thousands have taken to the streets against Islamabad’s policies. Eyewitnesses and reports said armed thugs backed by the Pakistan Army and ISI-sponsored Muslim Conference opened fire on civilians demanding basic rights. Videos circulating online show gunmen firing in the air, protesters scaling cars, and locals displaying spent bullet shells as evidence of live fire. https://opinionexpress.in/india-hammers-pak-3-0-to-win-asia-cup-2025 India clinched the Asia Cup 2025 title with a commanding all-round display, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. Chasing a modest 147, India were in early trouble as Abhishek Sharma (5), skipper Suryakumar Yadav (1), and Shubman Gill (12) fell cheaply. Sanju Samson steadied the innings with a handy 24, but it was Tilak Varma who rose to the occasion with a composed half-century, guiding India home in style. Varma’s calm temperament with Dube's power hitting under pressure proved decisive, ensuring India crossed the finish line with confidence. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-eyes-displaced-tech-talent-amid-us-h-1b-visa-shake-up Canada is positioning itself as a new hub for global technology talent in the wake of sweeping changes to the United States’ H-1B visa program under President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled that Ottawa intends to capitalize on the uncertainty, particularly for highly skilled workers who would once have headed to Silicon Valley. https://opinionexpress.in/many-feared-killed-in-actor-vijays-rally-in-tamil-nadu A devastating tragedy struck Tamil Nadu on Saturday as a stampede at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s rally in Karur claimed over 30 lives. Police sources said the chaos began when several people fainted amid a massive surge forward in the packed crowd. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-pm-shehbaz-condemned-for-glorifying-terrorism-india At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India strongly rebutted Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks that glorified terrorism and distorted facts about recent hostilities. Exercising its right of reply, Indian diplomat Petal Gahlot said terrorism remains “central to Pakistan’s foreign policy” and accused Islamabad of shielding terror outfits like The Resistance Front, which carried out the April 22 Pahalgam massacre. She also reminded the global community that Pakistan sheltered al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden for a decade while claiming to fight terror. https://opinionexpress.in/agni-prime-having-2000-km-range-fired-from-train India has successfully test-fired its intermediate-range, nuclear-capable Agni Prime missile from a specially designed rail-based launcher, marking a major milestone in strategic defence capability. The test, announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, places India alongside Russia, the United States, and China as nations that have developed or operated railcar-based missile systems. https://opinionexpress.in/activist-sonam-wangchuks-remarks-provoked-mob-centre Protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status spiraled into violence today, leaving four people dead and 45 injured, including 22 police personnel. The clashes mark a dangerous turn in a strategically sensitive region that borders China and Pakistan, amplifying security concerns for New Delhi. Government sources alleged the unrest was orchestrated, accusing activist Sonam Wangchuk of pursuing personal ambitions and drawing inspiration from Arab Spring-style movements, while also pointing to provocative statements by Congress leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-repeats-claim-of-ending-seven-wars-at-unga Addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim of ending what he called “seven unendable wars.” Trump declared, “In just seven months, I have ended seven wars that were said to be unendable. Some lasted 31 years, one lasted 36 years.” https://opinionexpress.in/rubio-jaishankar-meet-at-unga-to-boost-india-us-ties US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The meeting centered on advancing strategic cooperation between India and the United States across key sectors such as trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-arrests-khalistani-terrorist-aide-of-gs-pannun Khalistani terrorist Inderjit Singh Gosal, a close aide of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been arrested in Ottawa, Canada, in a significant crackdown on extremist activities. Gosal, 36, is accused of multiple firearms-related offences and is regarded as one of the principal organisers for the US-based Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in Canada. His rise in the outfit followed the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, after which he became a central figure in mobilising separatist activities. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-air-force-drops-8-bombs-on-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-village-many-feared-killed At least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed in deadly airstrikes by the Pakistani Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley early Monday morning. The strikes, carried out around 2 am, saw eight LS-6 bombs dropped on Matre Dara village, leaving behind scenes of devastation and panic. Local reports indicate several more were injured, though their condition remains uncertain, as rescue teams continue pulling bodies from under the rubble. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-to-address-nation-at-5-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 5 pm today, the Prime Minister’s Office has announced. While the subject of the address has not been confirmed, speculation is rife that it could focus on the rollout of GST 2.0 reforms, which take effect tomorrow. The agency reports that the address comes at a significant time, coinciding with major economic and policy developments. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-slaps-100000-fee-on-h-1b-visas-unveils-costly-gold-card-program In a sweeping move aimed at reshaping U.S. immigration policy, President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 (?88 lakh) fee on H-1B visa applications. The administration says the measure will ensure only “highly skilled” workers enter the U.S., though critics warn it could devastate the technology sector, which depends heavily on Indian and Chinese professionals. https://opinionexpress.in/systematic-voter-purge-targeted-opposition-supporters-claims-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging large-scale voter deletions from Congress strongholds during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. Addressing a press conference, Gandhi claimed that voter IDs were deleted through fake logins and phone numbers originating outside the state, and that the deletions were being executed not manually but via software in a “centralised operation.” https://opinionexpress.in/saudi-pakistan-defence-accord-formalises-decades-old-security-ties Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have signed a landmark mutual defence agreement during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, a move being closely watched in New Delhi. The agreement, unveiled after Sharif’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace, declares that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” Pakistan Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was also present at the signing, underscoring its strategic weight. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistani-group-threatens-to-siege-indian-consulate-in-vancouver As New Delhi and Ottawa cautiously restore diplomatic engagement, tensions flared again after Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based pro-Khalistan outfit, threatened to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday. The group has urged Indo-Canadians to avoid routine visits to the consulate that day, warning of a complete takeover. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rain-triggers-flash-floods-in-dehradun A powerful cloudburst struck Uttarakhand’s Dehradun late on Monday night, triggering flash floods and severe waterlogging across several parts of the city. The sudden downpour submerged houses in Tapovan and inundated the Sahastradhara and IT Park areas, leaving two people missing and causing widespread damage. https://opinionexpress.in/powers-of-collector-stayed-non-muslims-on-boards-limited-in-waqf-case-sc The Supreme Court on Monday paused implementation of three controversial provisions of the amended Waqf Act, terming them potentially arbitrary and unconstitutional. A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih stayed rules that required donors to prove they had been “practicing Muslims” for five years, mandated inclusion of non-Muslims on waqf boards, and empowered District Collectors to decide whether a property qualifies as waqf. The court observed that allowing Collectors to adjudicate such disputes would violate separation of powers and could lead to misuse. https://opinionexpress.in/india-outclass-pakistan-as-suryakumar-spinners-shine-in-asia-cup-2025 India continued their impressive run in the Asia Cup 2025 with a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. Captain Suryakumar Yadav once again rose to the occasion, guiding his side home with a composed unbeaten 47 off 37 balls. India wrapped up the modest 128-run chase in just 15.5 overs, underlining their supremacy in the high-pressure clash. https://opinionexpress.in/china-rejects-trumps-call-for-nato-tariffs-urges-dialogue-over-sanctions China has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal that NATO impose sweeping tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on Beijing over its continued purchase of Russian oil. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking in Ljubljana after talks with Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, stressed that “wars cannot solve problems” and warned that sanctions would only deepen global instability. https://opinionexpress.in/clashes-erupt-at-tommy-robinsons-london-march-26-police-injured The Metropolitan Police said 26 officers were injured, including four seriously, with injuries ranging from broken teeth and a possible broken nose to concussion and spinal damage. At least 25 people were arrested for violent disorder, assault, and criminal damage. More than 1,000 officers had been deployed, reinforced by riot units after cordons were nearly breached. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-threatens-steep-tariffs-on-china U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday intensified his criticism of NATO allies over their continued purchases of Russian oil, claiming such actions undermine efforts to end the war in Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the war could end swiftly if NATO imposed a complete ban on Russian energy imports, calling the alliance’s current stance “shocking” and insufficient. https://opinionexpress.in/g7-finance-ministers-discuss-tougher-sanctions-on-russia-oil-purchasers The Finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations held a call on Friday to explore tougher economic measures against Russia and potential tariffs on countries aiding its war in Ukraine. The meeting, chaired by Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, focused on increasing pressure to halt Russia’s aggression by expanding sanctions and targeting oil revenue streams. https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-gets-first-female-prime-minister-amid-turmoil Sushila Karki, Nepal’s former Chief Justice, has been sworn in as the country’s interim Prime Minister, marking a historic first as she becomes Nepal’s first woman to hold the post. The oath-taking ceremony took place at Rashtrapati Bhawan in the presence of President Ram Chandra Paudel, Vice President Ram Sahay Yadav, and Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Rawat. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-top-relationships-us-has-in-world-today-secretary-rubio Amid ongoing trade frictions between New Delhi and Washington over punitive tariffs, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed India’s status as one of America’s most vital global partners. Speaking at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the confirmation hearing of Sergio Gor, President Donald Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to India, Rubio underscored the centrality of India in shaping the Indo-Pacific order. https://opinionexpress.in/trade-deal-with-india-on-track-gor US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, struck an optimistic note on the long-pending trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi, saying that the two sides are now engaged in detailed discussions and “not that far apart” from finalizing a deal. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-calls-charlie-kirk-a-martyr-for-truth-after-utah-assassination US President Donald Trump on Wednesday condemned the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling him a “martyr for truth” and vowing a sweeping crackdown on political violence. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-signals-restart-of-india-us-trade-talks-calls-modi-a-very-good-friend United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Washington and New Delhi will resume negotiations aimed at resolving trade frictions between the two nations. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump said he was “pleased to announce that India and the United States of America are continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers between our two Nations.” He added that he looked forward to speaking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi “in the upcoming weeks,” expressing confidence that discussions would lead to a “successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries.” https://opinionexpress.in/cp-radhakrishnan-is-indias-next-vice-president Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, the NDA’s nominee, has been elected as India’s Vice President, succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar. The 68-year-old secured 452 first preference votes against 300 polled by Opposition candidate and retired Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy. https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-pm-kp-oli-resigns-amid-deadly-protests Nepal was plunged into political turmoil on Tuesday after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned amid violent anti-corruption protests led by young demonstrators. The resignation came after two days of unrest in Kathmandu and other cities that left at least 19 people dead and over 400 injured. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-albanese-demanded-an-apology-from-opposition-leader-for-targeting-pio Australia is facing a political storm after comments by opposition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price targeting the Indian community drew sharp backlash. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday demanded an apology, saying her remarks were “hurtful, untrue, and divisive.” https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-erupts-in-violent-protests-over-social-media-ban-corruption At least 14 people were killed and over 100 injured in violent clashes in Kathmandu as thousands of young protesters marched against corruption and the government’s ban on popular social media apps, local media reported. The army was deployed after demonstrators defied curfew orders and stormed restricted zones near Parliament.  https://opinionexpress.in/nda-set-to-secure-vp-poll-win-with-thinner-margin The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised for victory in Tuesday’s vice-presidential election, though the margin is expected to be slimmer than in 2022, sources indicated. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-affirms-friendship-with-trump-amid-tariff-strain Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday struck a conciliatory tone amid growing trade tensions with the United States, responding positively to President Donald Trump’s remarks that the two leaders would “always be friends.” Modi emphasized that India and the U.S. enjoy a “very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership,” underscoring the importance of maintaining momentum in bilateral ties despite friction over tariffs and Russian oil imports. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-50-tariff-on-india-will-evaporate-soon-economist US President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods may prove temporary, Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran has said, stressing that Washington’s current approach is unlikely to benefit long-term ties between the two countries. https://opinionexpress.in/iit-kanpurs-first-and-csi-forge-landmark-mou-to-boost-innovation-ecosystem In a milestone development for India’s entrepreneurial landscape, IIT Kanpur’s Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council For Start-up India (CSI). This collaboration marks a significant step toward accelerating innovation, nurturing start-ups, and strengthening India’s position as a global hub for technology-driven enterprises. https://opinionexpress.in/europe-moves-toward-security-guarantees-for-ukraine-amid-divisions European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Paris on Thursday for a high-stakes summit aimed at framing post-war security guarantees for Kyiv. The talks, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together a “coalition of the willing” of nearly 30 nations, including Canada, Australia, and Japan, alongside most European states. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-20-revamp-details-as-it-stands GST Overhaul: What Gets Cheaper, What Gets Costlier After Council’s Big Reform https://opinionexpress.in/gst-council-approves-key-reforms-to-ease-business-compliance-cut-tax-slabs In a major move to simplify India’s tax regime and boost economic activity, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has approved several reforms aimed at easing compliance and rationalising tax slabs. Key among the reforms is the reduction of registration time for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups—from 30 days to just three. The Council also cleared a proposal to automate GST refunds for exporters, a long-pending demand from industry bodies. https://opinionexpress.in/us-optimistic-on-ending-trade-friction-with-india The Trump administration signaled optimism on resolving trade tensions with India, even as it reiterated concerns over New Delhi’s energy ties with Moscow. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington believes “two great countries will get this solved,” but cautioned that India’s continued purchase of Russian oil was indirectly sustaining the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/ties-with-india-one-sided-disaster-trump Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, United States President Donald Trump sharpened his rhetoric on India. Mr. Trump, already under criticism for slapping steep import duties, defended the 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, calling India a “tariff abuser” and accusing Delhi of maintaining a “one-sided relationship” with Washington. https://opinionexpress.in/anger-anguish-fury-over-us-trade-officials-profiteering-brahmins-remark A fresh controversy has erupted in India after White House trade advisor Peter Navarro described Indian refiners as “Brahmins profiteering” from Russian oil, while defending Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports. The remark, made in the context of New Delhi’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude, has drawn sharp criticism across the political spectrum, with many calling it casteist, offensive, and a deliberate attempt to malign India. https://opinionexpress.in/sco-condemns-pahalgam-attack-terror-in-all-forms At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong call for united action against terrorism found resounding support, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for India. In a rare acknowledgment, the SCO summit declaration explicitly condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives and adopted India’s stance against “double standards” on terrorism. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-raises-pak-cross-border-terror-with-china-at-sco India and China signaled a shift towards greater cooperation on counter-terrorism as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The Ministry of External Affairs said Beijing extended support to New Delhi on the issue, a move seen as significant given China’s long-standing partnership with Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-xi-vow-to-safeguard-interests-of-28-billion-people Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, marking his first visit to China in seven years. In his remarks, PM Modi stressed that India remains committed to moving relations with Beijing “forward based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.” https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-in-china-for-sco-summit-amid-tariff-turmoil Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tianjin on Saturday for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first visit to China in seven years. His two-day trip comes against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25% ‘penalty’ for New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil—a move that analysts say is nudging India closer to Beijing and Moscow. https://opinionexpress.in/local-consumption-growth-can-offset-us-tariff-losses-cea Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran on Friday reaffirmed confidence in India’s growth trajectory despite tariff-related headwinds from the United States, citing robust domestic consumption as the key buffer. He said the government has not revised the GDP growth outlook for 2025-26, keeping it in the 6.3–6.8 per cent range. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-grows-78-in-q1-fastest-among-major-economies Amid global trade tensions and the ongoing tariff dispute with the United States, India has delivered strong economic news with its GDP expanding by 7.8% in the April-June quarter of 2025-26. The growth beat the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 6.5% and marked the country’s fastest rise in five quarters. https://opinionexpress.in/us-senator-targets-india-over-russian-oil-trade-after-deadly-ukraine-strikes US Senator Lindsey Graham has renewed his criticism of India, China, Brazil and other countries purchasing Russian oil, accusing them of indirectly fueling Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. His remarks came hours after Russia launched a massive missile barrage on Kyiv early Thursday, killing at least 23 civilians, including children. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-in-japan-to-boost-strategic-economic-partnership-amid-us-tariff-strain Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Japan today for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and strategic cooperation, even as tensions mount over tariff disputes with the United States. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-turns-100-bhagwat-rejects-75-year-exit-theory Speculation over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s possible “retirement” after his 75th birthday next month has once again been firmly dismissed, both by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-tariffs-jolt-dalal-street-sensex-tanks Indian shares opened lower on Thursday, a day after additional 25% punitive US tariffs on local imports took effect, with analysts warning of near-term pressure on markets. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modis-japan-visit-bullet-trains-ai-and-security-ties-on-agenda Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan from 29–30 August 2025 for his eighth official trip to the country, during which he and his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba will hold the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-tariffs-threaten-48-billion-of-indian-exports-experts The United States’ decision to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods — a penalty for New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil and weapons — has triggered alarm among exporters. The levy, which came into effect Wednesday, doubles the existing duties and threatens to undercut India’s access to its largest export market. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-rift-widens-as-modi-refuses-trumps-calls-over-tariffs Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly declined four phone calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks, amid escalating tensions over tariffs, according to a report by German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). Citing diplomatic sources, the newspaper said Modi’s refusal reflected both “the depth of his anger and his caution.” Japanese outlet Nikkei Asia echoed the claim, noting that Trump’s frustration has grown as Modi avoided engaging directly. https://opinionexpress.in/mohan-bhagwat-stresses-unity-at-rss-100-year-celebrations Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat today inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the organisation with a message of unity and inclusivity. Addressing a three-day event in Delhi themed “100 Years of RSS Journey: New Horizons”, Bhagwat emphasised that the Sangh was never a “reactionary organisation” and continues to work for the welfare of society at large. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-puts-global-partners-on-notice-over-digital-services-regulations US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened sweeping new tariffs aimed at countries that impose digital services taxes and related regulations targeting American technology companies. The warning signals Washington’s readiness to escalate trade disputes over levies that predominantly affect giants such as Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-buy-oil-from-all-sources-russia-included-envoy India will continue sourcing oil based on its national interest and market-driven considerations, prioritising energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens, India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, has said. Speaking to Russia’s TASS news agency, he emphasised that Indian companies will buy crude “from wherever they get the best deal,” underscoring that trade is conducted strictly on commercial terms. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-wall-20-calls-it-a-day-pujara-retires-from-cricket Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s most dependable Test batters of the modern era, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a career built on grit, patience, and selfless service to the team. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-must-not-lose-sight-of-the-shared-goals-nikki Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley has urged New Delhi to take U.S. President Donald Trump’s concerns over Russian oil imports seriously and to seek a swift resolution with Washington. In a post on X, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations said that “decades of friendship and goodwill” between India and the United States provided a strong foundation to overcome the turbulence created by recent tariff and trade frictions. https://opinionexpress.in/on-us-pakistan-closeness-jaishankar-warns-against-overlooking-history At a time when the United States is seen as cosying up to Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said the US is forgetting its history with the country and also reminded it that Osama Bin Laden, one of the world's most wanted terrorists, was found in the military town of Abbottabad in 2011.  https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-probes-2000-crore-fraud-raids-rcom-and-anil-ambanis-properties The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried out raids at six locations linked to Reliance Communications (RCom) and its Promoter Director, Anil Ambani, in Mumbai in connection with an alleged bank fraud case. The case pertains to loans from the State Bank of India (SBI), with the alleged diversion of funds causing losses of more than ?2,000 crore to the public sector lender, according to sources. https://opinionexpress.in/actor-vijays-tvk-emerges-as-wild-card-ahead-of-2026-assembly-polls Actor Vijay’s second major political conference has injected fresh energy into Tamil Nadu’s pre-2026 election landscape, drawing massive crowds and fuelling speculation over the prospects of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). With a strong presence of youth and first-time voters, Vijay’s supporters argue that he is uniquely positioned to reshape the state’s electoral dynamics. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-running-a-profiteering-scheme-by-importing-russian-oil-usa US President Donald Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro has launched a scathing attack on India, branding it the “Maharaj of tariffs” and accusing New Delhi of running a “profiteering scheme” through imports of discounted Russian crude. Navarro said punitive tariffs of 50 per cent on Indian goods will take effect next week, a move that could mark the steepest levy against any US trading partner. https://opinionexpress.in/us-economist-jeffrey-sachs-slams-trump-tariffs-on-india The prominent US economist and professor at Columbia University, Jeffrey Sachs, has sharply criticized former President Donald Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs on India, calling it a disastrous misstep in American foreign policy. Speaking on Breaking Points with Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti, Sachs described the 50 percent punitive tariffs as “sabotage, not strategy,” arguing that they inflicted lasting damage on Washington’s credibility in Asia. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-to-continue-oil-supply-to-india-at-5-discount-despite-us-pressure Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining crude oil supplies to India at a discounted rate, even as the United States tightens sanctions and raises tariffs on New Delhi over energy trade with Moscow. https://opinionexpress.in/ndas-vp-pick-radhakrishnan-files-nomination-with-pm-modi-top-leaders National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan on Wednesday formally filed his nomination for the Vice President’s post, accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a battery of senior Union ministers, in what was seen as a strong show of unity ahead of the September 9 election.  https://opinionexpress.in/indias-asia-cup-2025-squad-announced-gill-in-iyer-misses-out India’s much-awaited squad for the Asia Cup 2025 was unveiled in Mumbai on Tuesday, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressing the media amid heavy showers in the city. The biggest surprise came with the inclusion of Shubman Gill, who not only earned a place in the squad but was also named vice-captain, ending weeks of speculation about his role. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-hosts-zelensky-at-white-house-after-putin-summit In a fast-paced international diplomacy, just days after holding a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House in a bid to explore avenues for resolving the protracted conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. https://opinionexpress.in/rubio-explains-sanctions-on-china-could-spike-global-oil-prices US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified why Washington has chosen not to impose secondary sanctions on China, Russia’s largest oil customer, even as India faces steep tariff barriers. Speaking to Fox Business on Sunday, Rubio said that Beijing’s imports of Russian oil are largely refined and then sold back into the global marketplace, a process that has cushioned supply chains and prevented a sharp spike in international energy prices. https://opinionexpress.in/cp-radhakrishnan-is-bjps-vice-president-candidate The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday named CP Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the post of Vice President, weeks after Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down amid a string of controversies. https://opinionexpress.in/ec-rebuts-rahul-gandhi-asserts-commitment-to-free-and-fair-polls The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly rebutted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote fraud,” asserting that terms like vote chori insult the Constitution and undermine public trust in elections. https://opinionexpress.in/tariff-dispute-delays-us-india-trade-negotiations Amid growing strain in trade relations, the United States has cancelled a scheduled visit of its negotiating team to India later this month. The team, which was to be in New Delhi from August 25 to 29, was expected to hold the sixth round of discussions on a bilateral trade agreement. The talks are now likely to be rescheduled,  https://opinionexpress.in/mvirdc-wtc-mumbai-hosts-79th-independence-day-ceremony Mumbai, 15 August 2025: MVIRDC World Trade Center (WTC) Mumbai celebrated India's 79th Independence Day with a grand flag-hoisting ceremony hosted by WTC Chairman Dr. Vijay Kalantri. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-claims-1010-meet-with-putin-on-ukraine-war US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a closely watched summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, marking the Russian leader’s first visit to the West since the Ukraine war began in 2022. The three-hour talks, hosted at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, were described as “very productive” by Mr Trump and “thorough and useful” by Mr Putin, though no breakthrough was announced. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-has-lost-india-as-an-oil-client-trump US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that Russia has “lost India as an oil client” after Washington imposed heavy penalties on New Delhi for its continued purchases of Russian crude, warning that a similar move against Moscow could have “devastating” consequences. His comments, made to Fox News before departing for Alaska for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, came even as India has not confirmed any suspension of Russian oil imports. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-putin-meet-gets-global-attention US President Donald Trump has declared the stakes “high” ahead of his much-anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska — the first visit by the Russian leader to the West since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. Posting on Truth Social before boarding Air Force One, Mr Trump said his mission was to “get Putin to the table,” stressing, “I’m not here to negotiate for Ukraine.” https://opinionexpress.in/centre-to-propose-two-gst-slabs-5-15-shortly-sources The Centre is considering a major overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, with a proposal to streamline the system into just two primary slabs 5% and 15% (18%), according to government sources. . https://opinionexpress.in/bolton-slams-trumps-tariffs-on-india-calls-them-a-strategic-mistake Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has criticised Donald Trump for what he termed a “needless” provocation of India, saying the steep tariffs imposed on New Delhi were a “mistake in the bilateral relationship. https://opinionexpress.in/travelling-wisely-to-cultural-festivals Strangers become interlaced, bound by the shared beat of a collective moment. Within the sensory medley of a festival, somewhere between the fragrant haze of incense and the jubilant clamour of performers, lies the true essence of human connection, accessible only to those who approach with both a discerning curiosity and a deep sense of respect. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-pentagon-official-slams-pakistan-army-chief-over-nuclear-threats Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has sharply criticised Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, over his recent nuclear war rhetoric, calling Islamabad’s stance “rogue state behaviour” and likening Munir to Osama bin Laden. Rubin said the comments, made reportedly in Tampa, Florida, in the presence of US military officials, echoed the language of the Islamic State. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-army-chief-asim-munirs-issues-nuclear-threat-in-us Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, has issued unprecedented nuclear threats from US soil, warning that Islamabad would “take half the world down” if faced with an existential war against India. Speaking at a closed-door dinner in Tampa, Florida hosted by businessman and honorary consul Adnan Asad, Munir vowed to retaliate against any Indian infrastructure on the Indus River, saying Pakistan had “no shortage of missiles, al-hamdulillah.” He accused New Delhi of endangering 250 million Pakistanis by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty after April’s Pahalgam terror attack. https://opinionexpress.in/gen-dwivedi-reveals-how-india-beat-pakistans-narrative-game Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has underscored the power of narrative in modern warfare, mocking Pakistan’s claim of victory after the recent conflict. Speaking at IIT Madras, he said, “Victory is in the mind.” He noted how Pakistan convinced its public of a win by promoting Army chief Asim Munir to Field Marshal, adding wryly, “If you ask a Pakistani whether they lost or won, they’ll say—our chief became Field Marshal, so we must have won.” https://opinionexpress.in/six-pak-aircraft-shot-down-during-op-sindoor-iaf-chief The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially revealed the scale of damage inflicted on the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation to the May 7 Pahalgam terror attack. In its first detailed disclosure, the IAF confirmed downing six Pakistani aircraft: five fighter jets and a large airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) plane during the three-day offensive. https://opinionexpress.in/ecuador-and-india-celebrating-56-years-of-friendship-and-a-new-era-of-strategic-partnership On August 10th, Ecuador commemorates a defining moment in its history, the day our country began its path toward independence and nationhood. It is a day to honor the values that have shaped Ecuador: freedom, dignity, peace, and the unwavering commitment to international cooperation. https://opinionexpress.in/china-to-welcome-pm-modi-for-sco-summit China has extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his visit to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, scheduled for August 31–September 1, signalling Beijing’s intent to strengthen ties with New Delhi amid global tensions over US President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods. https://opinionexpress.in/walmart-amazon-target-and-gap-suspends-business-orders-from-india Major US retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Gapv have suspended apparel and textile orders from India after US President Donald Trump imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods. Exporters say they have received letters and emails from US buyers asking them to halt shipments until further notice, as the buyers refuse to share the cost burden, pushing Indian suppliers to absorb the tariff hit. https://opinionexpress.in/united-arab-emirates-possible-site-for-his-meeting-with-trump-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that the United Arab Emirates is one possible site for his meeting with US President Donald Trump. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-stands-firm-on-farmers-interests-amid-trumps-tariff-hike A day after US President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions by imposing steep tariffs on Indian goods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a strong and defiant message from New Delhi: India will not compromise on the interests of its farmers, fishermen, and livestock holders. https://opinionexpress.in/nikki-haley-defends-india-amid-trumps-tariff-threats Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley has urged former US President Donald Trump not to jeopardize Washington’s relationship with India while seemingly appeasing China. Her remarks follow Trump’s sharp criticism of New Delhi over its continued imports of Russian crude oil and his announcement of steep tariffs on Indian goods. https://opinionexpress.in/india-slams-trump-tariff-threat-defends-russian-oil-imports In a major trade escalation, India has issued a firm rebuttal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, calling it “unjustified and unreasonable.” Trump had vowed to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued import of discounted Russian oil. https://opinionexpress.in/india-clinch-historic-six-run-win-at-the-oval-test-match In a fitting finale to the England-India Test series at The Oval, Shubman Gill's India edged past England by six runs, India's narrowest Test victory ever, to draw the five-match series 2-2 and share the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Chasing 374, England were bowled out for 367, with pacer Mohammed Siraj delivering a match-winning five-wicket haul, including three vital breakthroughs on the final day. https://opinionexpress.in/india-stands-firm-on-oil-imports-trade-policy-amid-global-pressure India will not yield to external pressure regarding its crude oil procurement, including imports from Russia, senior government officials have confirmed, reinforcing the country’s commitment to energy security and economic independence. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-vikrant-share-best-actor-honour-at-71st-national-film-awards Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has bagged his first-ever National Film Award for Best Actor for his powerful performance in the 2023 blockbuster Jawan. The honour was shared with Vikrant Massey for his moving portrayal in 12th Fail, which also clinched the Best Feature Film award. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced the 71st National Film Awards on Friday evening, following the jury’s report submission, led by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker. https://opinionexpress.in/us-pakistan-oil-deal-sparks-strategic-ripples-trump-targets-india-again U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited tensions in South Asia with a surprise announcement: the United States has struck a new trade deal with Pakistan to develop its “massive” oil reserves. The move comes just days after Trump slapped a 25% tariff on Indian imports and criticized India for continuing to buy oil from Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-echoes-trumps-dead-economy-remark-faces-backlash Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s endorsement of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “dead economy” jibe at India has sparked a political storm, with both allies and party colleagues distancing themselves from his statement. While Gandhi used Trump’s words to attack the Modi government, others in the Opposition and Congress highlighted India’s economic resilience. https://opinionexpress.in/tsunami-threat-over-pacific-after-massive-88-magnitude-earthquake-near-russia A powerful 8.8 magnitude undersea earthquake struck early today off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings and advisories across the Pacific region. The quake, which occurred at approximately 03:17 local time near the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, has been classified by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as one of the top ten most powerful earthquakes recorded globally. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-slams-modi-govts-handling-of-operation-sindoor Rahul Gandhi LoP launched a scathing attack on the Modi government over its handling of Operation Sindoor, accusing it of lacking the political will to allow the armed forces full operational freedom. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-says-pakistan-pleaded-to-end-operation-sindoor Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday strongly countered the Opposition's claims during his reply in the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that the ceasefire declared on May 10 was not under international pressure but after Pakistan "begged" India to stop the military offensive. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-slams-congress-defends-pahalgam-operation-in-parliament Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing counterattack in Parliament on Tuesday, targeting senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram for his remarks questioning the origins of the terrorists behind the Pahalgam massacre. Accusing the Congress of giving Pakistan a "clean chit," Shah said, “When Chidambaram asks for proof, it means he's trying to shield Pakistan. Why save Pakistan?” https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gandhi-slams-government-over-pahalgam-attack-in-ls In a passionate intervention during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of a grave security lapse that led to the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were brutally murdered on April 22. She questioned how a bustling tourist destination like Baisaran Valley was left entirely unguarded, calling it a “massive intelligence failure. https://opinionexpress.in/from-texan-downpours-to-himalayan-deluges What Do Flash Floods Tell Us? https://opinionexpress.in/as-enemies-attack-with-lies-india-has-no-playbook Why India urgently needs an Information Warfare Doctrine? https://opinionexpress.in/witch-hunting-as-gendered-violence-does-india-need-a-national-law On the night of July 6, 2025, five members of a family were burned alive in Bihar's Purnia district after being accused of practicing witchcraft. The sole survivor, a 16-year-old boy of that family, has told the authorities that a mob of around 50 people broke into their home carrying bamboo sticks. The mob first attacked his mother, calling her a witch: and when other members of his family tried to save her https://opinionexpress.in/lok-sabha-stormy-debates-on-operation-sindoor-and-pahalgam-attack A stormy debate erupted in the Lok Sabha on Monday over Operation Sindoor, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserting that the military operation was paused only after achieving its “politico-military objectives,” dismissing any suggestion of foreign pressure. Singh emphasized the strikes were precise, non-escalatory, and destroyed seven terror camps across PoK and Pakistan in just 22 minutes. https://opinionexpress.in/gill-rahul-jadeja-sundar-script-stunning-escape-at-old-trafford-test In a dramatic turnaround at Old Trafford, India clawed their way back from the brink to secure a draw that felt every bit like a victory. Trailing by 311 runs at lunch on Day 4, India were staring down the barrel. But by stumps on Day 5, Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101*) stood tall — unbeaten, unbothered, and unbowed — as India closed on 425/4. https://opinionexpress.in/us-eu-strike-landmark-tariff-deal-to-avert-trade-war In a high-stakes breakthrough, the United States and European Union on Sunday announced a sweeping trade agreement to avert a looming tariff showdown. President Donald Trump hailed it as the “biggest-ever” deal, reached after an hour-long meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his Scottish golf resort. https://opinionexpress.in/spark-awards-entrepreneurial-summit-celebrates-indias-changemakers The SPARK Awards & Entrepreneurial Summit, an initiative by BHIVE and Success Studios, concluded with resounding success, celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact in India’s vibrant startup and creator economy. The event brought together a powerful mix of founders, industry leaders, investors, and mentors committed to purpose-led entrepreneurship and transformative growth. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-mediates-as-thailand-cambodia-signal-willingness-to-end-border-conflict War-inflicted Thailand and Cambodia indicated readiness to pursue peace talks following mediation efforts by former U.S. President Donald Trump, as deadly border clashes entered their fourth day. At least 34 people have been killed and over 168,000 displaced since the violence erupted. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-slams-europes-immigration-policy American President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in Scotland, launched a scathing attack on European immigration policies, warning that unchecked migration could “destroy” the continent. “Immigration is killing Europe,” Trump said on the tarmac after arriving from Washington, adding, “You better get your act together. You’re not going to have Europe anymore.” https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-sets-new-political-milestone On July 25, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 4,078 uninterrupted days in office, surpassing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s record of 4,077 consecutive days served between 1966 and 1977. With this milestone, Modi becomes the second-longest consecutively serving Prime Minister in India’s history, behind only Jawaharlal Nehru. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-raids-anil-ambani-linked-premises-in-massive-money-laundering-probe The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday launched extensive raids at premises linked to Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani in Delhi and Mumbai, as part of a large-scale money laundering investigation. The action follows two FIRs filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleging massive financial irregularities and bank fraud. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-starmer-talks-india-uk-free-trade-deal-set-to-boost-bilateral-ties Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on his fourth visit to the United Kingdom since 2014, is set to sign a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today in London. Accompanied by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, PM Modi’s visit marks the conclusion of three years of intense negotiations that culminated on May 6. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-allies-threaten-india-china-brazil-with-tariffs-over-russian-oil-trade U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has issued a stark warning that the Trump administration is preparing to impose steep tariffs on countries that continue purchasing Russian oil, including India, China, and Brazil. Speaking to Fox News, the Republican lawmaker said a 100 per cent tariff on oil-related imports is under consideration, accusing these nations of fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/vice-president-jagdeep-dhankhar-resigns-citing-health-reasons Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, has resigned from his constitutional post, citing medical advice and the need to prioritise his health. In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar stated that his resignation is effective immediately, as per Article 67(a) of the Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/parliament-to-hold-16-hour-debate-on-operation-sindoor-next-week A 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor has been officially scheduled for next week in Parliament, following strong demands from the Opposition. The decision was taken by the Business Advisory Committee after multiple rounds of discussions with leaders across party lines. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-uk-tighten-sanctions-on-russia-amid-intensified-ukraine-war The European Union and the United Kingdom have unveiled a sweeping new set of sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, intelligence services, and shadow oil fleet in response to Moscow’s continued war on Ukraine, now entering its fourth year. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-unleashes-massive-overnight-drone-and-missile-assault-on-ukraine Russia launched a major overnight assault on Ukraine into Saturday, deploying over 300 drones and more than 30 cruise missiles in what Ukrainian officials described as one of the most intense barrages of the war so far. The wide-scale attack killed at least one civilian and injured several others, while causing significant damage to critical infrastructure. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-questions-modi-after-trumps-five-jets-remark US President Donald Trump’s recent remark that “five jets were shot down” during the India-Pakistan military standoff following the Pahalgam terror attack has triggered a political storm in India. While Trump did not specify whether the downed aircraft were Indian or Pakistani, his vague statement has prompted Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to demand an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-jet-downing-claim-rekindles-debate-on-india-pakistan-air-conflict US President Donald Trump has stirred fresh controversy with his claim that “five jets were shot down” during the military standoff between India and Pakistan in May, following the Pahalgam terror attack. His remarks, made at a closed-door dinner with Republican lawmakers, did not clarify which side suffered the losses but have reignited interest in Operation Sindoor, India’s decisive military retaliation after the April 22 terror strike in Jammu & Kashmir that killed 26 people. https://opinionexpress.in/the-super-power-the-world-needs-sorry-please-and-thank-you Living in a world metastasized by emojis and short-form communications, the soft power of manners is a timeless and potent arsenal for evolution that has been conveniently misunderstood as ineffective. Words have always been the foremost form of expression that impacts human beings on a day-to-day basis. Some of the most impactful words that not only impact others but also bring a sense of calm and peace within are 'SORRY', 'PLEASE', and 'THANK YOU'. Often underestimated, these three powerful words, when used consciously on a day-to-day basis, can change the trajectory of any potentially cumbersome situation towards a peaceful space. When we carry these words, we reflect grace, empathy and human connection. Often overlooked, these simple words carry the seed of something mighty, capable of growing swiftly into a tree that grounds, connects, and nourishes human relationships. https://opinionexpress.in/a-plea-to-the-prime-minister-protecting-the-sacred-mother-cow-of-bharat In the sacred traditions of Sanatan Dharma, it is said that every individual has not one, but three mothers—the biological mother who gave us life, Mother Cow (Gau Mata), and Mother Earth (Dharti Mata). Each plays an irreplaceable role in our survival, nourishment, and spiritual evolution. While our biological mothers are celebrated, many elderly women today find themselves in old age homes, abandoned in the very twilight of life when they need love and care the most. https://opinionexpress.in/japan-flags-china-as-biggest-strategic-challenge-in-new-defence-report Japan has labelled China’s expanding military activities — from its southwestern coasts into the Pacific — as its most significant strategic threat, according to a new defence white paper released Tuesday. The report, submitted by the Defence Ministry to the Cabinet, raises alarm over Beijing’s assertiveness, growing military cooperation with Russia, rising tensions around Taiwan, and threats posed by North Korea. https://opinionexpress.in/india-welcomes-us-move-to-designate-trf-as-terrorist-organisation India on Friday hailed the United States’ decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) — the Pakistan-backed group behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The move was described by New Delhi as a crucial step forward in India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. https://opinionexpress.in/narasimha-rao-changed-indias-future-chandrababu-naidu Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday hailed former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao as a visionary statesman whose bold economic reforms transformed India’s destiny. Speaking at a lecture titled “The Life and Legacy of Former PM Shri PV Narasimha Rao”, Naidu said, “We are enjoying the fruits of his reforms even today.” https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-model-y-debuts-in-india-with-two-rwd-variants Tesla has officially launched its first offering in India — the Model Y, available in two rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variants: Standard RWD and Long-Range RWD. Priced at ?59.89 lakh and ?67.89 lakh respectively (ex-showroom), the on-road prices rise to ?61.07 lakh and ?69.15 lakh. These figures include an “Administration and Service Fee” of ?50,000, inclusive of 18% GST, as detailed on Tesla’s official website. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-pledges-patriot-missiles-to-ukraine-hints-at-new-russia-sanctions US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that Washington would send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, signaling a renewed American commitment to Kyiv’s defense amid Russia’s prolonged aggression. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump confirmed the move, stating, “We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” though he did not specify the quantity. https://opinionexpress.in/eam-jaishankar-meets-chinese-vice-president-han-zheng-signals-positive-turn-in-bilateral-ties External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on Monday, marking a key diplomatic engagement aimed at improving India-China relations. This is Jaishankar's first visit to China in five years and follows a thaw in ties since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-narendra-modis-argentina-visit-marks-new-chapter-in-bilateral-relations Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Argentina carries historic significance and marks a pivotal moment in the bilateral relationship between the two nations. https://opinionexpress.in/india-showcases-precision-strike-prowess-in-operation-sindoor-nsa-ajit-doval India’s cutting-edge military capabilities were demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval revealed while addressing the 62nd convocation of IIT Madras on Friday. In a swift 23-minute operation past 1 am on May 7, Indian forces struck nine terror targets deep inside Pakistan, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-new-tariffs-on-copper-and-pharma-may-hit-india-hard US President Donald Trump has announced a 50% tariff on copper imports and signaled a massive 200% duty on pharmaceuticals starting next year—moves that could significantly impact India, one of America’s major trade partners. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-signals-trade-deal-with-india-near-despite-hurdles-in-agriculture-talks Even as the United States rolled out a new wave of tariffs on several countries, President Donald Trump on Tuesday indicated that Washington is close to finalising a trade deal with India. Speaking at the White House, Trump noted progress in talks, saying, “We’re close to making a deal with India,” while announcing fresh tariff letters to nations including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Bangladesh, set to take effect from August 1. https://opinionexpress.in/dalai-lama-birthday-message-sparks-diplomatic-rebuke-from-china-to-india China has lodged a formal protest with India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday greetings to the 14th Dalai Lama and the presence of senior Indian leaders at the Tibetan spiritual leader’s 90th birthday celebrations in Dharamshala. https://opinionexpress.in/gills-heroics-akash-fairytale-haul-powers-india-to-historic-edgbaston-win Akash Deep, a little-known pacer from Bihar’s Sasaram, scripted a dream comeback story as India crushed England by 336 runs at Edgbaston to level the five-Test series 1-1 and break a 58-year jinx at the venue. With Jasprit Bumrah missing, the 28-year-old seized the moment, grabbing a match-haul of 10 wickets, including a career-best 6/99 in the second innings. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-communitys-contributions-fuel-canadas-progress Canada Day, which is celebrated every year on July 1, is one of the most important national holidays in Canada's history. This year, Canada celebrates the 158th birthday of its nation. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-launches-largest-aerial-assault-on-kyiv Kyiv endured its worst night since the Russian invasion began over three years ago, as waves of drones and missiles rained down in a seven-hour bombardment, killing one and wounding at least 26. Ukrainian officials reported 550 aerial weapons were launched, including Shahed drones and 11 missiles. Debris blanketed city streets as emergency teams removed over 300 tons of rubble. Five ambulances were damaged in the response. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-iran-strike-sends-shockwaves-across-asia-pacific President Donald Trump’s surprise military strike on Iranian nuclear sites has sent ripples far beyond the Middle East, impacting strategic calculations in the Asia-Pacific region. The June 22 U.S. attack—using B-2 bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles—helped end the 12-day Iran-Israel war, but also signaled a shift in Trump’s foreign policy doctrine. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-signs-45-trillion-one-big-beautiful-bill-into-law Trump Signs $4.5 Trillion 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Into Law https://opinionexpress.in/is-canada-experiencing-drug-addiction-and-homeless-victims People in eastern Canada who have difficulties with society go west in search of the promised land. A lot of people discover it, like those from the east coast who live in Ontario. In the past, the west coast has had high salaries, as in BC and, more recently, Alberta. People who struggle to find work in the east often move westward instead. They can't go any farther west or south when they get to Vancouver, so they all end up there. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-45-trillion-tax-and-spending-bill-clears-congress-amid-deep-divisions In a major political victory for President Donald Trump, House Republicans narrowly passed his sweeping $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill on Thursday, cementing a key second-term agenda just ahead of the July Fourth deadline. The vote, 218–214, saw two Republicans join all Democrats in opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-ghana-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-partnership-level In a landmark development, India and Ghana on Wednesday elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment as a co-traveller in Ghana’s development journey. This historic visit marks the first by an Indian prime minister to the West African nation in over three decades. https://opinionexpress.in/sbi-at-70-driving-indias-digital-and-inclusive-growth-journey As the State Bank of India (SBI) marks 70 years of dedicated service, it stands tall as a cornerstone of India’s financial system, touching the lives of over 52 crore people. With the largest banking network in the country—over 23,000 branches, 64,000 ATMs, and 78,000 Customer Service Points—SBI has cemented its role as the “Banker to every Indian.” https://opinionexpress.in/dalai-lama-confirms-continuation-of-his-spiritual-institution-amid-succession-concerns In a landmark announcement ahead of his 90th birthday, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, the 14th Dalai Lama, confirmed that the revered institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after his death, addressing widespread concerns among Tibetans and global followers. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-vs-musk-feud-erupts-over-subsidies-and-spending-bill A political firestorm erupted Monday as President Donald Trump lashed out at Elon Musk amid growing tensions over the administration’s flagship spending legislation—the $4.5 trillion "One Big Beautiful Bill." Trump threatened to pull federal subsidies from Musk’s companies, suggesting the billionaire “would probably have to close up shop and head back home” to South Africa without government support. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-launches-largest-aerial-assault-on-ukraine-since-start-of-war In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Russia launched its most extensive aerial attack on Ukraine overnight, marking a grim milestone in the ongoing three-year war. Ukraine’s air force reported that 537 aerial weapons were fired, including 477 drones and 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were intercepted, while 226 were likely deflected through electronic jamming. https://opinionexpress.in/top-iranian-ayatollah-issues-fatwa-against-trump-netanyahu In a further dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Iran’s most senior Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, has issued a fatwa declaring U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “enemies of God.” The religious decree, made public through Iran’s Mehr News Agency, calls on Muslims worldwide to unite against the two leaders for threatening the Islamic Republic’s leadership and sovereignty. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-crash-in-ahmedabad-full-aaib-probe-underway-aviation-minister Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, including examining the possibility of sabotage. The minister emphasized that no aspect of the incident is being overlooked and that multiple agencies are involved in reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence. https://opinionexpress.in/how-to-be-truly-successful I believe true success is not just about wealth: it is about inner strength and a smile that lasts through challenges. https://opinionexpress.in/advantages-of-yoga-therapy-practice-philosophy How many of our readers consider Yoga practice a possible means of prevention and treatment for the many non-communicable diseases from which they and their relatives may happen to suffer? https://opinionexpress.in/markets-extend-winning-run-for-fourth-session-sensex-reclaims-84000-mark Equity benchmark indices extended their rally for the fourth consecutive session on Friday, buoyed by strong gains in blue-chip stocks like ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries, along with fresh foreign fund inflows. Improved global sentiment, a firm rupee, and declining crude oil prices added to the upbeat mood. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-hails-pv-narasimha-rao-transformational-leadership Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid heartfelt tribute to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary, acknowledging his pivotal role in steering India through a critical phase of economic transition. In a post on X, PM Modi described Rao as a statesman of remarkable intellect and vision, noting that the nation remains deeply grateful for his effective leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-hints-at-very-big-trade-deal-with-india-amid-strengthening-bilateral-ties In a recent address at the White House's ‘Big Beautiful Event,’ US President Donald Trump hinted at a potentially monumental trade agreement with India, describing it as a "very big one" in the pipeline. The comment comes on the heels of four-day high-level negotiations between Indian and American officials focused on enhancing trade relations and reducing barriers. https://opinionexpress.in/air-force-pilot-shubhanshu-shukla-becomes-first-indian-to-board-iss In a landmark moment for Indian space exploration, Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla etched his name in history Thursday by becoming the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla arrived aboard the Crew Dragon capsule as part of the Axiom-4 private space mission, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. https://opinionexpress.in/mixed-signals-from-trump-administration-after-strikes-on-iran-spark-global-alarm A day after the United States bombed Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, the Trump administration sent conflicting messages—balancing threats of regime change with talk of renewed diplomacy. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, declaring, “If the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime Change?? MIGA!!!” The post sharply contrasted with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier statement that the mission “was not about regime change.” https://opinionexpress.in/iran-threatens-all-us-personnel-in-middle-east-after-strikes-on-nuclear-sites Tensions in West Asia escalated dramatically on Sunday after Iran issued a chilling warning targeting every American citizen and military personnel in the region. The threat comes in response to the United States’ unprecedented airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—which marked Washington’s formal entry into Israel’s war with Iran. https://opinionexpress.in/us-bombs-iranian-nuclear-sites-officially-enters-war-alongside-israel In a historic escalation, the United States on Sunday bombed three key nuclear facilities in Iran—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—marking its formal entry into Israel’s ongoing war with Iran. This is the first direct American military strike on Iranian soil since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The move has sent shockwaves across the Middle East, heightening fears of a full-scale regional war. https://opinionexpress.in/yoga-the-global-path-to-peace-and-wellness Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam, hailed yoga as the "pause button" the world urgently needs amid rising conflicts and stress. Calling for a global transformation, he urged people to embrace "Yoga for Humanity 2.0", where inner peace becomes global policy. https://opinionexpress.in/african-unity-nite-2025-in-oman Under the patronage of the African Committee in Oman, the African Unity Nite 2025 held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ruwi, was a splendid celebration of African culture, tourism, and international cooperation. The theme, “Visit Africa: Familiarizing the World with Africa’s Tourism Potential”, highlighted the richness and diversity of African heritage while underlining the significance of sustainable tourism and economic growth.Oman, under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, has shown a steadfast commitment to fostering peace and supporting humanitarian efforts across Africa, particularly in Sudan. In collaboration with the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Development Goals (UNASDG), the Sultanate has played a pivotal role in launching initiatives that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on poverty alleviation, healthcare improvement, and economic development.A special acknowledgment goes to Sheykh Abdullah bin Mubarak Al Hamdani, Ambassador of Oman to the UNASDG, whose unwavering support and dedication have significantly strengthened the bridge of cooperation between Oman and Sudan. His leadership, along with that of His Excellency Dr. El Nazeir Ibrahim Mohamed Abu Sail, International Legal Advisor and Strategic Advisor, and fellow Ambassador of UNASDG, has been instrumental in advancing strategic partnerships and fostering sustainable  https://opinionexpress.in/trump-weighs-us-military-action-as-israel-iran-war-enters-critical-phase U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to involve the American military directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing a “substantial chance” for renewed talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. His comments, delivered by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, come amid rising regional instability. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-vows-retaliation-as-hospital-strike-sparks-escalation-in-iran-conflict Tensions between Israel and Iran soared further on Thursday after a missile strike blamed on Tehran hit a hospital near Tel Aviv, injuring at least 47 people. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, launched a scathing attack on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling him a war criminal and declaring that he “can no longer be allowed to exist.” https://opinionexpress.in/putin-offers-to-mediate-israel-iran-conflict-amid-shifting-global-alliances Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday proposed Russia as a mediator to resolve the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting that Moscow could help craft a framework allowing Tehran to maintain a peaceful nuclear program while addressing Israeli security concerns. https://opinionexpress.in/us-weighs-military-action-in-israel-iran-conflict As the Israel-Iran conflict entered its seventh day on Thursday, both nations exchanged fresh missile strikes, raising fears of a broader regional war. The Israeli military confirmed late Wednesday that air raid sirens were activated nationwide following missile and drone attacks launched from Iran. One Iranian drone was intercepted by Israel's defense systems. https://opinionexpress.in/tehran-escalates-conflict-with-hypersonic-missile-strikes The conflict between Iran and Israel intensified dramatically as Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared open war, stating on social media, “In the name of God, the battle begins.” He further vowed a “strong response” against the “terrorist Zionist regime,” warning of relentless retaliation. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-exits-g7-early-amid-middle-east-crisis-pushes-for-iran-israel-ceasefire U.S. President Donald Trump departed the G7 summit in Canada a day early on Monday due to escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran. The White House said Trump left after a dinner with world leaders in Kananaskis, Alberta, to return to Washington and address the Middle East crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-iran-war-trump-urges-evacuation-calls-deal-rejection-a-shame Israel and Iran traded airstrikes for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, with deadly attacks continuing across both nations. U.S. President Donald Trump, attending the G7 summit in Canada, announced he would depart early to address the escalating crisis. He reiterated his warning to Iran, saying it rejected a proposed nuclear deal and declaring: “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.” Trump urged civilians to evacuate Tehran immediately. https://opinionexpress.in/tehran-in-crisis-as-israel-iran-conflict-spirals-g7-calls-for-de-escalation Tehran is reeling under a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes, as explosions echoed across the capital Monday night amid the most dangerous escalation in the region in decades. Israeli jets and drones have targeted multiple strategic sites across Iran, including the state-run television station during a live broadcast and a major gas facility in the Persian Gulf. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-may-retaliate-with-nuclear-force-if-israel-bombs-iran-iranian-general Amid intensifying conflict in the Middle East, a senior Iranian military official has claimed that Pakistan has pledged to retaliate with nuclear force if Israel uses a nuclear weapon against Iran. The assertion was made by General Mohsen Rezaei, a top commander in Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a member of the country’s National Security Council. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-denies-us-role-in-iran-strikes-warns-of-retaliation-if-attacked Former US President Donald Trump on Sunday firmly denied any American involvement in the overnight Israeli strikes on Iran, while issuing a stark warning to Tehran against any attempt to target the United States. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-iran-conflict-escalates-with-strikes-on-nuclear-energy-sites Tensions between Israel and Iran reached new heights early Sunday as both countries exchanged fresh attacks, intensifying a dangerous military confrontation. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed it had carried out an “extensive series of strikes” on key Iranian military and nuclear targets in Tehran under Operation Rising Lion. https://opinionexpress.in/south-africa-clinch-historic-first-wtc-title-end-27-year-icc-trophy-drought South Africa scripted history at Lord’s on Sunday, ending a 27-year-long wait for an ICC title by defeating Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final. In a match filled with drama, grit, and unforgettable performances, the Proteas chased down a challenging 282-run target to seal a remarkable seven-wicket win on Day 4. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-launches-over-100-drones-at-israel-amid-escalating-retaliation Tensions in the Middle East surged further as Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel in a retaliatory strike, following Israeli airstrikes on Tehran earlier this week. Brigadier General Effie Deffrin, chief spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), confirmed the development, stating that “all the defense systems are acting to intercept the threats.” https://opinionexpress.in/iran-attacked-by-israeli-strikes-amid-escalating-tensions In a major escalation of Middle Eastern hostilities, Iranian state television confirmed that Gen. Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in Israeli airstrikes early Friday. Salami’s death marks a severe blow to Iran’s military and political establishment, which has already been reeling from a series of setbacks over the past 20 months. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-flight-ai171-crashes-in-ahmedabad-all-242-on-board-killed In a devastating aviation tragedy, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The flight, AI171, was en route to London Gatwick when it plunged to the ground at 1:38 PM, erupting into a massive fireball. https://opinionexpress.in/carlos-alcarazs-epic-triumph-a-french-open-classic-for-the-ages Carlos Alcaraz etched his name deeper into tennis history on Sunday night with a breathtaking comeback win over Jannik Sinner in the 2025 French Open final. In a match that lasted five hours and 29 minutes — the longest final in Roland Garros history — the 21-year-old Spaniard rallied from two sets down to win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2). https://opinionexpress.in/gop-pushes-sweeping-bill-to-roll-back-obamacare-green-energy-tax-breaks Republicans are advancing a sweeping legislative package that not only aims to extend $4.5 trillion in Trump-era tax cuts but also dismantles key domestic programs enacted under Presidents Obama and Biden. The 1,000-plus-page bill, championed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, includes controversial provisions targeting Medicaid and green energy tax breaks, stoking fierce political debate as it moves to the Senate. https://opinionexpress.in/us-expert-warns-of-worse-than-covid-threat In a chilling warning, renowned China expert Gordon G. Chang has said the United States may face “something worse than Covid” if it fails to confront growing threats from China, following the arrest of two Chinese scientists for allegedly smuggling a dangerous fungus into the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-hold-key-diplomatic-talks-post-operation-sindoor Top diplomats from India and China met in Beijing on Thursday to reaffirm their commitment to implementing the consensus reached by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during last year’s summit in Russia. This marks the first formal diplomatic engagement following India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. https://opinionexpress.in/india-invited-to-g7-summit-as-canadas-pm-mark-carney-emphasizes-its-global-role Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday emphasized India's critical role in global affairs, confirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the upcoming G7 Leaders Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, later this month. As chair of the G7, Carney underscored that India’s participation is essential, given its status as the fifth-largest economy and the world’s most populous nation. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-cuts-repo-rate-by-50-bps-to-55-amid-softening-inflation In a significant move to boost economic activity, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the key repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5%, following a unanimous decision at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held from June 4–6, chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. This marks the second consecutive rate cut in two months, aimed at making borrowing cheaper as inflation continues to ease https://opinionexpress.in/america-resonates-with-the-legacy-of-rajmata-ahilyabai-holkar PRESS RELEASE https://opinionexpress.in/ukraines-operation-spiderweb-signals-new-drone-warfare-era Ukraine’s audacious “Operation Spiderweb” struck deep into Russian air bases on Sunday, damaging or destroying over 40 military aircraft — including strategic bombers and airborne command jets — with low-cost, AI-assisted drones reportedly launched from wooden crates. https://opinionexpress.in/khamenei-cautions-against-us-nuclear-proposal-but-leaves-door-open-to-talks Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has criticized a recent American proposal aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme, describing it as “100 per cent against the idea of ‘we can.’” While drawing a red line on uranium enrichment, he stopped short of rejecting negotiations with Washington altogether. https://opinionexpress.in/gen-anil-chauhan-india-redefined-response-to-terror-with-operation-sindoor Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, addressing students at Savitribai Phule Pune University, emphasized that temporary setbacks in military operations are insignificant when compared to strategic outcomes. Referring to India’s bold military response through Operation Sindoor, Gen Chauhan stated that the operation marked a paradigm shift in India's counter-terror approach. https://opinionexpress.in/rcb-clinch-maiden-ipl-title-with-thrilling-win-over-punjab-kings After 18 long years of heartbreaks and near-misses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally laid their hands on the coveted Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in a nail-biting final. The victory marked RCB’s first-ever IPL title, ending a wait that has spanned since the league’s inception in 2008. https://opinionexpress.in/seminar-on-indian-knowledge-system PRESS NOTE https://opinionexpress.in/us-second-lady-usha-vance-india-us-relationship-is-very-personal At the eighth edition of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit, Usha Vance, Second Lady of the United States, highlighted the deeply personal nature of the India-US relationship for her. Speaking at a fireside chat moderated by USISPF Chairman John Chambers, Vance shared reflections rooted in her Indian heritage and cross-cultural upbringing. https://opinionexpress.in/jamaats-return-to-bangladesh-politics-raises-regional-security-concerns In a major political development, Bangladesh's Supreme Court has reinstated the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, allowing their return to electoral politics. This comes after the Muhammad Yunus-led government lifted the ban on the Islamist party last year, sparking intense debate over its implications for Bangladesh’s democratic and secular fabric. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-markets-nosedive-as-trumps-tariff-threats-rattle-global-sentiment Indian equity markets plunged sharply on Monday, triggered by renewed trade tensions after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to double tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. The benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 700 points in early trade, while the NSE Nifty slipped by more than 200 points, reflecting widespread investor anxiety during an already volatile earnings season. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-launches-unprecedented-drone-strikes-deep-into-russia In a dramatic escalation, Ukraine launched its most extensive drone operation to date, targeting Russian military bases thousands of kilometers from the frontlines. On Sunday, drones struck multiple airfields, including the first-ever confirmed attack in Siberia. The Irkutsk region governor acknowledged that a military unit in Sridni village had been hit, marking a significant geographic expansion of Ukraine's drone capabilities. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-global-outreach-gains-momentum-after-pahalgam-attack India’s all-party parliamentary delegations are on an intensive diplomatic mission across 33 global capitals, mobilising international support following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. These delegations are emphasizing India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and exposing Pakistan’s role as a state sponsor of terror. https://opinionexpress.in/why-us-companies-are-unlikely-to-return-to-russia-anytime-soon Despite hints from Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin about restoring U.S.-Russia trade after the war, a return of American businesses to Russia remains highly improbable. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-agrees-to-resume-peace-talks-with-russia-in-istanbul Ukraine has confirmed its readiness to resume direct peace negotiations with Russia in Istanbul on Monday, according to a statement from Andrii Yermak, top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The announcement follows days of uncertainty over Ukraine’s participation in talks proposed by Moscow. https://opinionexpress.in/india-surpasses-china-as-top-iphone-exporter-to-the-us-amid-trade-tensions India has overtaken China as the leading exporter of iPhones to the United States, shipping nearly three million units in April, according to a report by market research firm Omdia. In stark contrast, shipments from China plunged 76% to just 900,000 units, signaling a major shift in Apple’s global supply chain strategy. https://opinionexpress.in/vp-dhankhar-warns-of-demographic-invasion-by-20-million-illegal-migrants Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday sounded a strong alarm over what he termed a “demographic invasion,” stating that over 20 million illegal migrants currently residing in India pose a serious threat to national security, sovereignty, and social cohesion. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-steps-down-as-doge-chief-amid-political-tensions-and-business-setbacks Elon Musk has announced the end of his tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role he assumed following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. In a public statement, Musk thanked the President for the opportunity, noting that the mission to curb wasteful government spending is far from over and would eventually evolve into a “way of life” within the federal system. https://opinionexpress.in/musical-harmony-breaching-borders For ages, Music has been the force that gives spirit to civilizations, transcending the barriers of boundaries, language and generations. In an Epoch of globalization, the amalgamation of musical traditions from diverse cultures holds the power to reshape our collaborative cultural narrative. Among the most vibrant and historically abundant traditions are the sounds of Peru and India. Distinct in origin, yet profoundly complementary in spirit. Parallel legacies, distinct identities Indian music, rooted in centuries of classical traditions like Hindustani and Carnatic, thrives in intricate ragas, improvisation and deep spiritual connection. Similarly, Peruvian music draws from Andean, Spanish and African influence, blending various instruments like Charango, Quena and Cajon to create soulful and rhythmic melodies. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-to-mcdonalds-no-red-carpet-for-return-to-russia President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that Russia will not offer any special welcome to McDonald’s or other Western companies seeking to return after their exit amid sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. Addressing a Kremlin meeting with top Russian business leaders, Putin emphasized that companies like McDonald’s that abruptly pulled out in 2022 should not expect preferential treatment if they decide to re-enter the Russian market. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-launches-largest-drone-attack-on-ukraine-as-tensions-escalate In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Russia launched its most extensive drone assault on Ukraine since the beginning of the war over three years ago. Ukrainian officials reported that 355 drones and nine cruise missiles were fired in a single night, marking a significant intensification in the ongoing conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/assam-cm-counters-bangladesh-remarks-on-chickens-neck Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has hit back at provocative remarks made by Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus regarding India’s strategic Siliguri corridor—commonly known as the “Chicken’s Neck.” Sarma underlined that Bangladesh itself has two such narrow and strategically vulnerable corridors, potentially more susceptible than India’s. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-higher-as-india-climbs-to-fourth-spot-in-global-economy-rankings Domestic equity benchmarks opened on a strong note today, buoyed by positive sentiment following India’s climb to the position of the world’s fourth-largest economy. At 9:32 am, the Sensex surged 640.3 points or 0.78% to 82,361.46, while the Nifty rose 187.39 points or 0.75% to 25,040.45. https://opinionexpress.in/india-overtakes-japan-to-become-worlds-fourth-largest-economy India has officially become the fourth-largest economy in the world, surpassing Japan, according to NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam. Addressing the media after the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, Subrahmanyam highlighted the country’s accelerating economic momentum, citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) data to confirm the milestone. https://opinionexpress.in/shubman-gill-named-indias-new-test-captain In a major shift marking the dawn of a new era in Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has been appointed the new captain of the Indian Test team. The announcement was made on Saturday by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as they unveiled the squad for the upcoming Test series against England. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-urge-fatf-to-re-list-pakistan-in-grey-list-over-terror-financing India is preparing to formally approach the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place Pakistan back on its “grey list” for failing to curb terror financing and money laundering, a senior government source confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/india-rebukes-pakistan-over-indus-waters-treaty-amid-escalating-tensions India has strongly condemned Pakistan for spreading “disinformation” regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, which India suspended on April 23 following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which killed 26 people, was linked to cross-border terrorism, prompting New Delhi to pause the 1960 agreement. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-crisis-deepens-as-interim-leader-yunus-considers-resignation Bangladesh’s interim leader, Professor Muhammad Yunus, is contemplating resignation amid growing political instability and a lack of consensus among major political parties, BBC Bangla reported late Thursday. The report cites National Citizen Party (NCP) chief Nhid Islam, a key figure in the student-led uprising that brought Yunus to power earlier this year. https://opinionexpress.in/india-blames-pak-army-chief-for-pahalgam-terror-attack India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has squarely blamed Pakistan’s Army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for triggering the recent India-Pakistan military confrontation, calling him the ideological inspiration behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. https://opinionexpress.in/china-has-no-right-to-decide-its-status-taiwan Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung asserted on Wednesday that China has no authority to determine whether Taiwan is a country, emphasizing the island’s democratic self-governance. Marking President Lai Ching-te’s first year in office, Lin highlighted Taiwan’s identity and independence, underscoring its right to choose its own leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/when-the-law-betrays-its-own-how-india-is-failing-its-young-legal-minds In a nation where the judiciary is hailed as the guardian of democracy and the Constitution its sacred text, one would expect legal education and judicial recruitment to embody the same reverence. Yet, tens of thousands of law aspirants across India find themselves trapped in a web of institutional apathy, policy paralysis and systemic dysfunction. From the CLAT 2025 debacle to indefinitely postponed judicial service exams and a worsening judicial vacancy crisis, the picture is grim. At the heart of this turmoil lies a generation of young legal minds - demoralized, underemployed, and dangerously disillusioned. https://opinionexpress.in/the-misery-of-guardianship When former presidents speak out, it's not politics, it's prophecy. https://opinionexpress.in/the-waqf-awakening-indias-bold-step-toward-fairness In the age of a rapidly evolving India, where laws and institutions are being reoriented to serve a democratic and inclusive future, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 stands as a watershed moment—one that attempts to redistribute power, resources, and accountability in a domain long shrouded in opacity and feudal relics. Now passed by both Houses of Parliament, this amendment signals not just a legal shift, but a societal realignment—away from medieval forms of property endowments towards a more equitable framework grounded in constitutional values. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-vows-total-victory-amid-global-condemnation-of-gaza-offensive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his government's determination to achieve "total victory" in Gaza, even as key allies — the United Kingdom, France, and Canada — issued a rare joint rebuke over Israel's military actions and aid blockade in the besieged Palestinian territory. https://opinionexpress.in/top-lashkar-terrorist-abu-saifullah-gunned-down-in-pakistans-sindh Rajullah Nizamani, better known by his alias Abu Saifullah, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, has been shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Saifullah was a key figure in Lashkar’s operations, allegedly involved in major terror attacks across India, including the 2006 assault on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-power-now-commands-global-respect-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat Speaking at a programme at Ravinath Ashram in Harmara, Jaipur, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday that while India remains deeply committed to global harmony and welfare, the world now acknowledges the nation's growing strength. Emphasizing that true peace is heeded only when backed by power, Bhagwat underlined the need for strength as a prerequisite for global influence. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-imposes-11-new-conditions-on-pakistan-amid-rising-india-tensions The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has added 11 stringent new conditions to Pakistan’s bailout programme, raising the total to 50, as part of the agreement for the next tranche of financial aid. These conditions, disclosed in the latest Staff Level report released Saturday, come amid rising geopolitical tensions with India, which the IMF warned could threaten the programme’s fiscal and reform objectives. https://opinionexpress.in/india-dispatches-7-all-party-delegations-to-counter-global-terror-narrative In a landmark diplomatic outreach, the Government of India has constituted seven all-party delegations comprising 59 members to travel across 32 countries and the EU headquarters in Brussels, aiming to convey India’s strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism. The initiative comes in the wake of the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, prompting India to launch Operation Sindoor on May 7. https://opinionexpress.in/balochistans-bid-for-freedom-a-new-test-for-south-asian-conscience On May 14, 2025, the world witnessed a dramatic turn in South Asia’s political landscape. In a historic declaration led by Mir Yar Baloch and other exiled leaders, the Republic of Balochistan was proclaimed independent from Pakistan. The proclamation has reignited questions of regional justice and stability—and placed India at a moral and strategic crossroads.India, as the world’s largest democracy and a civilizational voice for dignity and pluralism, has a rare opportunity to shape the narrative. Its foundational principles of justice, freedom, and self-determination demand a thoughtful engagement with Balochistan’s plea. Just as it stood with the Bengali people in 1971, India today must decide whether it will remain a bystander or rise as a principled actor in South Asia.Balochistan’s struggle is not new. In 1947, the Khan of Kalat declared independence, invoking treaties with the British that recognized Kalat’s sovereignty. But in March 1948, the Pakistani military annexed the region. The accession, signed under pressure, was never accepted by the Baloch people. The decades since have witnessed five armed uprisings, each met with brutal crackdowns. Human rights groups have documented disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and mass graves—an unrelenting pattern of repression.Rich in resources, yet impoverished—Balochistan remains Pakistan’s neglected paradox. Despite contributing significantly to Pakistan’s natural gas output and mineral wealth, the region suffers from chronic underdevelopment. Cities like Dera Bugti and Turbat still lack basic infrastructure, while gas from Balochistan fuels homes in Lahore and Karachi. Development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have only deepened the sense of exploitation, as locals are displaced while benefits accrue to elites elsewhere.The reality is clear: Balochistan is governed not as a province, but as an occupied frontier. The Pakistani establishment, dominated by military and Punjabi elites, continues to operate through coercion rather than consensus. The militarization of Gwadar and surrounding districts has intensified feelings of disenfranchisement. State repression is not incidental—it is systemic.To be fair, Pakistan often justifies its heavy-handedness in Balochistan by citing national security concerns, fears of external interference, and aspirations to preserve territorial integrity. These concerns, while not entirely baseless, cannot excuse decades of sustained human rights violations and political exclusion.India’s approach to Balochistan has traditionally been one of restraint. But Pakistan’s repeated internationalization of Kashmir, combined with its internal failures in Balochistan, has altered the regional calculus. For India, Balochistan is not just a counter-lever—it is a test of ethical statecraft.If realized, Balochistan’s independence could dramatically reshape the subcontinent’s strategic landscape. Pakistan’s access to the Arabian Sea would be curtailed. CPEC—a flagship of China’s Belt and Road Initiative—would face serious logistical and security hurdles. China’s $60 billion investment would be exposed to new risks, recalibrating Beijing’s ambitions in the region. At the same time, Pakistan’s internal balance—already fragile due to rising dissent in Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—would be further destabilized.Yet this is not the time for hasty moves. India must proceed with strategic patience and diplomatic subtlety. Formal recognition of Balochistan is premature. Instead, India should begin by quietly amplifying the Baloch voice on international platforms. This includes engaging with the Baloch diaspora, supporting documentation of abuses, and fostering informal ties with the Baloch government-in-exile.New Delhi can also offer non-military assistance—training civil society actors, funding research on regional autonomy, and enabling humanitarian support for Baloch refugees. A discreet yet sustained engagement would signal India’s principled alignment without inviting direct confrontation.It is equally important to humanize the Baloch cause. Figures like Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch, a physician-turned-guerrilla leader, and Karima Baloch, a slain human rights activist in exile, embody the struggle's tragic complexity. Their stories must be told—not to romanticize insurgency, but to illuminate the desperation that fuels it. The world needs to understand that Balochistan is not merely a cartographic unit; it is a land of silenced voices and stolen futures.As a regional power with global aspirations, India cannot afford to ignore the moral dimensions of its neighbourhood. Justice in Balochistan is not about partitioning Pakistan—it is about holding accountable a state that has repeatedly failed to protect the rights of its own citizens. It is about making space for dignity, democracy, and voice in a region starved of all three.Pakistan, meanwhile, stands at a reckoning. A country that invokes religious solidarity abroad while oppressing ethnic minorities at home cannot sustain legitimacy. The same structural fault lines that tore East Pakistan apart are now widening in its west. A state that survives on coercion is always one crisis away from collapse.Balochistan’s declaration may not yet change borders—but it has already changed the discourse. The world is watching how regional powers respond. For India, this is a defining moment to show that its global rise is anchored not just in power, but in principle.History may not repeat itself exactly—but it rhymes. And in the cries from Gwadar and Quetta, one can hear the faint echo of 1971. Will we listen this time? https://opinionexpress.in/indus-treaty-suspension-reignites-tulbul-debate-sparks-omar-mehbooba-spat A political spat has erupted between National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah and People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti over the revival of the Tulbul Navigation Barrage project on Wullar Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. The exchange turned bitter after Abdullah suggested resuming work on the decades-old project, citing the Centre’s recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following the Pahalgam terror attack. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-holds-first-ministerial-level-talks-with-afghan-talibans-government In a significant diplomatic outreach, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar spoke with Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday — marking the first formal ministerial-level interaction between India and Afghanistan’s Taliban administration. https://opinionexpress.in/west-attempting-to-sow-discord-between-india-and-china-lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the West of deliberately provoking tensions between India and China to serve its strategic interests in Asia. Speaking at the "Culture without Borders" diplomatic club, Lavrov said the rebranding of the Asia-Pacific into the "Indo-Pacific" by Western powers was part of a geopolitical strategy to marginalise China and fuel rivalry in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/india-set-to-boost-defence-budget-by-50000-crore-after-op-sindoor India’s defence budget is poised for a significant ?50,000 crore increase following Operation Sindoor, sources told NDTV. This likely addition via a supplementary budget will push total defence spending beyond ?7 lakh crore for the financial year 2025–26. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-continue-complicated-trade-talks-amid-global-agreements External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed ongoing trade negotiations between India and the United States, describing them as “complicated” but critical. Speaking at the inauguration of Honduras’ new embassy in New Delhi on Thursday, Jaishankar said, “Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial... nothing is decided until everything is decided.” https://opinionexpress.in/india-holds-firm-as-pakistan-urges-reinstatement-of-indus-waters-treaty In the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, citing national security concerns. The landmark 1960 accord, brokered by the World Bank, had survived decades of conflict — until now. India’s decision, backed by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), marks the first time the treaty has been placed in abeyance. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-saudi-crown-prince-ink-600-billion-investment-deal Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed Saudi Arabia’s leadership after the White House unveiled a sweeping $600 billion investment commitment from the kingdom into the United States. The announcement came during Trump’s appearance at a high-profile investment forum in Riyadh, where he also revealed a controversial decision to lift all U.S. sanctions on Syria, stating it was “to give them a chance at greatness.” https://opinionexpress.in/beijing-miffed-after-pakistan-sidesteps-china-in-ceasefire-talks As tensions eased following India’s decisive Operation Sindoor—launched in response to the Pakistan-linked Pahalgam terror attack—global focus shifted to the dramatic ceasefire declared on May 9. While India confirmed that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) had initiated a request for ceasefire, four nations—India, Pakistan, the United States, and China—released sharply contrasting statements, each claiming a role in de-escalation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reiterates-firm-stand-on-kashmir-rejects-mediation-offers India's position on Jammu and Kashmir remains unchanged, the Ministry of External Affairs affirmed on Tuesday, emphasizing that the only issue pending with Pakistan is the return of territories illegally occupied by it. The assertion came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation and amid renewed mediation offers from U.S. President Donald Trump. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-visits-adampur-air-base-after-ceasefire-hails-armed-forces-bravery Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited the Indian Air Force Station in Adampur, Punjab, just days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following four days of high-intensity cross-border strikes. The visit came in the aftermath of Pakistan’s failed attempt to strike Adampur during the night of May 9-10, in retaliation to India’s Operation Sindoor. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-claims-credit-for-averting-indo-pak-nuclear-war In a dramatic press briefing on May 12, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed credit for averting a “bad nuclear war” between India and Pakistan, stating that both nations were on the brink of a devastating conflict. He praised the leadership of both countries, calling them “powerful and unwavering,” and credited his administration, particularly Vice President JD Vance and Secretary Rubio, for brokering what he called a “full and immediate ceasefire.” https://opinionexpress.in/virat-kohli-bids-emotional-farewell-to-test-cricket Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious red-ball career that spanned 14 years and redefined India's presence in the longest format of the game. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-economy-resilient-gdp-growth-seen-at-65-cii-president India’s economy is poised to grow at 6.5% in the current fiscal year, supported by a robust domestic foundation and rising investment momentum, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President Sanjiv Puri said in a recent interview. He asserted that despite ongoing global geopolitical tensions, India remains resilient and well-positioned to weather short-term shocks. https://opinionexpress.in/china-reaffirms-support-for-pakistan China on Saturday reaffirmed its continued support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid rising tensions in South Asia, even as global powers welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-soar-after-india-pakistan-ceasefire-global-cues-boost-rally Indian equity markets surged this morning as investors responded positively to the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after weeks of military escalation following the Pahalgam terror attack. The BSE Sensex opened 1,500 points—or 2%—higher, while the NSE Nifty50 shot up 500 points within the first 15 minutes of trade. https://opinionexpress.in/india-warns-pakistan-after-ceasefire-breach-says-over-100-terrorists-eliminated India has formally put Pakistan "on notice" following multiple violations of a US-brokered ceasefire, which ended a high-intensity 100-hour conflict marked by drone swarms, missile strikes, and the downing of fighter jets on both sides. https://opinionexpress.in/us-china-talks-mark-total-reset-amid-trade-war-tensions In a surprise development, former US President Donald Trump hailed a “total reset” in trade talks with China, following high-level negotiations held discreetly in Geneva, Switzerland. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the discussions as “friendly, but constructive,” and claimed “great progress made,” though he offered no specifics. https://opinionexpress.in/ceasefire-broken-pakistan-resumes-drone-strikes-despite-agreement Barely hours after both India and Pakistan formally agreed to a ceasefire following U.S.-brokered intervention, Pakistan violated the truce by resuming drone attacks on Indian positions along the Line of Control and key sectors in Punjab and Jammu. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-precision-strikes-cripple-key-pakistani-air-bases In a decisive retaliatory move early Saturday, Indian Air Force fighter jets launched precision strikes on major Pakistani airbases, including Rafiqui, Murid, and Chaklala, following a wave of drone and missile attacks by Pakistan targeting Indian civilian and military installations. https://opinionexpress.in/many-explosions-rock-key-pakistani-air-bases-airspace-shut In a major development early Saturday, multiple Pakistani air bases were rocked by powerful explosions, including the highly sensitive Nur Khan Air Base near Islamabad. The blasts triggered a nationwide shutdown of Pakistan's airspace for all civilian and commercial flights, further escalating tensions with India. https://opinionexpress.in/turkey-pakistan-defence-nexus-exposed-as-drone-attack-on-india-raises-alarms India has revealed that the massive drone intrusion across the western border on the night of May 8–9 had clear Turkish links, raising serious concerns over Ankara’s growing military alignment with Pakistan. At a press briefing on Operation Sindoor, government officials confirmed that 300–400 drones used by Pakistan to violate Indian airspace were of Turkish origin. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-react-to-india-pakistan-tensions-show-resilience-despite-escalation Indian equity markets opened lower on Friday amid escalating tensions with Pakistan following India's targeted anti-terror operations under Operation Sindoor. The conflict flared after Pakistan attempted retaliatory aerial strikes on Indian military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur—attempts that were successfully neutralised by Indian air defence systems. https://opinionexpress.in/india-expands-response-with-strategic-naval-operations-in-arabian-sea India has broadened its military response to Pakistan’s recent provocations by launching targeted naval operations in the Arabian Sea, senior defence sources confirmed Friday. The move aims to assert maritime superiority and pre-empt potential threats from the sea, following a wave of attempted missile and drone strikes by Pakistan on Indian military sites. https://opinionexpress.in/india-neutralises-pak-air-defences-following-failed-attack-on-military-bases India's Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, successfully targeted 24 terror camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The operation was carefully designed to be non-escalatory, sparing all Pakistani military installations. However, Pakistan responded by attempting to escalate the situation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-foils-pakistans-coordinated-strikes-responds-with-precision-force Late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, Pakistan attempted a major escalation by targeting Indian military installations in 15 cities, including key areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat. However, India’s advanced air defence systems successfully intercepted all hostile drones and missiles, averting significant damage. https://opinionexpress.in/peru-a-strategic-gateway-for-india-in-latin-america India considers it important to finalize a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Peru, as it would strengthen its strategic presence in Latin America and diversify its trade relations in the region. In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries reached approximately USD 5.7 billion, of which Peruvian exports accounted for about USD 4.7 billion. Particularly noteworthy is the export of gold from Peru to India, which amounted to USD 4.2 billion, reflecting the dynamism and potential of this commercial relationship. https://opinionexpress.in/borders-sealed-missiles-ready-for-pak-sources A day after India launched precision missile strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, border states Rajasthan and Punjab remain on high alert. The strikes, dubbed Operation Sindoor, were conducted in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives. India has clarified that the 24 targeted strikes aimed solely at terror training camps operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, avoiding any Pakistani military installation. https://opinionexpress.in/vijay-kalantri-hails-india-uk-free-trade-agreement Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai and President of the All India Association of Industries (AIAI), has welcomed the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing it as a historic and transformative milestone in India's foreign trade policy journey. https://opinionexpress.in/operation-sindoor-a-symbolic-and-strategic-response The name Operation Sindoor evokes profound symbolism. Traditionally, sindoor represents a sacred emblem in Indian culture—applied by married women as a sign of devotion and a prayer for their husband's long life. For many, it is also an expression of grace and beauty. However, the significance of this operation goes far beyond its cultural roots. https://opinionexpress.in/operation-sindoor-marks-strategic-shift-in-indias-cross-border-doctrine In a bold departure from previous military operations, Operation Sindoor marked India’s most technologically advanced and expansive cross-border strike to date. Unlike the limited objectives of the 2016 Uri surgical strikes or the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, this mission targeted deep terrorist infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), signaling a new doctrine of preemptive and far-reaching action. https://opinionexpress.in/india-launches-operation-sindoor-precision-strikes-hit-terror-bases-in-pakistan-pok In a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives, India carried out coordinated precision strikes early Tuesday targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The joint operation by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force began at 1:44 AM under the codename Operation Sindoor. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-uploads-judges-asset-declarations-and-appointment-details-to-boost-transparency In a significant move towards institutional transparency, the Supreme Court of India has made public the asset declarations of its judges by uploading them on its official website. The initiative follows a full-court resolution dated April 1, 2025, aimed at strengthening public trust and ensuring greater accountability in the judiciary. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-cornered-at-un-security-council-over-pahalgam-attack Pakistan came under intense scrutiny during a closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last night, as members questioned Islamabad over its alleged links to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The April 22 attack, which killed 25 Indian tourists and a local pony operator, was claimed by The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-backs-india-in-fight-against-jihadi-terror Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to strongly condemn the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 25 Indian tourists and a local Kashmiri resident were brutally killed. The Russian leader conveyed his deepest condolences and expressed unwavering support to India in its battle against terrorism. https://opinionexpress.in/un-security-council-to-hold-closed-door-meeting-amid-rising-india-pakistan-tensions The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene closed consultations today to address escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The session was scheduled at Pakistan’s request by Greece, which holds the Council presidency for May. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-threatens-retaliation-as-houthi-missile-hits-near-ben-gurion-airport Iran issued a stern warning on Sunday, vowing to retaliate against the United States and Israel should either launch strikes in response to a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The warning came hours after a ballistic missile, fired by the Iran-aligned group, landed near Terminal 3 of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, injuring at least eight people. https://opinionexpress.in/india-seeks-partners-not-preachers-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday urged Europe to demonstrate greater sensitivity and mutual respect in its engagement with India, emphasizing that New Delhi seeks equal partnerships—not lectures. Speaking at the Arctic Circle India Forum, Jaishankar stressed the need for collaboration grounded in shared interests rather than ideological preaching. https://opinionexpress.in/anthony-albanese-wins-second-term-pledging-stability-and-reform Anthony Albanese has secured a historic second term as Australia’s Prime Minister, positioning his centre-left Labor government as a beacon of stability in a turbulent global climate. His re-election marks a significant political comeback after early polls had favored the conservative Liberal-National coalition. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-issues-nuclear-warning-as-india-pakistan-tensions-escalate Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, has issued a stark warning that Islamabad is prepared to use its full military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, if attacked by India or if its water rights are violated. His remarks, aired during an interview with RT on Saturday, come amid a sharp escalation in hostilities following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-urges-un-intervention-amid-rising-tensions-with-india Amid escalating tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has urged the global community to step up efforts to de-escalate the situation, warning of an "imminent threat of kinetic action" by India. https://opinionexpress.in/caste-to-be-counted-in-upcoming-census-modi-govt-announces-historic-move In a landmark policy shift, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national census, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced, calling it a “transparent” step toward social equity. The decision, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, marks the first time since Independence that the census will include caste-based data. https://opinionexpress.in/us-ukraine-seal-landmark-minerals-and-reconstruction-deal-amid-peace-push In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, the United States and Ukraine signed a sweeping agreement on Wednesday that grants the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral resources and establishes a joint fund to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. The deal, strongly backed by US President Donald Trump, marks a strategic pivot in Washington’s Ukraine policy. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-gives-armed-forces-free-hand-to-respond-to-pahalgam-attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted the Indian armed forces full operational autonomy to determine the timing, strategy, and targets for a military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives. Sources confirmed the decision came after high-level deliberations with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. https://opinionexpress.in/mark-carneys-victory-may-signal-reset-in-india-canada-ties Mark Carney’s election as Canada’s new Prime Minister marks a potential turning point in the country’s strained relationship with India. A seasoned economist and former central bank governor, Carney has identified rebuilding ties with India as a foreign policy priority, calling for stronger commercial relationships based on shared democratic values. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-gov-sanjay-malhotra-invites-us-investors-to-partner-in-indias-growth-story Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra has urged American businesses to invest in India, highlighting the country’s robust economic performance and policy stability amid global uncertainties. Speaking at the US-India Economic Forum in Washington, D.C., hosted by CII and USISPF, Malhotra said India remains the fastest-growing major economy, with expected GDP growth of 6.5% in FY 2024–25. https://opinionexpress.in/tragedy-strikes-vancouvers-filipino-festival-as-vehicle-attack-claims-nine-lives A devastating tragedy unfolded at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day celebrations when a man drove his vehicle into a crowd, killing at least nine people and injuring several others. The incident occurred around 8:14 PM on Saturday during the heritage festival honoring Filipino history and resilience. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-navy-demonstrates-long-range-strike-capability-amid-rising-indo-pak-tensions In a strong show of force, the Indian Navy has successfully conducted multiple long-range precision anti-ship missile firings in the Arabian Sea, reaffirming its combat readiness to safeguard national maritime interests. The drills involved Kolkata-class destroyers, as well as Nilgiri and Krivak-class frigates, with visuals showing BrahMos anti-ship and anti-surface cruise missiles striking targets with precision. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-army-claims-killing-of-54-militants-in-border-clashes-with-afghanistan In a major security operation, the Pakistan Army announced on Sunday that its forces had killed 54 militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to an official statement, the "large group" of jihadists, allegedly operating under the direction of "foreign masters," was detected and intercepted between Friday and Sunday along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border. https://opinionexpress.in/lord-ranger-championing-the-spirit-of-bharat-on-the-global-stage Raminder Singh Ranger, Baron Ranger, is a distinguished British-Indian businessman and Conservative politician. Founder of the multinational consumer goods company Sun Mark, Lord Ranger has been a member of the House of Lords since 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/major-blast-kills-25-750-injured-in-iran-port-fire A powerful explosion rocked Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port on Saturday, triggering a massive fire that left at least 25 dead and more than 750 injured. Smoke blanketed the port — the country's largest commercial hub — and surrounding areas, with strong winds hampering firefighting efforts. https://opinionexpress.in/inner-light-outer-duty-spirituality-in-public-service Spirituality in public service is the quiet alchemy that transforms noble intent, ethics and morality into enduring action. It is the breath behind the robust body of governance, it is the subtle essence that animates the machinery with a purpose beyond mere policy and motion beyond mere mandate. It is the soul of statecraft itself. It silently steadies the hand that signs the decree and guides the eye that envisions the just. The very notion of "service" evokes a commitment that transcends the idea of self-interest. It is an occupation that endeavours to reach out to the many, and especially those who desperately need the support of the state. At the summit of human aspiration lies the service of the masses, which demands not just energy, intellect, and a strong resolve, but a vision. A vision that is shaped by one's character and virtues. https://opinionexpress.in/un-security-council-condemns-pahalgam-terror-attack-urges-justice The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has issued a strong condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a “reprehensible act of terrorism” and stressing the urgent need to hold its perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors accountable. https://opinionexpress.in/deadly-russian-missile-barrage-hits-kyiv-leaves-9-dead-and-dozens-injured Kyiv was rocked by a deadly missile and drone assault early Thursday, as Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack that killed at least nine people and injured 63 others, including six children, according to Ukrainian authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/pahalgam-terror-attack-exposes-entrenched-lashkar-module-india The deadly terror strike in Baisaran valley near Pahalgam, claiming 26 lives, has thrust a long-operating Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module into the spotlight. Regarded as one of the worst attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, it has triggered a robust diplomatic and security response from the Indian government, which directly blamed Pakistan for sheltering the module's masterminds. https://opinionexpress.in/world-leaders-unite-in-condemnation-of-pahalgam-terror-attack Global leaders have unequivocally condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed 26 innocent lives, primarily tourists. US President Donald Trump, in a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extended deep condolences and vowed full support to India in bringing the perpetrators to justice. “India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror,” said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Trump also posted on Truth Social, expressing solidarity with the Indian people and calling the attack “deeply disturbing.” https://opinionexpress.in/india-suspends-the-decades-old-indus-waters-treaty-with-pakistan-indefinitely In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic and strategic measures, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)—India’s apex national security body—has indefinitely suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. The move follows a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, including one foreign national, were killed. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility. https://opinionexpress.in/rajnath-singh-vows-retaliation-after-pahalgam-terror-attack-kills-26 In a powerful address following the gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has pledged direct and unforgiving retaliation. At a high-level security meeting in Delhi with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Chief of Defence Staff, and military chiefs, Singh vowed that both the perpetrators and their handlers will be brought to justice. https://opinionexpress.in/saudi-arabia-is-a-trusted-friend-strategic-ally-and-most-valued-partner-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia was marked by significant diplomatic progress, despite being cut short due to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. In Jeddah on Tuesday, PM Modi held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, resulting in four key agreements across defence, space, health, and education. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-trip-cut-short-as-terror-hits-pahalgam-pm-chairs-security-review In a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, 26 people were killed and several injured as terrorists opened fire on tourists in Baisaran Valley. Among the deceased were a Navy officer from Haryana and an Intelligence Bureau officer from Telangana. Military helicopters were deployed to airlift the wounded from the remote area, accessible only on foot or horseback. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modis-gulf-diplomacy-key-agreements-on-horizon-in-saudi-arabia Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a landmark visit to Jeddah on Tuesday at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. This marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Jeddah in four decades and underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations. https://opinionexpress.in/pope-francis-passes-away-at-88-vatican-announces Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at 88 after a prolonged illness, the Vatican confirmed on Monday. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, he served as pontiff since 2013 and was widely regarded as a reformist and voice for the marginalized. https://opinionexpress.in/china-warns-countries-that-undermine-its-interests-amid-us-tariff-pressure In a sharp escalation of its rhetoric, China has issued a warning to countries considering broader trade deals with the United States that could potentially undermine Chinese interests. The statement from Beijing comes amid rising tensions in the ongoing tariff war between the world’s two largest economies. https://opinionexpress.in/us-vp-jd-vance-arrives-in-india-to-strengthen-strategic-and-trade-ties US Vice President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi on Sunday morning, marking the start of his four-day official visit to India. Accompanied by his wife, Indian-American Second Lady Usha Vance, and a high-level delegation, Mr. Vance was received at the Palam Technical Area by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and accorded a tri-services guard of honour. https://opinionexpress.in/mark-carney-flags-china-as-canadas-top-security-threat-carney As Canada heads toward its April 28 general election, Prime Minister Mark Carney has identified China as the country’s most significant security threat, both in terms of foreign interference and geopolitical maneuvering in the Arctic. https://opinionexpress.in/rakshamanthan-2025-youth-lead-indias-strategic-vision-for-viksit-bharat-2047 While much of the world marked Easter weekend with traditions of celebration, a unique communion was underway in Delhi’s heart—a communion of ideas, not rituals. RakshaManthan 2025, a bold youth-led strategic dialogue hosted by think tank GeoJuristoday, brought together India’s foremost defence experts, diplomats, scholars, and over 250 young minds to forge a pathway toward Vikshit Bharat by 2047. https://opinionexpress.in/india-slams-bangladesh-interim-govt-over-hindu-leaders-murder India has strongly condemned the alleged abduction and brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh. In a firm message issued on Saturday, the Indian government called on the interim administration in Dhaka to fulfill its constitutional duty of ensuring the safety and protection of minority communities, particularly Hindus. https://opinionexpress.in/india-condemns-killing-of-hindu-leader-in-bangladesh India has issued a strong diplomatic protest to Bangladesh following the abduction and killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu minority leader, in the Dinajpur district of northern Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the incident as part of a troubling trend of violence against minorities under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. https://opinionexpress.in/india-set-to-surpass-germany-and-japan-in-economic-size-niti-aayog India is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy within the next three years, overtaking both Germany and Japan, said NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam on Thursday. Speaking at an event, he outlined an ambitious vision for India's economic future, projecting it could emerge as the second-largest economy globally by 2047. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-elon-musk-discuss-tech-collaboration-innovation-synergies In a significant move underscoring India’s focus on emerging technologies and strategic global partnerships, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a conversation with Elon Musk on Friday. Musk, the world’s richest person and an influential figure in U.S. policymaking circles, engaged with Modi to explore new avenues of collaboration in innovation and advanced technology. https://opinionexpress.in/jerome-powell-flags-inflation-risks-from-trumps-tariff-strategy In a closely watched speech in Chicago, US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade policies and escalating tariff measures have pushed the US economy into “uncharted waters,” with inflation expected to rise and long-term uncertainty looming large. https://opinionexpress.in/moodys-warns-us-tariffs-threaten-global-credit-stability-heighten-default-risks Moody’s Ratings has issued a stark warning that newly imposed US tariffs are set to weaken global credit conditions and significantly increase the risk of defaults, particularly for low-rated and speculative-grade companies. In a report released Wednesday, the agency highlighted how abrupt and unpredictable shifts in US trade policy are fueling market volatility and threatening to push the global economy toward recession. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-files-chargesheet-against-sonia-rahul-gandhi-in-national-herald-case In a major development ahead of the upcoming elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed its first-ever chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda in connection with the alleged National Herald money laundering case. A special court in Delhi has scheduled April 25 to consider the matter for cognisance. https://opinionexpress.in/murshidabad-violence-have-suspected-bangladeshi-involvement-probe Violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district during recent anti-Waqf protests has taken a grim turn, with preliminary investigations suggesting the involvement of suspected miscreants from across the Bangladesh border. The Union Home Ministry is reportedly in possession of an initial intelligence brief pointing to possible cross-border instigation in the flare-up. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-tariff-easing-hints-turbocharge-sensex-nifty Indian equities surged over 2% in early trade today, tracking strong gains in Asian markets after US President Donald Trump hinted at a possible relaxation of steep auto import tariffs. The BSE Sensex jumped over 1,500 points at the open, while the Nifty reclaimed the 23,000 mark, led by a sharp rally in automobile stocks. Market sentiment turned positive following Trump’s remarks that he was "very flexible" on trade policies and was "looking at something to help some of the car companies," easing investor concerns. https://opinionexpress.in/visas-are-a-privilege-rather-than-a-right-marco-rubio In a forceful stance on immigration and national security, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that visas are not entitlements but privileges that can be revoked if misused. Writing in an opinion piece for Fox News, Rubio said the U.S. government reserves the right to revoke or deny visas to those engaged in activities deemed hostile to American values or in violation of U.S. law. https://opinionexpress.in/china-suspends-rare-earth-exports-escalating-trade-war-with-us As trade tensions between the United States and China intensify, Beijing has suspended the export of several key rare earth elements, magnets, and metals—components critical to industries ranging from defense to consumer electronics. The move, reported by The New York Times, underscores China’s strategy to weaponize its dominance over rare earth supply chains amid the ongoing trade war. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-missile-strike-on-ukraines-sumy-city At least 21 people were killed and 83 injured in a devastating Russian ballistic missile strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday morning, according to Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. The attack, one of the deadliest of the year, has drawn sharp condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who urged the international community to respond forcefully to what he labeled as terrorism. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-aiadmk-alliance-boosts-nda-edge-in-the-parliament The renewed alliance between the BJP and AIADMK, announced by Home Minister Amit Shah with AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, marks a significant political realignment in Tamil Nadu. While the BJP has struggled in the state, this alliance grants it immediate access to AIADMK's voter base and organizational network ahead of next year’s Assembly election. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-unlikely-to-move-iphone-production-to-us-despite-soaring-china-tariffs The Trump administration’s hopes that escalating tariffs on Chinese goods will drive Apple to manufacture iPhones in the U.S. remain far from reality. Despite tariffs on Chinese-made products now reaching 145%, analysts say the prospect of Apple shifting production stateside is highly improbable. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-issues-possession-notices-for-ajl-properties-in-national-herald-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday announced that it has issued possession notices for immovable assets worth ?661 crore, attached in connection with its ongoing money laundering probe against Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper. https://opinionexpress.in/aiadmk-bjp-announce-alliance-for-tamil-nadu-elections-under-eps-leadership In a significant political development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today confirmed that the AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections together. The announcement was made at a joint press conference in Chennai, where Mr. Shah was joined by AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and newly appointed Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthiran. https://opinionexpress.in/china-slaps-125-tariffs-on-us-goods-escalates-trade-war China on Friday announced it will raise tariffs on US goods to 125% from the current 84%, intensifying its trade standoff with the United States. The move comes just hours after President Xi Jinping urged the European Union to stand with Beijing against “unilateral bullying”—a pointed reference to the aggressive tariff hikes imposed by US President Donald Trump. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-up-by-1000-points-as-trump-pauses-tariffs-for-90-days Indian stock markets opened sharply higher on Friday, buoyed by a midweek rally in the US markets and a temporary easing of global trade tensions. The BSE Sensex surged 1,061.26 points to 74,941.53, while the NSE Nifty opened at 22,754.05, climbing 354.90 points. https://opinionexpress.in/india-withdraws-trans-shipment-facility-for-bangladeshi-export-cargo India has officially withdrawn the trans-shipment facility that allowed Bangladeshi export cargo to pass through Indian land customs stations (LCSs) en route to Indian ports and airports for third-country trade. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), through a circular dated April 8, announced the rescission of its earlier directive from June 29, 2020. While cargo already in transit will be allowed to exit under existing procedures, no new shipments will be permitted under this facility. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-cuts-key-rate-to-6-as-trump-tariffs-hits-india The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a 25 basis point cut in the repo rate, bringing it down to 6 per cent. This move is aimed at easing borrowing costs for banks and, in turn, enabling them to offer lower interest rates to consumers, effectively reducing EMIs on loans. The decision was taken unanimously by the Monetary Policy Committee, as confirmed by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-slaps-104-tariff-on-china-global-markets-rattle-amid-escalating-trade-war In a dramatic escalation of trade tensions, President Donald Trump has enforced an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods, raising the total tariff to a staggering 104%. The move follows Trump's 24-hour ultimatum for Beijing to withdraw its retaliatory 34% tariff on U.S. products—an order that China openly defied. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-rebound-sharply-after-monday-meltdown-sensex-soars-1284-points-nifty-up-416 Stock markets staged a powerful recovery on Tuesday morning, bouncing back from the previous session's brutal sell-off. The rebound came on the back of strong cues from Asian markets and widespread buying across sectors. https://opinionexpress.in/us-china-trade-war-escalates-as-trump-slaps-additional-50-tariff-on-beijing In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing trade war, US President Donald Trump has announced an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods, less than 48 hours after Beijing retaliated with a 34% hike on American imports. The move takes the total US tariff burden on Chinese goods to an unprecedented 84%, rising further to 94% when including the blanket 10% global tariff recently implemented by the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-fighter-jet-gap-a-growing-national-security-challenge IAF is seen extensively in carrying out HADR (Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Relief) missions, within and outside the country, which not only gets praised for its highly professional work but also reinforces the importance of its operational capabilities. IAF’s arm of advanced Transport aircraft like C-17, C-130 and its Helicopter fleet of Chinooks and Mi-17 V5, have been discharging its strategic and tactical HADR roles respectively in a commendable manner. Even while this article is being written, the IAF is busy providing HADR support in Myanmar & Thailand post the recent deadly earthquake. However, the primary role of IAF, being the security of India’s airspace, has to be mainly ensured through an effective fleet of advanced fighter aircraft.  With its depleting fighter squadrons, unstable neighbourhood, unpredictable world order and induction of generation Chinese J-20 and J-35 stealth fighter aircraft on its northern borders, the alarm bells have started ringing towards India’s national & regional aerospace security.     https://opinionexpress.in/goldman-sachs-raises-recession-risk-moves-up-fed-rate-cut-forecast Goldman Sachs economists have increased their recession risk outlook and moved up the timing of anticipated US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in response to President Donald Trump's aggressive new tariff measures. https://opinionexpress.in/global-markets-reeling-as-trumps-tariffs-trigger-panic Global financial markets are in turmoil following US President Donald Trump's steep tariff hikes, which have sparked a massive sell-off and wiped out trillions in investor wealth. Indian equity markets opened sharply lower, with the Sensex nosediving 3,939.68 points to 71,425.01 and the Nifty crashing 1,160.8 points to 21,743.65 — marking their steepest fall in 10 months. Investor wealth worth nearly ?19 lakh crore evaporated in minutes, while the rupee fell to 85.74 against the dollar. https://opinionexpress.in/le-pens-2027-ambitions-rocked-by-conviction-but-far-right-vows-to-fight-on In a political thunderclap reverberating across France and beyond, Marine Le Pen was convicted Monday for embezzling EU funds via a fake jobs scheme. The Paris court sentenced her to four years in prison — two suspended and two to be served under electronic surveillance — alongside a hefty fine and a five-year ban from standing for public office. https://opinionexpress.in/massive-us-military-buildup-in-indian-ocean-sends-global-ripples As global attention remained fixed on Donald Trump's tariff maneuvers, the United States silently executed one of its most significant military deployments in recent years. The Pentagon has stationed at least six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers at the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, marking the largest-ever deployment of these advanced aircraft in the region. With only 20 B-2 bombers in the entire U.S. arsenal, this move positions nearly 30% of its stealth fleet strategically close to Asia. https://opinionexpress.in/us-tariffs-a-major-setback-for-indian-gems-and-jewellery-exports-gjepc The United States’ imposition of 27% retaliatory tariffs on Indian goods has dealt a significant blow to India’s gems and jewellery exports, according to the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The move, part of the Trump administration’s strategy to reduce trade deficits and boost domestic manufacturing, is expected to disrupt India’s $10 billion export volume to the US. https://opinionexpress.in/waqf-bill-clears-rajya-sabha-awaits-presidents-nod The Waqf (Amendment) Bill sailed through the Rajya Sabha just a day after clearing the Lok Sabha, concluding with a 128–95 vote after an intense and lengthy debate. The bill's passage revealed internal fractures within the Opposition, especially after the Biju Janata Dal allowed a conscience vote for its seven MPs, reflecting varied sentiments within minority communities. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-announces-reciprocal-tariffs-on-india-china-and-allies US President Donald Trump has unveiled sweeping tariffs on key trading partners, including India and China, aiming to counter what he calls “unfair trade practices.” Speaking at the White House Rose Garden, he declared April 2nd as “Liberation Day,” vowing to reclaim American jobs and industries. https://opinionexpress.in/israels-military-operation-in-gaza-strip-expanding-to-seize-large-areas Israel has expanded its military operation in Gaza to seize “large areas,” Defence Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday. The ongoing offensive aims to dismantle Hamas infrastructure while establishing new security zones for Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/waqf-amendment-bill-clears-lok-sabha-with-288-232-votes The Waqf Amendment Bill passed the Lok Sabha in the early hours of Thursday following a heated 12-hour debate. Despite fierce opposition, the government's numerical strength ensured its approval with a 288-232 vote. The bill, now set for Rajya Sabha, seeks to amend the 1995 Waqf Act, sparking controversy over key provisions. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-to-step-down-from-government-role-under-trump-report Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is expected to step back from his government role under U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a Politico report citing three sources close to Trump. Musk, who had been tasked with leading efforts to cut government spending and restructure federal agencies, will soon return to focusing on his business ventures. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-executive-order-on-voting-sparks-legal-battle-third-term-talk-intensifies Days after hinting at a third presidential term, Donald Trump issued an executive order introducing sweeping changes to the U.S. electoral system, triggering a lawsuit from the Democratic Party. The order, titled Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, mandates stricter voter registration requirements, including citizenship proof, and limits mail-in ballot counting. https://opinionexpress.in/parliament-under-waqf-claim-rijijus-bold-charge-against-upa The Lok Sabha on Wednesday began an eight-hour debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, with Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introducing the legislation and accusing the Congress of controversial amendments in the past. He claimed the UPA government denotified 123 major properties, including those in a long-standing legal dispute, and suggested that Parliament itself might have been handed over to the Waqf if not for intervention. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-over-1000-points-on-trump-tariff-worries Indian equity benchmark indices slumped on Tuesday as blue-chip stocks tumbled amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming reciprocal tariffs. After a weak opening, the BSE Sensex plunged 1,233.95 points to 76,180.97 in late morning trade, while the NSE Nifty dropped 321.5 points to 23,197.85. Heavyweights including Bajaj Finserv, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, Axis Bank, HCL Tech, Titan, Tech Mahindra, TCS, and Sun Pharma led the decline. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-has-rejected-direct-negotiations-with-us-on-nuke-deal Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Sunday that Tehran has rejected direct negotiations with the United States in response to a letter from President Donald Trump regarding Iran’s nuclear program. This marks the first official acknowledgment of Tehran’s response, signaling a potential rise in tensions between the two nations. https://opinionexpress.in/assam-cm-slams-bangladeshs-yunus-calls-for-strategic-connectivity-push Bangladesh’s interim Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, has sparked controversy with his remarks on India’s Northeast. Speaking in China, Yunus described the region as "landlocked" and Bangladesh as its "guardian of the ocean," suggesting potential Chinese economic expansion. The statement has triggered sharp reactions across India. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-declares-global-tariffs-ahead-of-liberation-day US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping tariffs on all countries, signaling a radical shift in global trade policy just days before what he calls “Liberation Day” on April 2. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that the tariffs would apply to every nation, dismissing earlier speculation that only a select few countries would be targeted. https://opinionexpress.in/the-relevance-of-celebrating-navaratri Navaratri is a festival of spiritual renewal celebrated in the spring and fall across India and worldwide, when we honor Mother Divine in all her forms. Over these nine days, we celebrate the victory of Goddess Durga in all her forms, who vanquishes Mahishasura, representing the demons within us all. Mother dispels the darkness of illusion so that our light shines. During Navaratri, we go inside to discover dimensions of ourselves that we do not normally examine or express. From my perspective, these aspects are extremely critical not just for our transformation but for the planet's evolution. https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-earthquake-toll-rises-as-rescue-efforts-continue A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has left widespread devastation, with the death toll rising to 1,644 by Sunday. Over 3,400 people have been injured, while 139 remain missing. In neighboring Thailand, the quake’s impact was felt strongest in the greater Bangkok area, where officials reported 18 fatalities, 33 injuries, and 78 people unaccounted for. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-visits-rss-headquarters-deekshabhoomi-in-nagpur Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday, marking his first visit since assuming office 11 years ago. He described the RSS as the "banyan tree" of India's cultural and national consciousness. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-readies-missiles-after-trumps-threats-over-nuclear-deal Hours after former US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with severe bombing over nuclear negotiations, Tehran has responded by preparing missiles capable of striking US-linked targets globally. According to the state-owned Tehran Times, Iran’s armed forces have positioned these missiles in underground facilities designed to withstand airstrikes. https://opinionexpress.in/nandan-nilekani-predicts-energy-sector-revolution-in-india Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani envisions India’s energy sector undergoing a transformation similar to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which revolutionized digital payments. Speaking to entrepreneurs, he emphasized the growing adoption of rooftop solar panels, enabling households to become both producers and consumers of electricity. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-pays-tribute-at-rss-founder-hedgewars-memorial-in-nagpur Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Dr. Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in Nagpur, paying homage to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and the organization’s second sarsanghchalak, MS Golwalkar. https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-earthquake-death-toll-surpasses-1000 The death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to over 1,000, with rescue efforts ongoing as more bodies are pulled from the rubble. The military-led government reported 1,002 fatalities, 2,376 injured, and 30 missing, warning that numbers could increase as data is still being collected. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-achieves-breakthrough-in-semicryogenic-engine-development ISRO has made significant progress in developing a 2,000 kN semicryogenic engine (SE2000) that will power the Semicryogenic booster stage (SC120) of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3). This advancement aims to enhance payload capacity and future launch capabilities. https://opinionexpress.in/77-magnitude-quake-rattles-myanmar-triggers-regional-crisis A powerful series of earthquakes struck central Myanmar on Friday, with the strongest measuring 7.7 magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quakes, at depths of 10 to 30 km, were centered northwest of Sagaing. At least 20 deaths have been reported, though aid agencies fear the toll could rise into the hundreds or even thousands. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-pm-calls-trumps-auto-tariffs-direct-attack-on-his-country Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney slammed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on auto imports, calling it a “direct attack” on Canada. Carney vowed to defend Canadian workers and industries, emphasizing that the move was unjustified. https://opinionexpress.in/lavrov-lauds-indias-balanced-approach-to-ukraine-crisis-highlights-strong-russia-india-ties Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday praised India’s balanced stance on the Ukraine conflict, acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consistent advocacy for dialogue and diplomacy. https://opinionexpress.in/new-face-new-strategy-bjps-dalit-push-in-the-south The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a bold move in Andhra Pradesh by considering Dr. Dasari Srinivasulu, a retired IAS officer from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, for the position of state president. This signals a major shift from the party’s traditional reliance on Kamma and Kapu leadership, which has yielded limited success in the region. If executed effectively, this strategy could help the BJP expand its base by appealing to Dalits and Backward Classes, groups that have long been aligned with the Congress and regional parties. https://opinionexpress.in/restoring-vision-transforming-lives-netra-kumbh-2025-and-the-future-of-eye-health Imagine waking up one day and struggling to see the world around you, blurry faces, unreadable text, and an inability to work or even move freely. Now, imagine knowing that a simple check-up, a pair of glasses, or a quick surgery could change your life forever. Yet, millions around the world get that chance. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-announces-25-tariffs-on-auto-imports-sparking-global-reaction President Donald Trump declared a 25% tariff on auto imports Wednesday, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing. The White House expects the move to generate $100 billion annually, though it may strain automakers relying on global supply chains. https://opinionexpress.in/india-slams-uscirf-report-calls-it-an-entity-of-concern India has strongly criticized the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), calling it a biased and politically motivated body that should itself be designated as an “entity of concern.” This comes in response to the USCIRF’s 2025 annual report, which alleged that religious minorities in India face worsening conditions and called for sanctions on India’s external intelligence agency, R&AW, over alleged assassination plots against Khalistani extremists overseas. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-economic-growth-surges-set-to-become-3rd-largest-economy India has been the fastest-growing major economy over the past decade, with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) soaring by an impressive 105% since 2015, according to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) data. The country’s GDP now stands at $4.3 trillion, more than doubling from $2.1 trillion when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term was just beginning. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-raises-alarm-over-india-china-and-russia-meddling-in-elections Canada's intelligence agency has warned of potential foreign interference in its upcoming general election, alleging that India and China may attempt to influence the democratic process. Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), stated that "hostile state actors" were increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to meddle in the April 28 snap election, called by newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-calls-snap-election-amid-us-tensions Canada’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has called for a snap election on April 28, seeking a stronger mandate for his Liberal Party as the country faces economic and political pressure from the United States. https://opinionexpress.in/election-commission-to-link-voter-id-with-aadhaar The Election Commission (EC) convened a high-level meeting today to finalize its decision to link Voter ID cards (EPIC) with Aadhaar. The move, the Congress alleged, comes in response to its complaints regarding discrepancies in Maharashtra’s electoral rolls between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/fugitive-mehul-choksi-found-in-belgium-india-pushes-for-extradition Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) of ?13,850 crore, has been traced to Antwerp, Belgium, where he resides with his Belgian citizen wife, Preeti Choksi. According to a report by Associates Times, Indian authorities have reached out to their Belgian counterparts to initiate extradition proceedings. https://opinionexpress.in/southern-states-unite-against-unfair-delimitation Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin hosted the first meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) on delimitation in Chennai, bringing together leaders from multiple states to push for "fair representation" in Parliament. The move comes amid concerns that southern states, which have successfully controlled population growth, may lose seats in the upcoming delimitation process. https://opinionexpress.in/cash-for-order-scandal-a-dark-day-for-indian-judiciary The Supreme Court collegium has initiated proceedings to transfer Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court following reports of a significant cash recovery from his official residence. The five-member collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, convened an urgent meeting to address the controversy. https://opinionexpress.in/turkey-in-turmoil-after-arrest-of-erdogans-top-rival Turkish police detained Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on Wednesday in a dramatic pre-dawn raid, accusing him of corruption and links to terrorism. The arrest triggered widespread protests and condemnation from opposition leaders, who denounced it as a politically motivated attack on democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-internal-security-chief-killed-in-gaza-air-strike Israel’s military announced on Thursday that it had eliminated Rashid Jahjouh, the head of Hamas’s General Security Service, in an airstrike on Gaza. Jahjouh had assumed the role after his predecessor, Sami Oudeh, was killed in July 2024. https://opinionexpress.in/india-may-be-part-of-new-military-grouping-in-south-china-sea India may soon consider joining another key multilateral alliance focused on the South China Sea, alongside the Quad. The emerging group, dubbed the "Squad," currently includes Japan, Australia, the US, and the Philippines, with plans to invite India and South Korea. https://opinionexpress.in/government-determine-to-takes-strong-action-against-online-gambling-and-betting The government has made notable progress in combating online gambling and betting activities, with more than 1,000 websites banned in 2024, as revealed by Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister for Electronics and Information Technology. During a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Vaishnaw emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between state governments and the Centre to tackle the growing menace of online gambling. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-launches-ground-operation-in-key-gaza-corridor The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that it has initiated a "limited ground operation" in Gaza, signaling an escalation in its ongoing conflict with Hamas. The operation aims to retake control of the Netzarim corridor, a strategically significant area that Israel had previously vacated as part of a now-collapsed ceasefire agreement. https://opinionexpress.in/sai-maas-mission-of-love-healing-and-global-transformation Sai Maa is a distinguished spiritual luminary, healer, and humanitarian renowned for her unique integration of Eastern spiritual traditions and Western therapeutic methodologies. Born on August 2, 1953, into a Hindu family on the island of Mauritius, Sai Maa exhibited profound spiritual inclinations from an early age. At 21, she relocated to France, where she married a research scientist and became a mother of two. During her time in France, Sai Maa pursued certifications in naturopathy, homeopathy, and osteopathy, establishing a private practice that combined alternative healing modalities with Western therapeutic training. Her commitment to societal well-being extended into politics, serving on the Bordeaux City Council and contributing to healthcare reforms within the European Union. https://opinionexpress.in/astronauts-sunita-williams-and-butch-wilmore-return-after-extended-space-mission Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after their planned eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) turned into a nine-month stay. They originally launched aboard Boeing's Starliner on June 5 last year but faced propulsion issues, leaving them stranded in space. The uncrewed Starliner returned to Earth in September, while Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS. https://opinionexpress.in/india-urges-us-action-against-khalistani-terrorist-group India has reiterated its demand for action against the banned Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its US-based founder, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who faces multiple criminal cases in India, including terrorism charges. https://opinionexpress.in/india-new-zealand-strengthen-defence-ties-discuss-indo-pacific-security India and New Zealand signed a landmark agreement on Monday to institutionalize their defence and security cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, held extensive discussions on trade, defence, education, and agriculture. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-orders-widespread-airstrikes-on-gaza-after-ceasefire-deadlock Israel launched a series of intense airstrikes on Hamas targets across Gaza on Tuesday, marking the deadliest attack since the ceasefire began on January 19. The strikes, which coincided with Ramadan, killed at least 121 people and injured around 150, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. Many of the casualties were reported to be women, children, and the elderly. Explosions were heard across northern, central, and southern Gaza, including in Khan Younis and Rafah. https://opinionexpress.in/women-in-leadership-accelerating-action-with-antara-sarkar Antara Sarkar is the founder of two impactful initiatives—Sunday Class and The Pink Engine. Both projects reflect her deep passion for education, innovation, and social change. Antara is a TEDx Speaker and was honored with the iVolunteer Hero Award in 2022. Here is an extensive interaction with Opinion Express columnist Shakila M.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-allies-hold-closed-door-talks-on-terror-emerging-threats National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held bilateral talks with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Sunday, focusing on strengthening intelligence cooperation and security collaboration under the India-US strategic partnership. https://opinionexpress.in/astronauts-stranded-for-nine-months-on-iss-prepare-to-return-home After spending more than nine months stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are finally preparing for their return to Earth. Their long-awaited departure comes after a new replacement crew successfully docked with the ISS early Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-military-targets-houthi-in-yemen-trump-warns-tehran At least 24 people were killed as the United States launched large-scale airstrikes on Yemen, targeting Iran-backed Houthi forces. President Donald Trump warned the Houthis that "their time is up" and cautioned Iran against further support for the group. https://opinionexpress.in/india-rebukes-pakistan-over-kashmir-remarks-at-un-general-assembly India has firmly denounced Pakistan’s repeated and “unjustified” references to Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations, asserting that such rhetoric will neither strengthen Islamabad’s claim nor obscure its track record of cross-border terrorism. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-gold-card-plan-sparks-immigration-debate Former US President Donald Trump's proposed 'gold card' initiative has reignited immigration debates, especially after Vice President JD Vance’s latest remarks on green card holders' rights. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-successfully-completes-spadex-satellite-de-docking The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved another milestone with the successful de-docking of the SpaDeX satellites, a crucial step toward India's ambitious space endeavors, including lunar exploration, human spaceflight, and the development of its own space station. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-pm-visits-balochistan-to-review-security Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Balochistan on Thursday to assess the security situation following the deadly Jaffar Express hijacking. The attack, carried out by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants, resulted in the deaths of 21 civilians and four soldiers. Sharif expressed solidarity with the affected families and praised security forces for their swift response. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-warns-putin-of-devastating-sanctions-amid-ceasefire-push U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, threatening "devastating" sanctions if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/indusind-banks-stock-plunges-after-rs-2100-crore-accounting-lapse IndusInd Bank faced a major setback as its shares plummeted 27.17% on Tuesday, following revelations of a ?2,100 crore discrepancy in its derivatives portfolio. Despite management's assurances of strong reserves and capital adequacy, investor confidence remained shaken. https://opinionexpress.in/wall-street-plunges-as-market-sell-off-deepens-amid-tariff-worries The US stock market suffered another sharp sell-off on Monday, with Wall Street rattled by uncertainty over tariffs and economic policy under President Donald Trump. The S&P 500 fell 3.2%, marking its steepest drop since 2022, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1,042 points (2.4%). The Nasdaq Composite plunged 4.6%, weighed down by steep losses in tech stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-to-negotiate-market-access-and-tariffs India and the United States are set to negotiate a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) aimed at enhancing market access, reducing tariffs, and strengthening supply chain integration, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada informed Parliament on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-clinches-record-third-champions-trophy Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with a crucial half-century as India secured their third Champions Trophy title, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a tense final on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-criticizes-indias-tariffs-as-trade-talks-advance US President Donald Trump has reiterated his criticism of India’s high tariffs, claiming they severely restrict American businesses from entering the Indian market. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump asserted that India has long imposed “massive tariffs” on US goods, making trade “almost restrictive.” “Our country has been ripped off by almost every nation,” Trump said. “India charges us massive tariffs, making it very hard to sell anything there. But now, they have agreed to cut them way down.” https://opinionexpress.in/china-extends-2-billion-loan-to-pakistan-amid-financial-struggles China has extended a $2 billion loan to Pakistan, offering critical financial relief as the South Asian country navigates a challenging economic landscape. Khurram Schehzad, adviser to Pakistan’s finance minister, confirmed the development in a message to Reuters on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/beijing-seeks-closer-india-ties-as-us-tariff-war-escalates As U.S.-China tensions escalate following Washington’s tariff hike on Chinese imports, Beijing has urged India to strengthen ties and resist Western dominance. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, addressing the National People's Congress, called for cooperation between the two Asian giants, emphasizing that "making the dragon and elephant dance is the only right choice." https://opinionexpress.in/putin-ready-for-ukraine-conditional-truce-talks Donald Trump is pushing Ukraine to negotiate a peace deal as signs emerge that Russia may accept a temporary truce under specific conditions. His approach marks a sharp reversal of previous U.S. policy, favoring diplomacy with Moscow over military support for Kyiv. https://opinionexpress.in/hr-bharadwaj-kept-indias-institutions-in-balance The relationship between the executive and the judiciary in India has always been complex, often marred by conflicts that test the country’s democratic framework. While the Constitution outlines a clear separation of powers, disputes over jurisdiction, authority, and policy decisions frequently create tensions between these two crucial pillars of governance. The current scenario, marked by an increasing lack of trust and communication between the judiciary and the executive, calls for reflection on the leadership of figures like Hansraj Bharadwaj. As India’s longest-serving Law Minister, Bharadwaj was instrumental in fostering dialogue, respect, and institutional cooperation between the executive and the judiciary, ensuring that both functioned harmoniously within the democratic system. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-delays-some-tariffs-on-canada-and-mexico-eases-market-tensions US President Donald Trump announced a temporary delay on certain tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico, offering relief to industries and calming financial markets after recent turbulence. The move comes after stock markets tumbled following the implementation of up to 25 percent tariffs earlier in the week, raising concerns over inflation and economic slowdown. https://opinionexpress.in/us-halts-military-aid-and-intelligence-to-ukraine https://opinionexpress.in/trump-warns-hamas-vows-total-support-for-israel US President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of all hostages or face devastating consequences. Writing on Truth Social, Trump declared, “This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.” Backing Israel’s military campaign, Trump pledged to provide “everything it needs to finish the job,” as the US rushes billions in arms to its ally. His remarks followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning of “consequences that you cannot imagine” if hostages remain in captivity. https://opinionexpress.in/china-hits-back-at-trumps-tariffs-says-its-ready-to-fight-till-the-end China has issued a sharp response to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs, warning that it is prepared for any conflict, whether economic or otherwise. The Chinese embassy in the US declared, “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.” https://opinionexpress.in/trump-unfair-tariffs-will-be-matched US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to imposing reciprocal tariffs, citing “very unfair” trade practices by nations like India, China, and the European Union. Speaking to a Joint Session of Congress in his first address of his second term, Trump declared that beginning April 2, the US would match tariffs imposed by foreign countries on American exports. https://opinionexpress.in/india-enters-finals-at-champions-trophy-2025 India beats Australia by 4 wickets in Champions Trophy 2025 to enter Finals..  https://opinionexpress.in/bihars-farmers-deserve-more-than-just-words Samar shesh hai, nahi paap ka bhagi keval vyadh, jo tatasth hai, samay likhega unka bhi apradh. https://opinionexpress.in/china-faces-yawning-wealth-gap-inequalities China’s wealthiest individuals are growing even richer, deepening economic inequalities despite government efforts to regulate private businesses and boost incomes, a new report reveals. https://opinionexpress.in/netra-kumbh-2025-a-visionary-public-health-initiative-making-history In the grand tapestry of India's cultural and spiritual legacy, the Kumbh Mela stands as a timeless confluence of faith, tradition, and human endeavor. But amid the sea of millions gathered for religious sanctity, a silent yet powerful revolution in public health is taking shape—Netra Kumbh 2025. This unparalleled humanitarian initiative has emerged as the world's largest temporary eye healthcare camp, earning recognition from both the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records. Beyond its medical impact, Netra Kumbh aligns with 12 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing its role in human development and global health equity. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-to-cut-90-of-usaid-foreign-aid-contracts The Trump administration has announced drastic cuts to foreign aid, slashing over 90% of the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) contracts and eliminating $60 billion in global assistance. The move, outlined in an internal memo and court filings, reflects a major retreat from decades of US foreign aid policy, which has historically been seen as a tool to stabilize global economies and build alliances. https://opinionexpress.in/court-orders-fir-against-sebi-former-chief-officials A special court has directed the filing of a case against former SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and five other officials over allegations of stock market fraud and regulatory lapses. The court has decided to monitor the investigation and has sought a status report within 30 days. The directive comes in response to a petition by journalist Sapan Shrivastava, who alleged serious violations that necessitate a thorough probe. https://opinionexpress.in/crunch-fitness-enters-india-75-gyms-planned-first-outlet-in-delhi-ncr A well-known gym chain with a reputation for providing high-quality, multi-amenity services, Crunch Fitness has signed a master franchise agreement to expand in India. In the upcoming years, this growth will bring at least 75 Crunch Fitness outlets nationwide. Although Crunch+, the company's online fitness program, has long been accessible to Indian users, this will be their first physical location in South Asia. The first gym is expected to start in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/who-thinks-who-feels-the-unfinished-debate-on-ai-consciousness René Descartes’ Cogito Ergo Sum—"I think, therefore I am"—redefined philosophy but left a deeper question unanswered: Who am I? With AI now thinking faster and more efficiently than us, the nature of our identity becomes crucial. Are we just biological supercomputers, or is there something beyond mere computation? Despite scientific progress, we still lack a fundamental grasp of consciousness. Without understanding our awareness, any claim about AI sentience is premature. AI may mimic intelligence, but that does not imply true consciousness. Until we solve this mystery, the essence of human existence remains an open question. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-jet-engine-paradox-a-strategic-constraint India’s jet engine development programme has been a long and challenging one with limited success till date. It’s a story of perseverance and determination. India’s jet engine development paradox revolves around India’s strong Aerospace ambition, clashing with challenges of creating state-of-the-art technology in a field that demands both expertise, innovation, research and immense resources. India, despite its push for self-reliance in critical technologies, including cryogenic rocket engines, has not been able to develop a jet engine for its fighter aircraft. There has been a long struggle to develop an indigenous jet engine despite having a significant aerospace industry, a large pool of skilled manpower and huge domestic demand.  Today, India has relied heavily on imported engines notably from Russia, the USA and the UK. https://opinionexpress.in/you-are-in-big-troubleyou-are-not-winning-this-trump-to-zelensky During the high-stakes meeting, President Trump, in a firm tone, told Zelensky, “Either make a deal, or we are out.” He emphasized the extensive military and financial support the U.S. had provided, stating, “We gave you $350 billion, military equipment, and backing. Without our support, this war would have ended in weeks.” https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-crashes-1400-points-as-trumps-tariff-move-rattles-markets Indian stock markets plunged on Friday, tracking a global sell-off after former US President Donald Trump announced an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports. The Sensex tumbled 1,414.33 points, or 1.9%, to close at 73,198.10, while the Nifty fell 420.35 points, or 1.86%, to settle at 22,124.70. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-unveils-gold-card-plan-for-skilled-immigrants Former US President Donald Trump has announced a new ‘gold card’ initiative aimed at attracting skilled international graduates and wealthy investors to the United States. Under this plan, US companies will be able to hire Indian graduates from top American universities, such as Harvard and Stanford, by purchasing a gold card, which grants work privileges and a path to citizenship. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-army-chief-warns-of-law-and-order-collapse-urges-national-unity Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has voiced serious concerns over the worsening law and order situation in the country, attributing it to ongoing political turmoil and social unrest. Speaking at an armed forces function, he lamented that citizens were deeply divided and preoccupied with vilifying each other, exacerbating the crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-refutes-stalins-claims-of-seat-loss-for-tn-post-delimitation Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday dismissed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s allegations of unfair treatment by the Centre regarding fund allocation and delimitation. Addressing a BJP event in Chennai, Shah highlighted that the Narendra Modi-led government had allocated ?5,08,337 crore to Tamil Nadu between 2014 and 2024, rejecting claims of discrimination. https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwals-next-move-rajya-sabha-entry-on-the-cards The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated its Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjeev Arora, for the upcoming Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, triggering speculation that party chief Arvind Kejriwal may replace him in the Upper House. The bypoll was necessitated by the unfortunate demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi last month. https://opinionexpress.in/bihars-agrarian-revolution-the-path-to-prosperity-and-stability Bihar, once the land of Mauryas and Guptas, the cradle of learning with Nalanda and Vikramshila, and the birthplace of great thinkers like Chanakya—has always been at the heart of India's historical and cultural evolution. But look around today, and what do we see? Fields filled with potential, yet farmers struggling to make ends meet. Families are torn apart as young men leave home in search of work elsewhere. The cities swell with migrants while villages fade into oblivion.It doesn't have to be this way. Bihar has everything it needs to flourish—fertile land, abundant water, skilled artisans, and a heritage of self-reliance. What it lacks is a roadmap, a determined push, and structural reforms that can channel its strengths into a future where Bihar doesn’t just survive but thrives.Let’s face it—agriculture is the backbone of Bihar. More than 70% of the people depend on farming, yet the system remains outdated. Small landholdings, poor irrigation, and limited market access have kept farmers trapped in a cycle of low productivity and high dependency. But imagine a Bihar where farmers don’t have to leave home to earn a living. Where they can cultivate, process, and sell their produce without being at the mercy of middlemen. Where their children see a future in farming, instead of fleeing to cities in desperation.The solution? Modernized infrastructure, advanced irrigation techniques, and digital tools like AI-driven soil testing to help farmers increase yield. The West Kosi Project, if properly implemented, can transform water management, ensuring that Bihar’s fields are green year-round instead of being at the mercy of monsoons.Did you know Bihar produces over 85% of the world’s Makhana (fox nuts)? It’s a superfood, sought after for its nutritional benefits. But despite this dominance, farmers don’t get their fair share. Why? Because the sector is scattered, unorganized, and under-commercialized.The recently established Makhana Board is a game-changer. Think of it like the Amul model—where farmers collectively own and benefit from the industry. With proper quality certification, branding, export facilitation, and farmer training, Bihar can turn Makhana into a billion-dollar industry. Imagine ‘Bihar Makhana’ labeled on supermarket shelves across the world—bringing prosperity back home, right where it belongs.Bihar is not just about farming; it’s also about craftsmanship. Bhagalpur Silk is renowned worldwide, but what has been done to elevate the weavers? The answer lies in cooperative economic frameworks, where artisans aren’t just laborers but stakeholders in the industry. By setting up textile hubs, investing in technology, and providing direct market access, Bhagalpur can once again become the ‘Silk City of the World,’ not just of India.Jute, another forgotten gem, can see a revival too. With the global push for eco-friendly products, Bihar’s jute industry can thrive—if we modernize processing units and link them to domestic and international markets. And most importantly, if we make sure the profits go back to the hands that spin the magic.With its diverse agricultural produce, Bihar can be more than just a supplier of raw materials—it can be a global food processing and export hub. Creating dedicated Food Export Zones will ensure that farmers don’t just grow food but also gain from its value addition.Government initiatives and the latest provisions in Budget 2025 signal a shift towards agro-industrialization. But policies mean nothing without execution. This is where close monitoring from the PMO and state administration becomes crucial—to ensure Bihar gets the investments, infrastructure, and institutional support it needs to transform into an agribusiness powerhouse.Bihar’s rivers have always been its lifelines, yet they remain vastly underutilized. What if we told you that Bihar’s water bodies could create millions of jobs? With strategic investments in fisheries, aquaculture, and inland water transport, the state can boost its ‘Blue Economy.’ Sustainable fishing and modern fish farming techniques can generate wealth while preserving the ecosystem. The Ganga and its tributaries can also serve as efficient waterways—cutting transport costs, boosting trade, and reducing environmental impact. A strong Blue Economy means more jobs at home, fewer migrant laborers, and a stronger Bihar.The flood-prone regions of Bihar, including the Tal, Chaur, and Maan areas, are often viewed as liabilities, but they hold immense untapped potential. These waterlogged lowlands can be transformed into hubs of sustainable aquaculture and integrated farming. Instead of battling floods, Bihar can learn to harness them—developing a water-based economy that turns seasonal adversity into an advantage. With the right planning, these regions can become highly productive zones for fish farming, lotus cultivation, and integrated paddy-fish culture. This would not only boost rural incomes but also establish Bihar as a leader in India's National Blue Economy. If managed effectively, the floodwaters can be used to recharge groundwater levels, support biodiversity, and create a resilient agricultural model that turns Bihar’s biggest challenge into its greatest strength.This transformative development is not just economic but also deeply political. With the 2025 Vidhan Sabha elections on the horizon, a shift towards an agriculture-anchored economy can redefine Bihar’s political narrative. Instead of electioneering around caste equations and short-term welfare schemes, Bihar can initiate a development-driven debate, one that shifts the focus to economic empowerment, job creation, and self-sufficiency. This will not only energize the electorate but also strengthen the vision of making Bihar the epicenter of a thriving, cooperative-led economy. Furthermore, such economic revival will directly impact the Home Minister’s ambitious target of eliminating Naxalism by ensuring that discontented youth find stable employment within their own state, reducing the lure of extremism.Bihar has always been the land of visionaries—whether it was Bhikari Thakur, whose folk theatre echoed the struggles of migration, or Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, whose poetic calls for revolution still inspire the masses. Their voices still resonate with Bihar’s need for transformation. Dinkar’s words, “Samar shesh hai, nahi paap ka bhagi keval vyadh” (The battle is yet to be fought, and the burden of injustice is not for one alone to bear), remind us that Bihar's struggle is far from over—it must fight for its rightful place in India's growth story. Chanakya, the greatest political reformer, laid the foundation of governance rooted in economic stability and strategic foresight, a philosophy that Bihar needs to embrace once again to chart its resurgence.When we talk about making India a developed country by 2047, it’s impossible to achieve that dream without Bihar rising to its full potential. A weak Bihar keeps India from becoming truly strong. But a Bihar that harnesses its agricultural wealth, its textile heritage, its food industry, and its river economy—that Bihar can be unstoppable.Bihar doesn’t need sympathy; it needs strategy. It doesn’t need promises; it needs action. And most importantly, it doesn’t need to send its sons and daughters away in search of livelihoods—it needs to build an economy that keeps them rooted, employed, and thriving right at home.A Viksit Bharat is only possible with a Viksit Bihar. The time to act is now. https://opinionexpress.in/the-diplomatic-visionary-who-redefined-us-india-partnership Frank Wisner, a distinguished diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to India, passed away on February 24, 2025, at 86. His extraordinary career in public service left an indelible mark on U.S.-India relations, shaping a lasting partnership between the two nations. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-defends-mass-deportations Illegal alien criminals are being sent home. We’re draining the swamp and restoring government by the people," Trump declared at the event on Saturday. He emphasized that mass deportations are central to his administration’s immigration policy. https://opinionexpress.in/preliminary-inquiry-not-mandatory-in-every-case-under-pc-act-sc The Supreme Court has ruled that conducting a preliminary inquiry is not mandatory before registering an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sandeep Mehta stated that while a preliminary inquiry may be desirable in some cases, it is neither a vested right of the accused nor a prerequisite for initiating a criminal case. https://opinionexpress.in/shaktikanta-das-the-right-man-to-navigate-india-through-global-challenges The appointment of Shaktikanta Das as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister is a strategic decision that brings a wealth of economic expertise and administrative acumen to the highest level of governance. With his vast experience as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and a distinguished career in economic policymaking, Das is well-equipped to provide crucial guidance to the government at a time when the global economic landscape is undergoing profound shifts. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-fires-chairman-of-joint-chiefs-of-staff President Donald Trump dismissed Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking a significant shift in military leadership. Brown, a highly respected officer and the second Black general to hold the position, had spent his tenure addressing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. His removal follows Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s initiative to restructure military leadership, citing concerns over diversity-driven policies. https://opinionexpress.in/shaktikanta-das-appointed-principal-secretary-to-pm Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a government notification issued today. His appointment will be co-terminus with the Prime Minister's tenure or until further orders. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-and-iran-locked-in-war-of-wordsmilitary-conflict-looms Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated sharply following a series of direct threats from senior Iranian military officials. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Ebrahim Jabbari declared that Iran would "raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground" as part of Operation True Promise 3, the latest phase in Iran’s strategy against Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/kash-patel-confirmed-by-the-senate-as-director-of-fbi Indian-origin Kash Patel was confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday, following a narrow 51-49 vote in the U.S. Senate. Patel, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, vowed to restore public trust in the agency and eliminate political bias. https://opinionexpress.in/rekha-gupta-sworn-in-as-delhis-new-chief-minister Rekha Gupta took oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Thursday in a grand ceremony at Ramlila Maidan, marking a new chapter in the city’s governance. She becomes the fourth BJP leader and the second woman from the party to hold the post. Gupta is also Delhi’s fourth female Chief Minister, following Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, and Atishi. https://opinionexpress.in/iphone-16e-with-61-inch-oled-screen-a18-chip-launched-in-india Apple has introduced the iPhone 16e, its latest entry-level smartphone, featuring a 6.1-inch OLED display and the powerful A18 chip. Positioned as an affordable alternative within the iPhone 16 series, the device supports Apple Intelligence features, bringing AI-powered enhancements to a wider audience. https://opinionexpress.in/donald-trump-deplore-elon-musks-tesla-building-factory-in-india https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-committed-to-boost-trade-to-usd-500-bn-goyal India and the United States are committed to expanding bilateral trade to USD 500 billion and finalizing a "strong" trade agreement within the next 6-8 months, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/exiled-sheikh-hasina-vows-to-return-to-bangladesh Exiled former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused interim leader Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating a violent conspiracy to remove her from power, calling him a “mobster” who has unleashed “terrorists” on the country. In response, Dhaka has reaffirmed its commitment to securing Hasina’s extradition from India, declaring it a top priority. https://opinionexpress.in/us-russia-negotiate-for-ending-conflict-in-ukraine The United States and Russia have agreed to form negotiating teams to explore a path toward ending the war in Ukraine, following high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. However, neither Ukraine nor the European Union was invited to participate in the discussions, fueling concerns in Europe over Washington’s shifting stance on Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/europe-in-huddle-over-us-russia-talks-on-ukraine European leaders met in Paris on Monday for an informal summit to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's push for direct negotiations with Russia. While European nations pledged continued support for Kyiv, they failed to offer new security guarantees, raising concerns about the future of the regions security landscape. https://opinionexpress.in/sam-pitroda-remark-china-not-our-enemy-sparks-huge-row Congress leader Sam Pitroda has sparked controversy again with his remarks on China, claiming that the threat from the neighboring country is "blown out of proportion." His comments, suggesting India should stop viewing China as an enemy, triggered sharp reactions from the BJP, which accused the Congress of having a secret understanding with Beijing. https://opinionexpress.in/share-markets-ride-rough-ride-amid-foreign-fund-outflows Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, opened lower on Monday, continuing their downward trend amid persistent foreign fund outflows and concerns over slowing corporate earnings. However, they recover to settle at the neutral point.  https://opinionexpress.in/rss-emphasises-unity-of-hindu-society RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, addressing a gathering at SAI Ground in Bardhaman, underscored the necessity of uniting Hindu society, which he described as the "responsible" society of India. He stated that the essence of Bharat lies in its diversity, and Hindu society inherently understands that "diversity itself is unity." https://opinionexpress.in/european-leaders-push-back-against-us-policies-at-munich-security-conference At the Munich Security Conference, European leaders voiced strong concerns over the Trump administration’s shifting stance on transatlantic relations, democracy, and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the formation of a unified European army, citing Ukraine’s resilience against Russia as proof of Europe’s military potential. "The time has come," he declared, urging the EU to take collective security more seriously. https://opinionexpress.in/tragic-stampede-at-new-delhi-railway-station-claims-18-lives https://opinionexpress.in/us-ukraine-signal-urgency-to-end-russia-war At the 61st Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the urgency of securing a lasting peace deal with Russia as the war nears its third year. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-trust-initiative-to-strengthen-critical-mineral-supply-chains The India-United States (US) Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative will play a pivotal role in advancing India’s National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). This mission, backed by a ?34,300 crore investment over seven years (until 2030-31), aims to secure India’s access to strategic minerals essential for high-tech industries. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-develops-worlds-largest-10-tonne-propellant-mixer-for-solid-rocket-motors In a major technological breakthrough, ISRO has successfully developed a 10-tonne vertical planetary mixer for solid propellant production, marking a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities. This cutting-edge equipment, the largest of its kind globally, will enhance the efficiency and scale of solid motor manufacturing. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-president-trump-strengthen-india-us-ties-with-strategic-initiatives Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held high-level talks at the White House, focusing on defence, trade, technology, energy, and multilateral cooperation. Their discussions resulted in major agreements aimed at deepening India-US strategic collaboration. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-strengthen-defence-partnership-with-new-agreements Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a significant bilateral meeting at the White House, reinforcing the growing defence cooperation between India and the United States. In their first meeting since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the two leaders committed to advancing strategic ties and military collaboration. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-meets-us-intelligence-chief-tulsi-gabbard-for-intel-cooperation Prime Minister Narendra Modi met U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard in Washington, D.C., to discuss strengthening India-U.S. intelligence cooperation, particularly in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and emerging threats. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-arrives-in-washington-for-key-talks-with-president-trump Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Washington, D.C., for a crucial two-day visit, marking his first bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump since the latter's return to the White House last month. PM Modi’s visit comes amid U.S. trade policies imposing steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a move that could impact Indian businesses. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-calls-for-tougher-stance-on-hamas-as-ceasefire-hangs-in-balance Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Israel to cancel the ceasefire with Hamas if all remaining hostages are not released by midday Saturday. His remarks came after Hamas accused Israel of violating the truce and delayed further hostage releases. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modis-visit-to-france-strengthening-bilateral-ties-and-global-collaboration https://opinionexpress.in/trump-tariffs-spark-sensex-crash The Indian stock market plunged on Tuesday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. By 1:41 PM, the Sensex had dropped 1,038 points (1.25%), while the Nifty was down by over 327 points (1.3%). https://opinionexpress.in/trump-threatens-hamas-with-severe-repercussions-over-hostage-delays The future of Gaza hangs in uncertainty as former U.S. President Donald Trump doubles down on his controversial proposal to "take over" the territory, warning that failure to release hostages could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-meets-macron-jd-vance-at-france-ai-summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris on Monday for a high-profile visit, beginning with a welcome dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Upon arrival, Macron greeted his “friend” Modi with a warm hug, later posting on X, “Welcome to Paris, my friend @narendramodi,” along with a video of their meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/france-india-have-shared-interest-focused-on-mutual-friendship-macron Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a two-nation tour, with his first stop in France before heading to the United States. His visit to France, spanning three days, includes high-level discussions with President Emmanuel Macron, co-chairing the AI Action Summit, and engagements with business leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-firms-eye-investment-in-saudis-63b-diriyah-giga-project Several Indian firms have expressed strong interest in investing in Diriyah, a $63.2 billion mega-development on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Major Indian business groups, including Tata and Oberoi, have already signed agreements, according to Diriyah CEO Jerry Inzerillo. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-announces-25-tariffs-on-steel-aluminium-imports In a significant escalation of his trade policy, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports starting Monday. Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump also revealed plans for reciprocal tariffs, set to be detailed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/bjps-historic-win-in-delhi-modi-declares-aap-da-mukt-capital In a resounding victory, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ended the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long rule in Delhi, marking its return to power in the city after 26 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the electoral outcome as “historic,” emphasizing that Delhiites have decisively rejected AAP’s governance and embraced the promise of a “double-engine” government. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-poised-for-landmark-win-in-delhi-ending-aaps-stronghold If the early trends hold, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on the verge of achieving a historic breakthrough in Delhi, ending the decade-long dominance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This victory would not only consolidate the BJP’s hold over the National Capital Region (NCR) but also mark yet another opposition-ruled state turning saffron. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-cuts-repo-rate-for-the-first-time-in-five-years-to-boost-economy The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the key repo rate for the first time in nearly five years, aiming to stimulate economic growth. The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to lower the rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down from 6.5% to 6.25%. The announcement was made this morning by Sanjay Malhotra in his first major address as RBI Governor. https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-track-to-become-an-ai-powerhouse-sam-altman India is rapidly emerging as a global force in Artificial Intelligence, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledging the country’s pivotal role in shaping AI advancements. Speaking at a fireside chat with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Altman emphasized India’s full-stack AI model, spanning chips, models, and applications, and highlighted OpenAI’s surging user base in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/argentina-follows-us-in-who-withdrawal-under-mileis-leadership Argentina will exit the World Health Organization (WHO), President Javier Milei’s office announced Wednesday, aligning with the United States, which pulled out last month under President Donald Trump’s directive. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-takes-holy-dip-at-maha-kumbh-in-prayagraj Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sacred dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj on Wednesday morning. Dressed in a saffron jacket and blue trackpants, he clasped ‘rudraksha’ beads while chanting prayers, submerging himself in the holy waters multiple times. https://opinionexpress.in/the-united-states-to-take-control-of-gaza-trump Former U.S. President Donald Trump made a striking proposal to have the United States take control of Gaza, pledging to clear the war-torn region and transform it into an economic hub. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump described a vision where the U.S. would remove unexploded ordnance, demolish damaged infrastructure, and rebuild the territory without the current Palestinian population. https://opinionexpress.in/china-imposes-15-tariff-on-us-coal-and-gas-amid-escalating-trade-war In a sharp retaliation against US President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs, China has announced new duties on American coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other key imports. The move reignites tensions between the world’s two largest economies, with both sides ramping up economic pressure. https://opinionexpress.in/hundreds-deported-illegal-migrant-indians-return-on-us-military-aircraft In a significant deportation move, a US military aircraft carrying 205 Indian nationals who had illegally entered the United States has departed from Texas and is en route to India. Sources confirm that each deportee has been verified, indicating close coordination between New Delhi and Washington in the repatriation process. https://opinionexpress.in/tribhuvan-sahkari-univ-bill-a-milestone-in-cooperative-education Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering commitment to empowering the cooperative sector has taken a giant leap forward with the introduction of the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University Bill, 2024. This bill, a landmark initiative, aims to establish the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University, an institution of national importance dedicated to fostering cooperative education, research, and management training. With this move, Modi’s promise of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation) is set to become a reality, paving the way for a new era in cooperative education and economic upliftment. https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-hits-record-low-of-8729-amid-trump-tariffs-and-global-market-jitters The Indian rupee plunged 67 paise to hit an all-time low of 87.29 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday, as fears of a widening global trade war intensified following new tariffs imposed by former US President Donald Trump. https://opinionexpress.in/india-slashes-import-duties-on-luxury-goods-amid-us-trade-tensions In its Union Budget 2025-26, India has significantly reduced customs duties on high-end motorcycles, luxury cars, and smartphone components—a move that could benefit American giants like Harley-Davidson, Tesla, and Apple. While US President Donald Trump has frequently criticized India’s high tariffs, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman maintained that the duty cuts aim to strengthen India's manufacturing sector, not signal a response to US trade policies. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-army-chief-visits-balochistan-amid-rising-clashes Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, visited Balochistan on Saturday following a surge in violence that claimed the lives of 18 security personnel and 23 terrorists within 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/us-china-trade-tensions-escalate-amid-new-tariffs The ongoing trade battle between the United States and China has intensified, with former President Donald Trump imposing an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports. This move, aimed at countering alleged unfair trade practices and China’s role in the fentanyl crisis, has sparked immediate backlash from Beijing. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-turn-upside-down-after-budget-presentation Markets opened on a positive note but turned choppy after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concluded her Budget speech. The BSE Sensex fell 494.1 points to 77,006.47, while the NSE Nifty slipped 162.35 points to 23,346.05 in late afternoon trade. However, both indices later pared losses, with Sensex stabilizing at 77,509.90 and Nifty at 23,495.30. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-2025-major-tax-reforms-announced Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled significant tax reforms in the Union Budget 2025, including a higher tax exemption threshold and revised tax slabs under the new regime. The move aims to ease the tax burden on the middle class and simplify compliance. https://opinionexpress.in/key-bills-in-parliaments-budget-session-2025 Parliament’s Budget session, starting Friday with the Economic Survey 2024-25, will see the introduction of 16 key bills, including the Finance Bill 2025 and amendments to laws governing waqf, banking, disaster management, and maritime trade. The session will also witness Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting her eighth Union Budget, closing in on Morarji Desai’s record of 10. https://opinionexpress.in/cooperatives-ai-the-future-of-rural-india-a-new-economic-era "Saha Nau Bhunaktu" May we work and prosper together." These timeless words from the Rig Veda resonate as India's rural economy embarks on a transformational journey driven by cooperatives, AI, and sustainable economic policies. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-growth-at-63-68-economic-survey The Indian economy is expected to expand at a rate of 6.3-6.8% in the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The report highlights strong economic fundamentals, a declining unemployment rate, and stable inflation while calling for further reforms to sustain long-term growth. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-clinches-victory-in-chandigarh-mayoral-elections In a keenly contested Chandigarh mayoral election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious, securing 19 votes against the 17 polled by the AAP-Congress alliance. BJP’s Harpreet Kaur Babla defeated Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Prem Lata to claim the mayoral post. https://opinionexpress.in/alibaba-unveils-qwen-25-max-amid-fierce-ai-competition-in-china Chinese tech giant Alibaba has launched an upgraded version of its AI model, Qwen 2.5-Max, claiming it surpasses leading models such as DeepSeek-V3, GPT-4o, and Llama-3.1-405B. The timing of the release—on the first day of the Lunar New Year—reflects the urgency Chinese companies feel in keeping pace with the rapid rise of AI startup DeepSeek. https://opinionexpress.in/american-airlines-jet-military-helicopter-collide-mid-air-near-washington-dc A tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter over Washington, DC, has left multiple casualties feared. The accident occurred just five kilometers from the White House at around 9 PM local time (0200 GMT). https://opinionexpress.in/isro-marks-100th-mission-with-successful-navigation-satellite-launch Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) celebrated a major milestone on Wednesday with the successful launch of its 100th mission, deploying the NVS-02 navigation satellite into orbit using the GSLV-F15 rocket. The early morning launch was ISRO's first mission of 2025 and the maiden launch under Chairman V. Narayanan, who assumed office on January 16. https://opinionexpress.in/us-suspends-foreign-aid-to-pakistan-for-reevaluation The United States has temporarily suspended foreign assistance to Pakistan following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, according to Geo News. This decision has halted several United States Agency for International Development (USAID) projects, including the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), a key initiative supporting cultural heritage conservation. https://opinionexpress.in/stampede-like-situation-at-maha-kumbh-few-deaths-and-injury-feared Following the chaos, Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad President Mahant Ravindra Puri announced that seers would skip their Mauni Amavasya Snan . "Our saints were prepared for the holy dip, but after this incident, we decided to cancel it," he stated. Juna Akhara Patron Mahant Hari Giri urged devotees to bathe in the Ganga at their nearest locations instead. https://opinionexpress.in/triveni-sangam-at-mahakumbh-to-witness-crores-pilgrims-on-mauni-amavasya The Uttar Pradesh government is in full swing preparing for the grand Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya, set to draw an estimated 10 crore pilgrims to the Maha Kumbh on Wednesday. This sacred bathing ritual, held at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, is the most significant event of the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025, which has already seen over 15 crore devotees in the first 17 days. https://opinionexpress.in/us-tech-stocks-tank-as-chinese-deepseek-threatens-ai-industry DeepSeek, developed by a Hangzhou-based research lab, has unveiled two groundbreaking models: the V3, a 671-billion parameter “mixture of experts,” and the R1, an advanced reasoning model. These models boast cost efficiency and performance that challenge US giants like OpenAI and Google. Notably, DeepSeek V3 became the most downloaded app on the US Apple Store, underscoring its rapid ascent. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-names-india-china-as-high-tariff-countries President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose tariffs on nations that “harm” the United States, specifically naming China, India, and Brazil as high-tariff countries. Addressing House Republicans at a Florida retreat, his first since beginning his second term, Trump emphasized that America would no longer tolerate economic practices that disadvantage the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/us-freezes-its-entire-foreign-aid-except-for-israel-and-egypt The U.S. State Department has halted new funding for most foreign aid programs, sparing only humanitarian food aid and military assistance to Israel and Egypt. This sweeping directive threatens to disrupt global initiatives in health, education, job training, and development, as the U.S.—the world’s largest provider of foreign aid—enforces a pledge to align its spending with President Donald Trump’s foreign policy objectives. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-emphasizes-cohesion-on-republic-day Bhagwat highlighted that diversity, which often causes clashes worldwide, is viewed in India as a natural aspect of life. "You can have your own specialities, but cohesion is the key to living in harmony," he said. Stressing interconnectedness, he added, "A family cannot be happy if the town is in trouble, just as an individual cannot be content if their family is unhappy." https://opinionexpress.in/trump-lifts-biden-era-hold-on-bomb-supply-to-israel-amid-ongoing-conflict Former U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized the release of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, reversing a hold placed by President Joe Biden due to humanitarian concerns. According to a White House source, this decision has been anticipated as part of Trump’s strong support for Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/india-celebrates-76th-republic-day India Celebrates 76th Republic Day with Grandeur and Patriotism https://opinionexpress.in/four-israeli-female-soldiers-freed-as-gaza-ceasefire-advances Four Israeli women soldiers were released by Hamas today as part of the second prisoner exchange under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza. The hostages, who were captured during the October 7, 2023, attack on the Nahal Oz military base near the Gaza border, were handed over to members of the Red Cross and transported out of Gaza. https://opinionexpress.in/us-supreme-court-clears-tahawwur-ranas-extradition-to-india The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian national of Pakistani origin, to India, rejecting his final legal challenge. Rana is wanted in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which killed 166 people, including six Americans. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-kumbh-2025-a-convergence-of-faith-humanity-and-sewa The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is no ordinary gathering—it is the world’s largest peaceful congregation of humanity, where faith transcends borders, spirituality findsexpression, and service touches millions of lives. A universally-recognized event, the Maha Kumbh is a celebration of Hindu culture and heritage, embodying the ancient wisdom ofdivinity and humanity in harmony. The event’s celestial significance, linked to the planetary alignments of the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter, underscores its sanctity. While Kumbh Melas occur rotationally every three years at Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik, the Maha Kumbh, held exclusively in Prayagraj every 144 years, is the most auspicious of them all. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-ukraine-war-likely-to-end-trump U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the "ridiculous war" in Ukraine, emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire. Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump reiterated his willingness to meet with Putin “as soon as possible” to facilitate peace talks. “I think he should make a deal,” Trump said, adding, “Russia should want to make a deal. Maybe they do.” https://opinionexpress.in/judge-blocks-trump-citizenship-fresh-order “This order undermines the Constitution’s citizenship clause,” Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola argued, referencing the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the United States. Polozola emphasized that the order would leave newborns without citizenship, Social Security numbers, or access to federal benefits. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-lashes-out-at-worlds-largest-ai-project A groundbreaking era in Artificial Intelligence has begun in the U.S. with the announcement of "Stargate," the world’s largest AI infrastructure project. Backed by President Donald Trump, the initiative unites tech leaders Sam Altman (OpenAI), Larry Ellison (Oracle), and Masayoshi Son (SoftBank). The $500 billion project aims to position the U.S. as a global AI powerhouse. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-ties-strengthened-as-top-officials-meet-s-jaishankar-in-washington In a significant diplomatic engagement underscoring the importance of India-U.S. ties, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in Washington, marking their first official meetings under the Trump administration. Dr. Jaishankar attended the meetings after being invited to the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th U.S. President. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-discusses-with-xi-a-new-multipolar-global-order During the call, Putin emphasized that the partnership between Russia and China is built on mutual interests, equality, and shared benefits, remaining unaffected by global political shifts. "We work together to support a more just multipolar global order and ensure indivisible security in Eurasia and beyond," Putin stated, describing their collaboration as a stabilizing force in international affairs. Xi echoed these sentiments, noting that their partnership brings "positive energy" to global reform efforts. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-crashes-1235-pts-to-7-month-low The Indian equity market experienced a sharp decline on Tuesday, with the benchmark BSE Sensex plunging 1,235.08 points (1.60%) to close at a seven-month low of 75,838.36, while the broader NSE Nifty fell 320.10 points (1.37%) to settle at 23,024.65. The selloff was triggered by global concerns after U.S. President Donald Trump announced new trade tariffs targeting neighboring countries during his inauguration. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-returns-to-white-house-signs-80-orders-including-to-exit-paris-pact Donald Trump wasted no time in enacting his agenda as the 47th President of the United States, signing a record number of executive orders within hours of taking the oath of office. Addressing a massive crowd and delivering two speeches—one at his inauguration and another after the presidential parade—Trump outlined sweeping changes aimed at reversing key policies of the Biden administration. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-govt-facilitated-unease-in-doing-business-cong Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the government for its handling of private investment, which he said has fallen to record lows. He attributed this decline to a punitive tax regime encompassing both GST and income tax, labeling it “tax terrorism.” Ramesh noted that private domestic investment, which was consistently 25-30% of GDP during Manmohan Singh’s tenure, has now slumped to 20-25% under the Modi government. https://opinionexpress.in/lets-make-america-great-again-trump Trump vowed to impose strict immigration limits on his first day in office, declaring, “By the time the sun sets tomorrow, the invasion of our country will have come to a halt.” He also pledged to tackle America’s crises with “historic speed and strength,” promising a new era of prosperity. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-china-top-trumps-foreign-policy-priority-list US President-elect Donald Trump plans to visit China after assuming office to strengthen ties with Beijing, despite past campaign rhetoric about imposing higher tariffs on Chinese imports. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has expressed his desire to deepen relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling a potential shift in tone from his earlier hardline stance. https://opinionexpress.in/india-announces-squad-for-icc-champions-trophy-2025 Team India unveiled their 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the three-match ODI series against England. The announcement was made by skipper Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar during a press conference. https://opinionexpress.in/the-elusive-quest-for-peace-in-ukraine As the Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year, peace remains a distant prospect. Both Russia and Ukraine are locked in a battle for territorial and strategic gains, aiming to bolster their negotiating positions before any potential talks. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-evolving-diplomatic-approach-jaishankars-insights Jaishankar highlighted India commitment to advancing critical and emerging technologies, asserting that while India remains West its strategic alignment ensures it is not anti-West. He also pointed to the growing global trend of financial institutions being weaponized and urged strengthening India internal growth and minimizing external vulnerabilities. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-court-convicts-former-pm-imran-khan-and-wife-in-landmark-graft-case The anti-graft court convened inside the jail near Islamabad, where Khan has been held since August 2023 amidst nearly 200 legal cases. Judge Nasir Javed Rana declared, "The prosecution has proven its case. Khan is convicted." Bibi, recently out on bail, was re-arrested following the ruling, according to her spokesperson Mashal Yousafzai. https://opinionexpress.in/gaza-ceasefire-deal-is-not-complete-israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that a ceasefire agreement with Hamas is not yet finalized, as negotiators work on final details. The statement follows an announcement by the United States and Qatar about a potential deal to pause the 15-month Gaza war and facilitate the release of hostages. https://opinionexpress.in/international-delegation-immerses-in-indian-culture-at-maha-kumbh A 21-member delegation from 10 countries experienced the grandeur of Indian culture at the Maha Kumbh on Thursday, taking a sacred dip at the Triveni Sangam and exploring the event's vast expanse. https://opinionexpress.in/indonesian-president-subianto-to-be-chief-guest-at-indias-76th-republic-day-celebrations The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2025. This marks President Subianto’s inaugural visit to India as head of state, scheduled from January 25 to 26. https://opinionexpress.in/historic-leap-indias-navy-gets-three-cutting-edge-warships-in-a-day India has marked a historic milestone by commissioning three indigenously developed naval assets in a single day: the stealth frigate INS Nilgiri, guided missile destroyer INS Surat, and attack submarine INS Vagsheer. This achievement underscores India's growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing, bolstering its maritime strength amid strategic tensions with China and Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/government-panel-recommends-action-against-former-intelligence-officer-in-assassination-plot A Union government committee has recommended legal action against Vikash Yadav, a former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer, for his alleged role in orchestrating a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, was targeted in 2023, according to an indictment filed in New York City. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-targets-arvind-kejriwal-at-delhi-poll-rally Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over rising pollution and inflation at his first rally for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Speaking at the ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ event in Seelampur, Gandhi accused Kejriwal of failing to deliver on promises made to Delhiites. https://opinionexpress.in/new-rbi-governor-signals-flexible-stance-on-rupee Unlike his predecessor, Shaktikanta Das, who maintained tight control over the rupee, Malhotra appears more open to allowing the currency to move in line with regional peers. Under Das, the rupee’s volatility reached record lows, supported by India’s $700 billion foreign exchange reserves. https://opinionexpress.in/california-wildfires-claim-more-lives-thousands-displaced The devastating wildfires around Los Angeles have claimed at least 24 lives and left thousands homeless, in what California Governor Gavin Newsom has described as potentially “the most catastrophic natural disaster in US history.” https://opinionexpress.in/jagmeet-singh-warns-trump-canada-is-not-for-sale Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada New Democratic Party (NDP), has issued a stern warning to US President-elect Donald Trump over his controversial remarks about annexing Canada. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Singh declared, "Our country is not for sale. Not now, not ever." https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-inauguration-a-global-affair-with-corporate-glitz The world’s elite are vying for a coveted spot at Donald Trump’s swearing-in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, held at the iconic Capitol in Washington, DC. Trump’s return to the presidency has sparked global interest, with Vice President JD Vance also taking the oath that day. https://opinionexpress.in/mohammed-shami-returns-for-t20i-series-against-england Mohammed Shami has made a much-anticipated return to the Indian cricket team for the five-match T20I series against England, starting January 22. The seasoned pacer, who last played in the ODI World Cup final against Australia on November 19, adds depth to India’s bowling attack. https://opinionexpress.in/los-angeles-wildfires-set-to-become-one-of-costliest-disasters-in-us-history The Los Angeles wildfires are on track to become one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, with preliminary estimates from AccuWeather suggesting losses could soar to $150 billion. Already, over $135 billion in damages have been reported, making this one of the nation's most destructive wildfire events, according to the BBC. https://opinionexpress.in/ayodhyas-ram-temple-hosts-first-anniversary-of-ram-lalla-idol-installation The first anniversary of the Ram Lalla idol consecration in Ayodhya commenced on Saturday, drawing thousands of devotees to the holy city. The celebrations, scheduled from January 11 to 13, began with the recitation of the Yajurveda and are set to include grand religious and cultural events at the Ram Temple complex. https://opinionexpress.in/los-angeles-inferno-claims-10-lives-levels-10000-structures Los Angeles is grappling with two massive wildfires that have claimed 10 lives and destroyed over 10,000 homes and structures, officials reported Thursday. Authorities are urging residents to heed evacuation orders as another fast-moving blaze, the Kenneth Fire, erupted in the San Fernando Valley, escalating the crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/ai-adoption-on-wall-street-could-eliminate-200000-roles Global banks are bracing for sweeping workforce changes as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the industry, potentially eliminating up to 200,000 jobs over the next three to five years, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) report. The cuts, averaging 3% of the workforce, primarily target roles in back office, middle office, and operations. Routine and repetitive tasks, including customer services and know-your-customer duties, are particularly vulnerable, BI senior analyst Tomasz Noetzel noted. https://opinionexpress.in/canadas-trudeau-turmoil-and-implications-for-india Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of his resignation on January 6, 2025, signifies a pivotal moment in Canadian politics. Trudeau, in office as Prime Minister since October 2015, made this decision in response to increasing pressure from within his own party and rising challenges to his leadership. Trudeau’s choice to resign occurs amid growing dissatisfaction within the governing Liberal Party. In his announcement outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Trudeau recognized the internal conflicts that had impeded his leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/thousands-flee-as-wildfires-devastate-los-angeles Fierce wildfires fueled by relentless Santa Ana winds have engulfed the Los Angeles region, forcing tens of thousands to flee as towering flames consume homes and darken the skies with smoke. At least five lives have been lost, and three major fires—raging from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena—have stretched firefighting resources to their limits. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-is-making-transition-difficult-trump US President-elect Donald Trump has accused outgoing President Joe Biden of complicating the presidential transition through a series of last-minute executive orders, particularly on climate policy. Trump, 78, is set to be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, succeeding Biden, 82, in the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/digital-window-of-mahakumbh-to-roll-out-indias-spiritual-legacy The Mahakumbh 2025, a grand confluence of spirituality and culture, has captured global attention well ahead of its commencement. Its official website, launched on October 6, 2024, by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has become a vital resource for devotees worldwide. With over 33 lakh visitors from 183 countries and 6,200 cities by January 4, the site reflects the event’s growing international appeal. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-estimated-to-grow-at-64-in-2024-25-nso India’s economy is projected to grow at 6.4% in the fiscal year 2024-25, a notable decline from the 8.2% growth recorded in the previous year, according to the National Statistical Office (NSO). The forecast, released on Tuesday in the first advance estimates of national accounts, is slightly lower than the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) recent projection of 6.6% for the same period. https://opinionexpress.in/massive-earthquake-shakes-tibet A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck Tibet near the Nepalese border on Tuesday morning, leaving 53 people dead and 62 injured, according to Chinese state media Xinhua. The quake, which hit at 6:35 am, was centered in Dingri County, Xigaze City, in the Tibet Autonomous Region, and its tremors were felt in parts of India, including Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/cii-seven-point-agenda-for-rural-growth-employment-generation The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday urged the government to introduce targeted measures in the FY26 Union Budget to drive large-scale employment generation, leveraging India’s demographic advantage. Highlighting the need to productively engage the world’s largest youth population, the industry body proposed a seven-point agenda to create jobs and boost inclusive growth. https://opinionexpress.in/trudeaus-tenure-ends-amid-controversy-disgrace-and-declining-support Justin Trudeau, Canada’s 23rd prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party for over a decade, announced his resignation on Monday, ending nearly nine years in office. In a packed Ottawa press conference, the 53-year-old reflected on his achievements, challenges, and a regret about electoral reform. https://opinionexpress.in/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-likely-to-resign Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reportedly preparing to step down as the leader of the Liberal Party, according to a report by The Globe and Mail. Citing three sources, the report suggests that Trudeau's resignation could be announced as early as Monday, ahead of a crucial national caucus meeting on Wednesday. However, no official timeline for the announcement has been confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-a-party-of-workers-not-dynasties-says-devendra-fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday highlighted the BJP’s unique position as a party rooted in democracy and driven by its workers, not dynastic control. Speaking at a party event in Nagpur, Fadnavis underscored that among India’s 2,300 registered political parties, the BJP stands apart as the only national party that a family doesn’t own. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-reclaims-border-gavaskar-trophy-with-dominant-win-over-india Australia ended India's decade-long dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a six-wicket victory in the fifth and final Test in Sydney, sealing the series 3-1. Chasing a modest target of 162, Travis Head (34*) and Beau Webster (39*) guided the hosts to a comfortable win on Day 3. https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-names-19-recipients-for-presidential-medal-of-freedom President Joe Biden has announced 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, recognizing their remarkable contributions to society. The awards ceremony will take place Saturday at the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/at-home-and-abroad-indias-defining-moment As the year turns, India finds itself standing at a political and economic crossroads, facing challenges that demand both astute domestic governance and deft diplomacy on the global stage. With the upcoming Union Budget Session, the Modi government—now a minority in Parliament following the fallout with Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United)—faces a litmus test of leadership amid a tumultuous international environment. https://opinionexpress.in/global-concerns-rise-over-human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-spread-in-china The spread of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory illness with flu-like symptoms, in China has raised global health concerns. HMPV, first identified in 2001, shares similarities with COVID-19, sparking memories of the pandemic that claimed over 7 million lives. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-sentencing-set-ahead-of-inauguration-amid-controversy A New York judge has scheduled sentencing for President-elect Donald Trump on January 10, just days before his January 20 inauguration. Judge Juan Merchan, presiding over Trump’s hush money case, indicated he is unlikely to impose jail time, leaning toward an unconditional discharge. https://opinionexpress.in/india-condemns-chinas-establishment-of-counties-in-ladakh-region India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with China over the establishment of two new counties in areas partially falling under the Union Territory of Ladakh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the move as an "illegal occupation" of Indian territory. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-declares-right-to-property-a-constitutional-right The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the right to property, though no longer a fundamental right, remains a constitutional right under Article 300-A of the Constitution and a human right in a welfare state. Article 300-A mandates that no person can be deprived of their property except by the authority of law and upon adequate compensation. https://opinionexpress.in/inr-may-dip-to-all-time-low-against-usd The Indian rupee is expected to weaken to a record low at the opening on Friday, pressured by the U.S. dollar's strength. The dollar index surged 0.7% on Thursday to 109.54, its highest in over two years, buoyed by stronger-than-expected U.S. jobless claims data. https://opinionexpress.in/china-escalates-sanctions-on-us-defense-firms-over-taiwan-arms-sales China has intensified its countermeasures against the United States by announcing a second wave of sanctions targeting ten American defense companies, including subsidiaries of Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics. This comes less than a week after sanctions were imposed on seven other US entities, including Boeing Defense’s subsidiary, Insitu. https://opinionexpress.in/america-grapples-with-dual-terror-strikes-amid-new-year-festivities A devastating attack in New Orleans marked the start of 2025 when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented truck through the crowded French Quarter, targeting New Year’s revelers. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick described Jabbar as "hell-bent on carnage." The FBI, treating the incident as terrorism, reported the discovery of an ISIS flag in his vehicle and is investigating potential links to extremist organizations. Authorities are also exploring whether Jabbar acted alone. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-need-highly-skilled-smart-people-trump US President-elect Donald Trump has voiced support for the H-1B visa program, aligning with tech billionaire Elon Musk amid ongoing debates within the Republican Party. Speaking at a New Year’s Eve event, Trump emphasized the need for skilled immigration. “We need smart people coming into our country. We need competent people. We’re going to have jobs like we’ve never had before,” he remarked. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-new-year-2025 Wishing a warm & happy new year 2025 to all the patrons, readers and staff of Opinion Express.  https://opinionexpress.in/ai-is-poised-to-significantly-accelerate-social-transformations As 2025 approaches, the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to significantly influence various sectors, notably healthcare and finance. AI's integration into these fields is expected to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-to-establish-indias-own-space-station India is poised to make history as ISRO prepares for the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), marking a significant step toward its own space station. SpaDeX, lifting off on December 30 at 10 PM IST from Sriharikota, involves the intricate docking and undocking of two spacecraft—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)—each weighing 220 kg. This challenging manoeuvre places India on the cusp of joining the elite group of nations—United States, Russia, and China—that have mastered this complex technology. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-defence-exports-to-peak-at-over-rs-21000-crore-rajnath Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Monday that India's defence exports have reached a record ?21,000 crore, a significant leap from ?2,000 crore a decade ago. Speaking at the Army War College (AWC) in the historic Mhow Cantonment, Singh highlighted the government’s vision of achieving ?50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029. https://opinionexpress.in/osamu-suzuki-architect-of-suzukis-global-success-passes-away-at-94 Osamu Suzuki, the trailblazing former chairman and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, passed away on Friday at the age of 94, the company announced. Revered for his transformative leadership and approachable demeanor, Suzuki played a pivotal role in transforming the Japanese mini-vehicle manufacturer into a global powerhouse. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-labourers-at-the-heart-of-israels-reconstruction-efforts Wearing safety gear, Raju Nishad skillfully navigates scaffolding at a construction site in Beer Yaakov, central Israel. Alongside other Indian workers, he is part of a new wave filling gaps in Israel’s building sector, left by Palestinian laborers unable to enter after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-strategic-diplomacy-shines-amid-geopolitical-turbulence In a tumultuous year for global diplomacy, India ended a four-and-a-half-year border standoff with China, marking a milestone in its foreign policy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to normalize relations during the BRICS Summit in Russia, with troops disengaging from the remaining friction points in Ladakh by October. Talks between India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi further revived dialogue mechanisms. https://opinionexpress.in/jasprit-bumrah-scripts-history-reaches-200-test-wickets Indian pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah reached a remarkable milestone in his career, claiming his 200th Test wicket on Day 4 of the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Bumrah dismissed Travis Head to achieve this historic feat, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. His exceptional performance in the series saw him leading the wicket charts, and with this milestone, he surpassed legends like Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Curtly Ambrose in terms of bowling averages. https://opinionexpress.in/180-dead-after-plane-crashes-in-south-korea A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan airport in South Korea’s South Jeolla province, killing 151 of the 181 onboard, including 175 passengers and six crew members. The flight, returning from Thailand, veered off the runway during a landing attempt, collided with a fence, and erupted in flames. Emergency services initiated rescue efforts around 9 am, managing to save two crew members while evacuating survivors from the aircraft's rear section. https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-forces-target-pakistan-in-retaliation-of-the-airstrikes Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry announced on Saturday that its forces carried out strikes inside Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes in eastern Paktika province last week. https://opinionexpress.in/rip-dr-man-mohan-singh-last-rites-performed-with-full-state-honours The nation bid a solemn farewell to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, as his last rites were held with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi. Distinguished leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, gathered to pay their respects. International dignitaries, including Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay, also attended. https://opinionexpress.in/putins-tender-apology-for-azerbaijan-plane-crash The flight, identified as J2-8243, veered off course while navigating Russian airspace and crashed in a fiery explosion near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. According to reports, the aircraft had diverted from its intended route due to Ukrainian drone attacks targeting multiple cities in southern Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/upi-transactions-leaps-to-additional-33-per-cent-at-retail-stores-report Insurance policy transactions saw a remarkable 127% rise in volume, with a 96% growth in new customer adoption, highlighting the increasing role of digital retail in expanding insurance penetration in underserved areas. https://opinionexpress.in/president-appoints-new-governors Ajay Kumar Bhalla, former Union Home Secretary, has been appointed as the new Governor of Manipur, replacing Anusuiya Uikey. Bhalla, a seasoned 1984-batch IAS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, served as Home Secretary for nearly five years until 2024. His tenure is expected to help him address the volatile situation in Manipur, marked by ongoing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities. https://opinionexpress.in/many-feared-killed-in-pakistani-airstrikes-in-afghanistan Local reports indicate that Pakistani jets were responsible for the bombings, devastating areas like Murg Bazaar village and intensifying the humanitarian crisis. Civilian casualties and destruction have escalated tensions in the already volatile region, with the Taliban's Ministry of Defence pledging retaliation. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-acknowledges-role-in-tehran-assassination-of-hamas-head Speaking at an event honoring defense ministry personnel, Katz declared, “We have defeated Hamas, Hezbollah, and blinded Iran’s defense systems. We toppled the Assad regime in Syria, dealt severe blows to the axis of evil, and will decisively strike the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen.” He vowed to dismantle strategic infrastructures and target leaders, referencing the killings of Haniyeh in Tehran, Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, and Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-seeks-extradition-of-sheikh-hasina-from-india-amid-unrest India has received a diplomatic note from Bangladesh requesting the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, according to official sources. The note verbale, an unsigned diplomatic communication, was delivered by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-appoints-sriram-krishnan-as-senior-ai-policy-advisor President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Indian-American entrepreneur and tech visionary Sriram Krishnan as the Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence. Krishnan will serve under the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, focusing on advancing U.S. leadership in AI. https://opinionexpress.in/bureaucratic-red-tape-and-the-struggle-for-the-right-to-die Albert Camus, while contemplating the absurdity of life, declares that the ultimate philosophical question of existence is whether life is worth enduring despite its inherent meaninglessness. Perhaps the French philosopher’s observation in The Myth of Sisyphus merits a modern reinterpretation. Trapped in the bureaucratic mazes we craft, the real philosophical question may no longer be whether to end it all, but how many stamps are required to do so. In India, stringent procedural barriers obstruct the implementation of living wills, a tool designed to uphold the right to a dignified death, underscoring the urgent need for legislative reform to simplify the process and ensure that the right is accessible, protected and respected. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-honored-with-kuwaits-highest-civilian-award Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Kuwait highest honor, the Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer, during his historic two-day visit to the Gulf nation. This prestigious knighthood is conferred upon heads of state, foreign sovereigns, and members of royal families as a gesture of friendship. Notable recipients include Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush. With this, PM Modi has been honored internationally for the 20th time, underscoring his global stature. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modis-historic-visit-to-kuwait-focuses-on-strengthening-bilateral-ties Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a landmark two-day visit to Kuwait, is set to meet Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah on Sunday, marking the first Indian prime ministerial visit to the Gulf nation in 43 years. Modi’s trip underscores India’s commitment to deepening relations with Kuwait, a vital trade partner and the sixth-largest supplier of crude oil, fulfilling 3% of India’s energy needs. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-supports-indias-bid-to-become-permanent-member-of-unsc India and Russia have agreed to intensify their joint efforts in addressing radicalization, terror financing, and other terrorism-related challenges. The discussions took place during the 13th meeting of the India-Russia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter-Terrorism Cooperation held in Moscow on December 19-20. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-threatens-panama-over-canal-management-and-fees In a bold move signaling potential shifts in U.S. diplomacy, President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday accused Panama of imposing excessive fees for using the Panama Canal. Posting on Truth Social, Trump warned he would not allow the canal to fall into "the wrong hands," expressing concerns about possible Chinese influence on its management. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-faces-fresh-trouble-as-ed-gets-nod-to-prosecute-in-liquor-policy-case Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal faces another setback as Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) request to prosecute him in the alleged money laundering case tied to the controversial liquor policy scam. https://opinionexpress.in/is-trudeaus-shoddy-leadership-wearying-canadians Trudeau portrays himself as a feminist, yet his sincerity is open to doubt. He portrays himself as an environmentalist, yet his actions indicate a different reality. He often acts on impulse, “I feel like a mosquito in a nudist colony; I’m uncertain about how to proceed” — This sentiment aptly captures the chaos surrounding Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who seems more focused on cultivating his public image than addressing his duties. He is excessively hypocritical to even think about resigning. https://opinionexpress.in/justin-trudeau-faces-political-crisis-as-ndp-withdraws-support Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government appears on the brink of collapse as New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh announced plans to table a no-confidence motion in the House of Commons on January 27. This move could force an early federal election, months ahead of the scheduled October 2025 vote. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-targets-eu-with-trade-tariff-threats-ahead-of-presidency Donald Trump, a few weeks away from his inauguration as the next U.S. President, has issued a bold ultimatum to the European Union: reduce the trade imbalance or face steep tariffs. On his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, “Europe must make up its tremendous deficit with the U.S. through large-scale purchases of our oil and gas—otherwise, it’s TARIFFS all the way!” https://opinionexpress.in/deadly-car-ramming-terror-incident-shocks-germany Tragedy struck Germany as a speeding black BMW plowed through a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing two and injuring over 60 people. The horrific event unfolded on Friday evening, leaving the market's central town hall square devastated with shattered glass, blood, and debris. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-pakistan-relations-to-see-new-chapter-yunus The move marks a significant departure from Bangladesh’s historically close ties with India, strained further after a student-led revolution ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Hasina, who had India’s backing, now lives in exile in New Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/yoga-unbound-a-journey-to-unity-and-transformation   https://opinionexpress.in/winter-session-ends-on-fiery-note-with-protests-and-accusations The Winter Session of Parliament concluded today, marking four weeks of intense drama, protests, and allegations, including charges of "attempt to murder" against the Opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-moves-privilege-motion-against-amit-shah-over-ambedkar-remark The Congress on Tuesday moved a privilege motion against Home Minister Amit Shah for his controversial remarks on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha. Speaking in the House on December 17, Mr. Shah had remarked that Congress leaders would have "attained heaven" if they chanted God’s name instead of following the "fashion" of invoking Ambedkar. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-resume-border-talks-to-normalize-ties After a five-year hiatus, India and China resumed the 23rd round of Special Representatives (SR) talks on Wednesday, with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi leading their respective delegations. The meeting, held in Beijing, focused on restoring peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and rebuilding bilateral relations strained by a prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh. https://opinionexpress.in/iora-and-act-forge-partnership-to-advance-global-decarbonization Iora Ecological Solutions (IORA) has joined forces with Singapore-based Asian Climate Technologies VCC (ACT!) in a groundbreaking partnership to enhance India’s role in global climate action. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on December 4, 2024, establishes a strategic collaboration aimed at scaling IORA’s Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) while integrating ACT!’s global expertise in sustainable technologies. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-push-for-reciprocity-in-global-trade US President-elect Donald Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to imposing reciprocal tariffs, highlighting what he perceives as unfair trade practices by countries like India and Brazil. Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump underscored the principle of reciprocity, asserting that the United States would match the tariffs imposed by other nations on American products. https://opinionexpress.in/india-embassy-in-pyongyang-north-korea-reopens As the global focus remains on conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, India is quietly advancing its Act East policy, including recalibrating its approach to the Korean Peninsula. In a significant move, New Delhi has resumed operations at its embassy in Pyongyang, over three years after shutting it down amid the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/one-nation-one-election-bills-introduced-in-lok-sabha The Lok Sabha witnessed a heated debate on Tuesday as two bills proposing simultaneous elections were introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Amendment Bill aim to align state and Union Territory elections with Lok Sabha polls, sparking strong reactions from the opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/south-africa-must-be-the-preferred-destination-for-indian-tourists-minister “India, as one of our most dynamic tourism markets, holds immense potential for economic and cultural collaboration,” De Lille said. Highlighting India's booming economy and growing middle class, she noted that Indian tourists rank among the top global spenders, projected to become the fourth largest travel spenders by 2030. https://opinionexpress.in/this-golden-indian-wonder-is-packed-with-numerous-health-benefits Ghee, a beloved staple in Indian kitchens, isn’t just known for enhancing flavors in parathas and halwas—it also holds a wealth of health benefits. But have you heard about ghee water? Yes, mixing a teaspoon of ghee into warm water and drinking it on an empty stomach can do wonders for your overall well-being. Intrigued? Let’s explore how this simple morning drink can transform your health. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-dpm-chrystia-resigns-over-rift-with-trudeau Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned Monday in a surprising move, citing disagreements with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over how to handle U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats. Freeland’s departure marks a significant crack in Trudeau’s cabinet and could destabilize his already weakened leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-think-tank-unveils-report-highlighting-governance-challenges New Delhi, December 14, 2024: The World Intellectual Foundation (WIF), a prominent Delhi-based think tank, launched its much-anticipated report, “Delhi: A City in Crisis”, at the iconic PMML, Teen Murti Bhawan. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-party-amended-constitution-to-protect-its-dynastic-interest-fm Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday accused the Congress party of amending the Constitution to protect its dynastic interests and criticized its economic and social policies during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India'. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-to-hold-elections-by-late-next-year-yunus Addressing the nation on state television, Yunus stressed the importance of prioritizing reforms before elections. “If political parties agree to an early election with minimal reforms, such as a flawless voter list, polls could be held by November 2025,” he said. However, implementing broader electoral reforms may push the timeline into 2026. https://opinionexpress.in/good-bye-ustad-zakir-hussain Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, a global ambassador of Indian classical music, passed away at 73 in San Francisco on Sunday due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Known for his brilliance, Hussain elevated the modest tabla to a global symbol of India’s rich heritage over his five-decade career. https://opinionexpress.in/fadnavis-expands-cabinet-amid-alliance-power-sharing-dynamics Key BJP leaders sworn in include Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ashish Shelar, Ganesh Naik, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil, and Nitesh Rane. Shiv Sena ministers from Eknath Shinde’s faction, such as Shambhuraj Desai, Dadaji Bhuse, Uday Samant, and Sanjay Rathod, also took the oath. From the NCP, leaders Aditi Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif were inducted. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-is-trying-to-correct-failed-nehru-model-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the need to reassess India’s economic and foreign policy paradigms, rooted in the "Nehru development model," during a virtual address at the launch of The Nehru Development Model by Arvind Panagariya. Jaishankar emphasized that the model’s impact extended across politics, bureaucracy, judiciary, media, and education, shaping India’s trajectory post-independence. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-critiques-congress-on-constitution-day-highlights-unity-democracy-and-reforms Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Lok Sabha on Constitution Day, delivered a sharp critique of the Congress party's historical actions while celebrating the foundational values of India’s democracy. He emphasized the importance of unity in diversity, criticized Congress for undermining the Constitution, and highlighted his government’s achievements in promoting inclusivity and equitable development. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-critiques-bjp-on-constitution-manusmriti-and-savarkar-in-lok-sabha-debate During a Lok Sabha session commemorating 75 years of the Constitution, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp critique of the BJP-led government, contrasting the values of the Indian Constitution with those of the Manusmriti. Holding a copy of the Constitution in one hand and the Manusmriti in the other, Mr. Gandhi cited Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, who, he claimed, dismissed the Constitution as un-Indian and advocated for the Manusmriti as the guiding text of a Hindu nation. https://opinionexpress.in/a-guardian-of-constitutional-essence-dr-hansraj-bhardwaj Every year, India commemorates Constitution Day on November 26 to honor the adoption of its Constitution in 1949. This day celebrates not just a document but the vision of a nation that upholds democracy, justice, equality, and liberty. Among the many who have upheld the spirit of the Constitution over the decades, Dr. Hansraj Bhardwaj, former Law Minister of India, stands out as a guardian of its essence. His unwavering commitment to constitutional values and his role in shaping legal frameworks have left a profound impact on India's democratic fabric. https://opinionexpress.in/unabated-violence-in-canada-claims-lives-of-three-indian-students At a media briefing, Jaiswal extended condolences to the victims’ families, emphasizing that Indian missions in Toronto and Vancouver are providing assistance and working with Canadian authorities to ensure justice. "We are saddened by these tragedies that have struck our nationals in Canada," he said, adding that India has consistently raised concerns about the safety of its citizens in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/switzerland-revokes-indias-mfn-status-over-sc-nestle-verdict The dispute stems from India's tax treaties with Lithuania and Colombia, which offered lower tax rates on certain incomes. After these nations joined the OECD, Switzerland interpreted the MFN clause to mean India-Switzerland tax rates should align with these lower rates. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the MFN clause is not automatically applicable without a specific notification under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, prioritizing prior treaty provisions. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-on-iran-conflict-anything-can-happen In an interview with Time magazine, coinciding with his recognition as Person of the Year, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump discussed the volatility of international relations and the potential for conflict, including with Iran. When asked about the chances of war with Iran during his next term, Trump responded, “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation.” He also highlighted what he views as a significant escalation in global tensions: Ukraine launching missiles into Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-fdi-hits-usd-one-trillion To grasp the enormity of this figure, earning $1 per second would take 31,709 years to hit $1 trillion. Remarkably, this inflow is nearly a quarter of India’s 2024 GDP, estimated at $3.89 trillion, highlighting FDI’s transformative role in India's economic growth. https://opinionexpress.in/young-master-gukesh-becomes-youngest-world-chess-champion Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at just 18 years old. Gukesh triumphed over China's reigning champion Ding Liren in a thrilling final game of the 2024 World Chess Championship held in Singapore. Securing victory in the 14th game of the match, Gukesh achieved 7.5 points to Ding's 6.5, claiming the title and a significant share of the $2.5 million prize purse. https://opinionexpress.in/union-cabinet-clears-one-nation-one-election-bill The Union Cabinet has approved bills to implement the ambitious 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, aiming to synchronize Lok Sabha, state Assembly, and possibly local body polls. These legislative changes, which require amendments to at least five Constitutional Articles, are likely to be introduced during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-destroys-syrian-strategic-military-assets-post-assads-ouster In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, the Israeli military announced it conducted over 400 airstrikes on strategic military targets in Syria over the past 48 hours. This followed the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by Syrian rebels on Sunday, ending his 24-year rule. https://opinionexpress.in/new-rbi-chief-aims-for-economic-stability-through-inclusive-approach Sanjay Malhotra, currently Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, is set to take over as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 11. Speaking to reporters outside the finance ministry, Malhotra emphasized his commitment to balancing diverse perspectives and prioritizing the economy’s best interests. “One has to understand the turf, all perspectives, and do what’s best for the economy,” he said. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-targets-syria-with-air-strikes The strikes, which began shortly after Assad’s government was overthrown, targeted key installations, including airports, radars, weapons depots, and aircraft squadrons across several Syrian governorates. Near Latakia, an air defense facility, naval ships, and military warehouses were reportedly damaged, while military research centers and electronic warfare installations in Damascus were also hit. Explosions rocked the capital early Tuesday, with loud detonations reported by AFP journalists. https://opinionexpress.in/karnataka-mourns-the-loss-of-visionary-leader-and-statesman-sm-krishna SM Krishna, a towering political leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister, passed away at the age of 92 early today at his Bengaluru residence. Known for transforming Bengaluru into a global tech hub, Krishna’s demise marks the end of an era. He had been unwell for some time. https://opinionexpress.in/us-strikes-isis-camps-inside-syria-after-assads-exit The United States launched extensive airstrikes targeting ISIS in Syria on Sunday, shortly after rebel forces seized Damascus, ousting President Bashar al-Assad after 13 years of civil war. The fall of Assad’s regime marked the end of over six decades of his family’s authoritarian rule. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-crush-india-by-10-wickets-to-level-series Australia delivered a resounding 10-wicket victory over India in the second Test at Adelaide Oval, leveling the five-match series 1-1 with a clinical performance in all departments. Chasing a paltry target of 19, openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney comfortably sealed the win on day three of the pink-ball Test. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musks-259m-trump-campaign-investment-shatters-records Musk funneled $239 million into America PAC, a super PAC he established to bolster voter turnout for Trump, and an additional $20 million to RBG PAC. The latter aimed to reassure voters that Trump would not pursue a national abortion ban, adopting rhetoric aligned with the late liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's advocacy for women's rights. https://opinionexpress.in/syrian-rebels-capture-damascus-as-assad-flees Syrian rebel forces have made significant advances toward Damascus, threatening President Bashar al-Assad's stronghold. The rebel coalition, led by Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), claims to have entered Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, forcing a retreat by government forces. Homs, a critical link between Damascus and Assad’s coastal support base, now appears poised to fall into rebel hands. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-usd-30-trillion-economy-by-2047-pradhan India on Track to Become $30 Trillion Economy by 2047: Dharmendra Pradhan https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-cuts-crr-to-4-pc-to-unlock-inr-116-lakh-crore-bank-funds To address potential liquidity stress, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a 50-basis-point reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on Friday, bringing it down to 4%. The move is set to release ?1.16 lakh crore into the banking system, offering relief amid tightening liquidity conditions. https://opinionexpress.in/syrian-rebels-march-towards-damascus-assad-on-the-run In a major blow to President Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syrian government forces have lost control of Daraa, the city where the country’s 2011 uprising began. Once the epicenter of peaceful protests, Daraa has now fallen almost entirely under opposition control, with rebels holding over 90% of the province, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. https://opinionexpress.in/taiwans-president-kicks-off-south-pacific-tour-with-us-stopover In Honolulu, supporters waving Taiwanese flags greeted Lai at his hotel. Although no high-ranking U.S. officials were present, Lai visited the Bishop Museum, where he exchanged cultural gifts. Museum CEO Dee Jay Mailer presented him with a traditional red lei hulu, while Lai gifted Paiwan and Atayal Indigenous headdresses and decorative items from Taiwan. https://opinionexpress.in/donald-trumps-big-warning-to-hamas-on-hostages-release President-elect Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Gaza militants on Monday, declaring massive repercussions if hostages are not freed by January 20, 2025, the day he assumes office. His statement follows efforts by the outgoing Biden administration to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, including the release of hostages held since Hamas's October 2023 attack. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-targets-2026-end-for-maiden-crewed-spaceflight-gaganyaan India's ambitious space exploration program is set for significant milestones, with the Gaganyaan mission and Chandrayaan 4 leading the way. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath announced that Gaganyaan, India’s first crewed spaceflight, is expected to launch by the end of 2026. This groundbreaking mission aims to send astronauts into a 400-kilometer orbit for three days before safely landing in Indian waters. https://opinionexpress.in/syrias-conflict-reignites-rapid-rebel-gains-test-assads-grip A surprise offensive in Syria has shaken President Bashar al-Assad's government forces and their allies, revealing cracks in his grip over contested regions. The swift advance by opposition fighters, predominantly in areas formerly controlled by Iran-linked militias like Hezbollah, has shifted the battlefield dynamics. These militias, weakened by repeated Israeli strikes, left openings that the rebels have exploited to their advantage. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-american-kash-patel-named-fbi-chief-by-trump-joins-x Kashyap "Kash" Patel, an Indian-American legal expert and former House Republican staffer, has been nominated as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Patel, known for his sharp critique of the FBI, quickly made headlines after joining social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where his inaugural post, “Hello X,” garnered over seven million views and thousands of comments. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-thanks-fans-in-japan-for-embracing-movie-jawan Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to fans in Japan for their warm reception of his blockbuster film Jawan, which hit theaters in the country on November 29. Directed by Atlee, the high-octane thriller was originally released in September 2023, earning over ?1,100 crore at the global box office. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-warns-brics-against-de-dollarisation-threatens-tariffs President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to BRICS nations, including India, China, and Russia, against attempts to sideline the US dollar in global trade. Following an October BRICS summit in Kazan that emphasized strengthening local currencies and reducing reliance on the dollar, Trump declared any such moves unacceptable and threatened 100% tariffs on nations supporting de-dollarisation. https://opinionexpress.in/hindu-priest-arrested-in-bangladesh-amid-rising-tensions Days after the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, another Hindu priest, Shyam Das Prabhu, was detained in Chattogram, Bangladesh, sources revealed on Saturday. The arrest, reportedly without an official warrant, occurred during his visit to meet Chinmoy Krishna Das in jail. Radharamn Das, ISKCON Kolkata’s Vice-President, confirmed the incident, urging action to protect Hindus in Bangladesh. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-must-ensure-fair-trial-for-isckon-hindu-monk-jaishankar India has voiced strong concerns over rising violence against minorities in Bangladesh, urging the interim government to fulfill its responsibility to protect all citizens, including Hindus. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing Parliament on Friday, highlighted the "surge" in extremist rhetoric and targeted attacks on temples and Hindu homes, emphasizing the need for accountability. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-freezes-17-iskcon-linked-bank-accounts-amid-sedition-probe Bangladesh has frozen the bank accounts of 17 individuals linked to ISKCON for 30 days following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON member, on sedition charges. This directive, issued by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) under the central bank, was sent to financial institutions, requiring them to halt all transactions and provide detailed account statements within three days. https://opinionexpress.in/wcoopef-champions-global-cooperative-mission-for-inclusive-growth Today, the World Cooperation Economic Forum (WCoopEF) hosted a landmark side event during the Global Conference of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) in India. Chaired by Shri Dileepbhai Sanghani, President of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), and co-chaired by Shri Satish Marathe, Member of the Reserve Bank of India’s Central Board & Prashant Tewari, India's prominent public policy expert, the event brought together over 100 participants from 16 nationalities, including policymakers, cooperative leaders, and economic experts. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-trade-targets-usd-100bn-by-2030-on-track-russian-envoy “The robust growth in trade is a testament to the strengthening of our ties. Recent discussions between leaders of both nations on diversifying the trade basket and boosting investments in multiple sectors provide strong momentum,” Kozlov said. He lauded the enduring partnership between India and Russia, emphasizing mutual trust and shared interests as the foundation of their economic cooperation. https://opinionexpress.in/vladimir-putin-praised-us-president-elect-donald-trump Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday commended U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as an experienced and intelligent leader but expressed concerns about his safety following multiple assassination attempts. Speaking after a summit in Kazakhstan, Putin highlighted the dangerous challenges Trump had faced during the U.S. presidential campaign. https://opinionexpress.in/india-thumps-up-for-israel-lebanon-ceasefire India welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday, expressing hope that the development would contribute to peace and stability in the region. The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, came into effect early Wednesday after 14 months of deadly clashes between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah. The violence, rooted in the Israel-Gaza conflict, intensified in September following the killing of several Hezbollah leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-labels-iskcon-a-religious-fundamentalist-entity Bangladesh’s interim government has described the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as a “religious fundamentalist” group in an affidavit filed with the country’s High Court. The statement follows the controversial arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on Monday, sparking nationwide protests. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-demands-adanis-arrest-cites-us-indictment Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified his demand for the arrest of industrialist Gautam Adani following allegations of corruption in the United States. Addressing reporters outside Parliament on Wednesday, Gandhi criticized the government for shielding Adani, arguing that when “hundreds of people are arrested on trivial charges” in India, someone facing serious allegations abroad should not go unpunished. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-lebanon-ceasefire-takes-effect-amid-ongoing-gaza-conflict Israel has initiated a ceasefire with Lebanon after months of fierce conflict with the Hezbollah group, following international calls for de-escalation in the Middle East. The truce, brokered by the United States and France, was approved by Israel's cabinet in a 10-1 vote and came into effect at 4:00 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. IST). U.S. President Joe Biden called the development a "new start" for Lebanon. https://opinionexpress.in/government-big-move-to-boost-vodafone-idea Lt Gen Dr. SP Kochhar, Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), commended the move, stating, “This landmark decision reduces the financial burden on telecom operators, enabling stronger network expansion and technology upgrades.” Vodafone Idea, in particular, is expected to gain liquidity relief, allowing it to address ongoing financial challenges and bolster its operational capacity. https://opinionexpress.in/ratan-tata-the-shah-of-the-corporate-universe On 9th October 2024, at exactly 11.30 pm IST, the towering 5 feet 10 inches tall Surat-born Parsee industrialist-philanthropist Padma Vibhushan Ratan precious jewel; Naval Tata, the Chairman Emeritus and the patriarch of the House of Tata, the largest business conglomerate in India (having a staggering annual revenue of over 165 billion US Dollars and encompassing a grand well-knit family of over 1 million happy, well cared for and dedicated members worldwide!), breathed his last at the iconic Beach Candy Hospital nestled atop the Arabian Sea facing Cumballa Hill (popularly called Diplomat Hill or Ambassador; and home to the most prominent billionaires in Mumbai, including my old friend Mukesh Ambani) at the age of 86. He was hospitalised on 7th October 2024 owing to a critical combination of senescence and hypotension. It was in the very same hospital that my very dear titanic friend and sincere well-wisher Dhirajlal Dhirubhai” Hirachand Ambani passed away way back on 7th July 2002. At the time of his death, Ratan held a 0.83 ?nt stake in Tata Sons and had a net worth of Rs 7,900 crores, according to the Hurun India Rich List 2024. A large part of his wealth—nearly 75 percent—was tied to his shares in Tata Sons. For Ratan, accolades poured in from across the country and from all corners of the world in a torrential stream. In an impassioned eulogy that reflected the melancholy mood of a shattered nation, our Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi tweeted on X - “Shri Ratan Tata was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul, and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better.” https://opinionexpress.in/iskcon-monk-arrested-in-bangladesh-for-sparking-minority-rights-protests The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent leader advocating for minority rights in Bangladesh, has triggered a wave of outrage and concern within and beyond the country's borders. Brahmachari, detained by the Dhaka police at the airport earlier this week, has been a vocal critic of escalating violence against Hindu minorities. His detention follows a sedition case filed earlier this month, allegedly for his outspoken stance against the growing attacks on Hindu temples, homes, and businesses. https://opinionexpress.in/rise-in-the-cooperative-economic-framework-roadmap-ahead The cooperative model, rooted in mutual collaboration and community-centric development, has played a pivotal role in shaping the socio-economic landscape of India. As the country navigates challenges of economic inequality, rural underdevelopment, and employment creation, cooperatives offer a sustainable framework to empower communities and promote inclusive growth. This article explores the evolution of the cooperative model, its future opportunities, policy advancements, technological integration, and how it is poised to transform India’s rural economy. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-by-1200-points Indian stock markets surged this morning, buoyed by the BJP-led NDA's emphatic victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, reinforcing investor confidence. Maharashtra, home to Mumbai—the nation’s financial hub—plays a crucial role in economic sentiment, and the NDA’s success bolstered optimism in key sectors. https://opinionexpress.in/winter-session-of-parliament-starts-from-today The Winter Session of Parliament begins today, poised to be a significant one with key legislative agendas and heightened political dynamics following the NDA's sweeping victories in Maharashtra and Haryana. The session, expected to run until December 20, will witness discussions on several crucial bills and issues. https://opinionexpress.in/waqf-law-has-no-place-in-the-indian-constitution-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the BJP-led alliance's sweeping victory in Maharashtra as a historic endorsement of its governance model, attributing it to the party's focus on development, stability, and social justice. Speaking on Saturday, PM Modi criticized the Congress for its "lies, deceit, and divisive politics," accusing it of betraying the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/kohlis-historic-30th-ton-puts-india-in-command-against-australia India tightened their grip on the first Test against Australia in Perth, ending Day 3 on a high with a commanding all-round performance. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj led India’s bowling charge, leaving Australia tottering at 12/3 in their pursuit of an improbable 534-run target. https://opinionexpress.in/un-motion-for-first-ever-treaty-on-crimes-against-humanity The UN General Assembly legal committee has approved a landmark resolution paving the way for negotiations on the first-ever treaty addressing crimes against humanity. The resolution was adopted late Friday by consensus after intense negotiations, marking a significant step toward holding perpetrators of such crimes accountable. Applause erupted as the resolution passed, setting the stage for a final General Assembly vote on December 4, where it is expected to gain formal adoption. https://opinionexpress.in/jharkhand-govt-must-identify-deport-infiltrators-himanta In a late-night Facebook live session on Saturday, Sarma said, "The problem of infiltration is a grave concern that could severely impact Jharkhand in the future. It is the duty of the JMM government to identify and address this issue. I urge the state to either push back these infiltrators or, at the very least, identify them as part of its constitutional responsibility." https://opinionexpress.in/india-dominate-day-2-of-the-first-test-in-border-gavaskar-trophy India took firm control of the first Test against Australia in Perth, ending Day 2 with a commanding lead of 218 runs and all ten wickets intact. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul showcased resilience and flair, nullifying Australia's bowlers through the final two sessions. Jaiswal, batting with maturity beyond his years, remained unbeaten on 90, inching closer to his maiden century on Australian soil. Rahul complemented him perfectly, scoring a composed 62* to put India in a strong position. https://opinionexpress.in/by-poll-2024-bjp-regional-powers-retain-strongholds The recently concluded bypolls across 46 assembly seats in 13 states showcased a mix of continuity and change, with the BJP and regional parties maintaining dominance in key states, while the Congress displayed signs of resurgence. https://opinionexpress.in/devendra-fadnavis-the-steady-rise-of-maharashtras-political-strategist From a young corporator in Nagpur to a potential third term as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis’ political journey has been marked by resilience, adaptability, and strategic acumen. As the youngest mayor of Nagpur at 27, he showed early promise, which he carried forward into state politics by winning his first assembly election in 1999. Over subsequent terms, he solidified his position, culminating in his historic 2014 ascent as Maharashtra’s first BJP Chief Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/nda-surges-in-maharashtra-india-stuns-in-jharkhand In Maharashtra, the NDA appears poised for a landslide victory, cementing its dominance in the western state. Early trends indicate that the alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), is set to sweep urban and rural constituencies alike. The BJP’s development agenda, coupled with its robust organizational strength, seems to have resonated with voters. Analysts attribute this victory to the NDA’s ability to consolidate its base and counter opposition efforts to form a united front. https://opinionexpress.in/naidu-vows-action-on-alleged-adani-bribery-linked-to-ysrcp Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that his government is reviewing the "chargesheet reports" filed in the United States regarding an alleged bribery scandal involving the previous YSRCP government and the Adani Group. The case revolves around claims that the Adani Group paid USD 250 million (?1,750 crore) in bribes to Indian officials to secure favorable terms for solar power contracts. https://opinionexpress.in/ysrcp-denies-bribery-allegations-linked-to-adani-group-indictment In a detailed statement, the YSRCP clarified that the Andhra Pradesh government had only entered into an agreement with SECI, a Government of India enterprise, to procure 7,000 MW of solar power at a fixed tariff of ?2.49 per kWh. “There is no direct agreement between Andhra Pradesh DISCOMs and any entities, including the Adani Group,” the statement emphasized, terming the allegations baseless. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-takes-u-turn-on-linking-indian-leaders-to-criminal-activities The Canadian government on Friday refuted media reports alleging involvement of top Indian leaders in criminal activities within Canada, calling the claims "speculative and inaccurate." The statement follows a recent report by The Globe and Mail that cited unnamed officials claiming Indian leaders were aware of a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver last year. https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-adani-indicted-in-alleged-265-million-bribery-scheme-group-shares-tanks US prosecutors in New York have indicted Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and six others for allegedly paying ?2,029 crore (US $265 million) in bribes to secure lucrative solar energy contracts in India. The indictment accuses the group of bribing Indian government officials to compel state electricity distribution companies to enter power purchase agreements with the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). https://opinionexpress.in/sundar-pichais-call-to-trump-features-elon-musk-as-strategic-advisor Elon Musk has emerged as a prominent figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s circle, solidifying his role during the recent U.S. presidential election. According to The Information, Musk joined Google CEO Sundar Pichai on a call to congratulate Trump on his victory over Kamala Harris. This collaboration underscores Musk’s growing influence in Trump’s inner circle. https://opinionexpress.in/india-thrashes-canada-report-on-nijjar-murder-plot Amid worsening diplomatic ties, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed claims made by The Globe and Mail that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of a plot to kill Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a "smear campaign." The Canadian newspaper, citing unnamed officials, alleged that Mr. Modi, along with India’s national security advisor and external affairs minister, were privy to the purported scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-review-disengagement-process-jaishankar Following the meeting, Jaishankar shared that both sides acknowledged the progress in disengagement and deliberated on steps to enhance bilateral relations. "On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio, met CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi of China," he posted on X, formerly Twitter. "We noted the progress in the recent disengagement in the India-China border areas and exchanged views on the next steps in our bilateral ties. Also discussed the global situation," he added. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-expands-nuclear-doctrine-amid-ukraine-war On the 1,000th day of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia issued a chilling reminder of the escalating conflict, with President Vladimir Putin signing a decree expanding conditions for using nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states. The decree asserts that non-nuclear aggression supported by nuclear states, like Ukraine with backing from the West, will be treated as a joint attack. https://opinionexpress.in/china-cautions-us-to-make-wise-choice-to-keep-ties-stable Without directly naming Trump, Xi expressed concerns over the incoming administration's protectionist rhetoric, which could strain ties. “China is ready to work with a new U.S. administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation, and manage differences,” Xi stated, urging collaboration over confrontation. https://opinionexpress.in/income-tax-department-to-target-undisclosed-foreign-assets The Income Tax Department has initiated a campaign to address non-disclosure of high-value foreign income or assets in Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year (AY) 2024-25. The Compliance-Cum-Awareness Campaign, introduced by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), aims to assist taxpayers in accurately completing Schedule Foreign Assets (Schedule FA) and reporting foreign income (Schedule FSI) in their filings. https://opinionexpress.in/kailash-gahlot-joins-bjp-a-blow-to-aap-amid-upcoming-elections In a significant political shift ahead of the February Assembly elections, Kailash Gahlot, a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Delhi Transport Minister, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. His decision, announced in the presence of Union Ministers ML Khattar and Harsh Malhotra, has been described as a "turning point" by Khattar. https://opinionexpress.in/vivek-ramaswamy-hints-at-massive-government-job-cuts-in-us Entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy, alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has been appointed to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Speaking at an event in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Ramaswamy announced plans for a dramatic overhaul of federal bureaucracy, emphasizing significant job cuts. https://opinionexpress.in/ib-minister-urges-digital-giants-to-pay-traditional-media-for-content Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the need for fair compensation for traditional media by intermediary platforms, highlighting their critical role in content creation. Addressing the National Press Day virtually, Vaishnaw recognized the press's contributions to India’s freedom struggle and democracy, particularly during the Emergency era. https://opinionexpress.in/india-launches-offensive-to-dismantle-haji-salims-global-drug-cartel Haji Salim, also called Haji Baloch, orchestrates a sophisticated drug pipeline spanning Asia, Africa, and the West. According to NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh, “Salim’s network is unparalleled in scale, trafficking heroin, methamphetamine, and other narcotics. He is also suspected of funding cross-border terrorism, destabilizing the region.” https://opinionexpress.in/top-secret-nuke-lab-in-iran-destroyed-in-israels-october-airstrike In a bold and controversial move, Israel targeted Iran’s Parchin military complex in late October, striking the Taleghan 2 facility, a key hub for covert nuclear weapons research. Once part of Iran’s Amad program, which was allegedly discontinued in 2003, recent intelligence from Israeli and U.S. sources revealed renewed activity at the site. The precision strike destroyed advanced equipment essential for designing plastic explosives, a critical component for nuclear detonation. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-heaviest-satellite-to-ride-on-spacexs-falcon-9-rocket The satellite, developed by ISRO and weighing 4,700 kg, exceeds the capacity of India’s GSLV Mk-III rocket, nicknamed "Bahubali." Traditionally, India relied on Arianespace for heavy satellite launches, but with no operational rockets available, SpaceX emerged as the only viable option. NSIL Chairman Radhakrishnan Durairaj praised the deal as both technically compatible and commercially beneficial. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-pledges-to-end-russia-ukraine-war “We're going to work on the Middle East, and we're going to work very hard on Russia and Ukraine. It's got to stop,” Trump stated, lamenting reports of mass casualties in recent days. “Thousands of people were killed—soldiers and civilians alike. Whether it’s a battlefield or a town, we have to bring it to an end.” https://opinionexpress.in/tulsi-gabbards-new-role-as-us-intelligence-chief-to-reshape-americas-spy-network Gabbard's political trajectory has been dynamic. Once a rising star in the Democratic Party, she ran for president in 2020, primarily opposing U.S. military intervention overseas. Although her campaign didn’t reach the nomination stage, she ended her bid by endorsing Joe Biden, who ultimately won the election. In October 2022, however, she made headlines by leaving the Democratic Party, criticizing it as "completely unrecognizable." Her departure marked her growing disillusionment with Democratic policies, particularly in foreign affairs. https://opinionexpress.in/president-biden-greets-president-elect-trump-at-white-house In a striking display of civility, President Joe Biden welcomed his political adversary Donald Trump back to the White House, where they pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power. Biden, who did not seek re-election this cycle, extended a hand to Trump—who recently won the presidential race after defeating Kamala Harris—marking a sharp departure from Trump’s 2020 refusal to acknowledge Biden's victory. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-appoints-musk-ramaswamy-to-lead-government-efficiency-initiative Donald Trump, the newly elected U.S. President, has tapped tech magnate Elon Musk to lead a newly proposed "Department of Government Efficiency." Joining Musk in this mission will be Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump, who had hinted at creating this role during his campaign, highlighted Musk and Ramaswamy as the perfect team to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and overhaul federal agencies.” https://opinionexpress.in/india-confident-of-reaching-usd-100-bn-trade-volume-with-russia-jaishankar India is optimistic about surpassing its goal of achieving USD 100 billion in annual bilateral trade with Russia well before the 2030 target, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday. Speaking at the 25th session of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), Jaishankar highlighted the progress made in overcoming trade barriers, particularly in payments and logistics, though he acknowledged that further work remains. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-starlink-to-take-on-mukesh-ambanis-reliance-jio-in-india Elon Musk satellite internet venture, Starlink, is set to enter Indias competitive telecom market, potentially transforming the way millions of users access broadband. Musk, currently the worlds richest person, will face formidable competition from industry giants like Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Jio, Sunil Bharti Mittals Airtel, and the state-run BSNL, all of which dominate the market. Indias broadband sector already boasts some of the worlds lowest pricing for internet services, and Starlinks entry is likely to disrupt the status quo, especially as it offers high-speed satellite-based connectivity. https://opinionexpress.in/china-hawk-marco-rubio-to-lead-us-diplomacy-as-secretary-of-state Donald Trump is preparing for his return to the White House following his decisive victory over Kamala Harris in the November 5 U.S. presidential elections. Trump secured a commanding win, clinching all seven key swing states—Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Nevada—each of which had supported the Democratic Party in the previous election. With the election behind him, Trump has begun assembling his cabinet and selecting key officials for his administration. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-urges-putin-to-de-escalate-war-in-ukraine-report Trump’s call to Putin came shortly after his surprise electoral victory over Kamala Harris, and amid growing expectations that his presidency could shift U.S. policy on Ukraine. Trump has consistently advocated for ending the war swiftly, questioning the extensive U.S. financial support for Kyiv, which has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials and European allies. https://opinionexpress.in/justice-sanjiv-khanna-takes-over-as-51st-chief-justice-of-india Justice Sanjiv Khanna took over as the 51st Chief Justice of India this morning, succeeding former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, who retired from the country's top legal post yesterday. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to the 64-year-old judge at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Khanna will serve a six-month term as the Chief Justice of India. He is due to retire on May 13 next year.Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other ministers attended the ceremony. Former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was also present.  Born in Delhi, Chief Justice Khanna went to Modern School Barakhamba Road before moving to St Stephen's College. He studied law at Delhi University's Campus Law College. https://opinionexpress.in/india-buoyant-about-us-after-donald-trumps-return-jaishankar Jaishankar also addressed the impact of global shifts on India's position. He pointed out that India's growing economic stature and the success of its professionals and businesses reflect the inevitable rise of emerging economies post-independence. "Some countries grew faster, some slower, but the quality of governance and leadership played a significant role," he added, underscoring that while the global power dynamics are changing, the West's influence remains substantial. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-faces-imf-scrutiny-over-external-financing-needs-amid-loan-delays The IMF had earlier projected a total external financing gap of USD 5 billion for Pakistan between 2024 and 2027, with USD 2.5 billion needed this fiscal year. Although Pakistani officials argue the gap has narrowed due to stronger performance in exports and remittances, the country still faces significant debt repayment obligations, particularly to Western financial institutions. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-focus-on-climate-finance-accountability-protection-at-cop29 As world leaders and climate negotiators gather in Baku for COP29, India is poised to bring renewed attention to the urgent need for climate finance, accountability, and protection for vulnerable communities. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav are expected to be absent, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh will lead India's 19-member delegation. https://opinionexpress.in/iranian-agent-accused-of-orchestrating-plot-to-kill-trump An Iranian man, Farhad Shakeri, has been charged by the U.S. Justice Department in connection with an alleged plot by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Shakeri, 51, who U.S. authorities have identified as an “Iranian asset,” was reportedly tasked by the Iranian regime in October 2023 to orchestrate Trump’s killing. The plot, which was foiled before it could be executed, came after two previous assassination attempts on Trump’s life, including a bullet grazing his ear at a Pennsylvania rally in July 2023. A second attempt occurred later that year in Florida when shots were fired near Trump’s location, though he was unharmed. https://opinionexpress.in/justin-trudeau-admits-the-presence-of-khalistanis-in-canada The diplomatic rift between India and Canada continues to escalate following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent admission that Khalistani supporters are present in Canada, though he quickly clarified they do not represent the Sikh community at large. Trudeau's comments, made during Diwali celebrations at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, came amidst growing tensions between the two nations over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/i-wont-be-able-to-deliver-justice-from-tomorrow-but-i-am-content-cji On his final day as Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud delivered a poignant farewell message from the ceremonial bench, acknowledging that his tenure was coming to an end after two years at the helm. "I won't be able to deliver justice from tomorrow, but I am content," he said, reflecting on his time as the country's top judge. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-congratulates-trump-expresses-interest-in-future-engagement Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump both expressed openness to holding talks following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. In a statement at the Valdai forum in Sochi, Putin congratulated Trump on his win, acknowledging the Republican tycoon’s success in defeating Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. When asked about the possibility of dialogue with the newly elected president, Putin responded simply, "Ready." https://opinionexpress.in/the-satanic-verses-ban-lifted-in-india-after-court-order India's three-decade-long ban on Salman Rushdie’s controversial novel The Satanic Verses has effectively been lifted after the Delhi High Court ruled that the Indian government could not produce the original notification imposing the ban. The 1988 ban, which was implemented after some Muslim groups deemed the book blasphemous, had restricted the importation and sale of the novel in India. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-20-china-braces-for-tougher-trade-policies-and-geopolitical-showdowns Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the 2024 presidential election, calling for strengthened dialogue and cooperation between the world’s two largest economies. In a message on Thursday, Xi emphasized the need to properly manage differences and expand mutually beneficial collaboration, stressing that the relationship between China and the United States must be handled in a way that benefits both nations and the global community. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-has-ordered-the-liquidation-of-jet-airways The Supreme Court of India has ordered the liquidation of Jet Airways, invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to override a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) ruling that had allowed the transfer of ownership to the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium (JKC) without full payment to creditors. The Court's decision, issued on Thursday, was driven by "peculiar and alarming" circumstances related to the improper execution of the consortium's resolution plan. It noted that the plan was no longer feasible and that liquidation was the only viable option to ensure justice for creditors, workers, and other stakeholders. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-secures-unprecedented-victory-to-be-47th-us-president As Donald Trump nears a decisive victory in the 2024 US Presidential race, the Republican candidate thanked his supporters, calling the results a "magnificent victory for the American people." In his victory speech, the 78-year-old former president reflected on the campaign’s challenges, particularly the July 13 assassination attempt, which he described as a life-altering event. “God spared my life for a reason,” Trump said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue fighting for the American people. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-leads-harris-in-us-prez-2024-elections The focus in these swing states is pivotal, as they hold the balance of power in the race for the presidency. With 270 electoral votes needed to win the Oval Office, Trump’s strong performance in these areas gives him a commanding position with 230 electoral votes, compared to Vice President Kamala Harris’s 187. Nevada, with its 6 electoral votes, remains the last major battleground where the outcome is yet to be determined, but Trump’s momentum in the other states puts him in a favorable position heading into the final stages of counting. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-leads-harris-in-all-major-swing-states As the US presidential election on November 5, 2024, approaches, recent polling from AtlasIntel suggests former President Donald Trump is gaining momentum, particularly in key swing states. According to the survey, around 49% of likely voters expressed support for Trump, giving him a slight 1.8% lead over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-investors-become-poorer-equity-markets-tumble On Monday morning, investors faced a significant setback as the Indian equity markets plunged sharply, with the BSE Sensex dropping by 1,192 points. This decline translated to a staggering erosion of wealth amounting to Rs 7.37 lakh crore, reflecting a cautious atmosphere among investors ahead of key events like the US presidential elections and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision later this week. https://opinionexpress.in/hindu-temple-attacked-in-canada In a disturbing incident near Toronto, a Hindu temple was stormed by a group reportedly linked to "anti-India elements," leading to violent clashes with police and devotees. The Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton was the scene of unrest during Diwali celebrations when a mob attacked worshippers, prompting a strong condemnation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He stated, “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely.” https://opinionexpress.in/nz-thrashes-india-3-0-in-the-test-series In a thrilling finish, New Zealand triumphed over India by 25 runs in the third Test of their series, completing a clean sweep with a 3-0 victory. Played in Mumbai, the match showcased intense competition, but ultimately, India fell short while chasing a target of 147 runs. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-intensifies-airstrikes-in-lebanon-and-gaza-dozens-killed Israel intensified its airstrikes across Lebanon on Friday, resulting in at least 52 deaths and numerous injuries, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry. The strikes primarily targeted northeastern farming villages, marking a significant escalation in violence. Concurrently, in Gaza, Palestinian authorities reported the recovery of 25 bodies from Israeli attacks that began Thursday, compounding the humanitarian crisis in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-may-reconsider-its-nuclear-policy-kharrazi Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed a "tooth-breaking" response to Israel's ongoing military actions, heightening tensions in the region. His comments come on the heels of a recent Israeli commando raid in Lebanon and a series of confrontations linked to Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Khamenei emphasized that both the U.S. and Israel should expect a severe retaliation from Iran-aligned groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and factions in Yemen and Syria. https://opinionexpress.in/canadas-allegations-spark-indian-diplomatic-summons-amid-rising-tensions India has firmly dismissed claims made by Canada regarding allegations that Home Minister Amit Shah directed actions against Khalistani extremists, calling them "absurd and baseless." This statement follows remarks by Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison to a parliamentary committee. https://opinionexpress.in/the-economics-of-hosting-the-olympics For over a century, the Olympics have provided a platform for host cities to showcase their culture, infrastructure, and global standing. However, the financial and logistical complexities of hosting have escalated, leading many cities to question the economic value of the Games. By examining the growing costs, potential benefits, and key case studies—particularly Los Angeles’ (LA) model—this article explores the feasibility and sustainability of hosting the Olympics in today’s economic climate. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-deplores-urban-naxals-seeks-national-unity On National Unity Day, coinciding with Diwali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed concerns over national unity, asserting that certain factions are attempting to undermine it for political gain. Speaking near the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Kewadiya, Gujarat, Modi emphasized the importance of recognizing and countering these "urban Naxals" who, he claimed, are spreading misinformation and division, particularly in the context of caste. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-disengagement-complete-flights-to-resume-soon-sources India and China have successfully completed their disengagement process in the Depsang and Demchok regions of Eastern Ladakh, according to Indian Army sources. Following this development, patrolling in these areas is set to resume soon, with plans to exchange sweets between troops on both sides for Diwali celebrations on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/electoral-cliffhanger-harris-vs-trump-in-a-fight-for-every-vote Kamala Harris’ lead over Donald Trump has narrowed significantly as the November 5 election approaches, with a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicating she is ahead by just one percentage point, 44% to 43%. This three-day poll, completed on Sunday, shows the race essentially tied, with a margin of error of about three points. https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-israeli-strike-in-northern-gaza-kills-at-least-60 An Israeli airstrike early Tuesday hit a five-story building in the northern Gaza Strip, where displaced Palestinians were sheltering, resulting in at least 60 deaths, including many women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The strike occurred in Beit Lahiya, with Dr. Marwan al-Hams reporting that 17 individuals remain missing. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-xi-jinping-meet-hailed-by-russia Russian envoy to India Denis Alipov on Monday termed the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in  Kazan as a positive development in bilateral ties between India and China. Asserting that the recently concluded BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan was a “total success”, he said the grouping is “not an exclusive but an inclusive platform”. “BRICS is not anti-West but non-West,” Alipov said during an interaction with reporters here. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-alleges-deep-nexus-among-adani-group-sebi-bjp Congress also highlighted that Buch had ties to Predible Health Private Limited, retaining equity even after becoming a SEBI member. They noted that Jacesa Investments Limited, which invested in Predible Health, appears in offshore leaks from the Paradise Papers. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-swing-state-votes-to-decide-us-prez-2024 In the final stretch leading up to Election Day, both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are actively courting key voter demographics in battleground states. Trump has been rallying evangelical voters in Georgia, while Harris is emphasizing her manufacturing initiatives during a tour in Michigan. https://opinionexpress.in/x-takes-down-khameneis-hebrew-account-amid-israel-iran-tensions Khamenei's first Hebrew post appeared on Saturday, beginning with "In the name of Allah the merciful." These posts followed recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites. Khamenei's main account frequently features Hebrew-language content, often employing aggressive rhetoric toward Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/india-launch-c-295-aircraft-manufacturing-facility Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft in Vadodara, Gujarat. This initiative includes 56 C-295 aircraft, with 16 being delivered directly from Airbus in Spain and the remaining 40 to be produced at TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL). https://opinionexpress.in/cji-advocates-for-institutional-growth-without-implying-flaws Chandrachud described the collegium system as a federal framework where responsibilities are shared among various government levels, including both the Centre and the states, alongside the judiciary. He characterized the appointment process as one of consultative dialogue aimed at achieving consensus, acknowledging that disagreements can arise, which is a natural part of the system. He stressed the importance of maturity in handling these discussions, particularly when objections about candidates surface. https://opinionexpress.in/escalating-tensions-in-the-middle-east-israel-targets-iranian-military-sites On the morning of October 27, Israel launched a large-scale airstrike on military targets in Iran, in response to a ballistic missile attack on Israeli territory on October 1. Over 100 Israeli fighter jets, including advanced F-35s, executed “precise strikes” on Iranian air defense systems, radar installations, and missile production facilities in Tehran and surrounding provinces. This offensive was designed to undermine Iran's military capabilities and deliver a stern warning. Tehran initially claimed the explosions were air-defense exercises but later acknowledged “limited damage” to its military assets, and confirmed two soldiers’ deaths. https://opinionexpress.in/cryptocurrencies-offers-risks-to-financial-stability-rbi Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das voiced strong concerns over cryptocurrencies, warning of their potential to destabilize financial and monetary systems. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Das argued that cryptocurrencies pose severe risks, threatening central banks’ ability to control money supply and manage inflation. https://opinionexpress.in/global-tensions-surge-as-israel-launches-strike-on-iran Tensions in the Middle East escalated as Israel responded to Iran’s recent ballistic missile barrage, targeting Iranian military installations near Tehran. The initial Iranian strikes, launched four weeks ago, were intended as retaliation for Israeli attacks on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Now, with Iran once again preparing to respond, the region faces renewed volatility. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-begin-troop-disengagement-at-lac ndia and China have begun troop disengagement at the two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh, official sources said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-offers-ceasefire-deal-awaiting-israels-response Israel and Hamas are showing tentative progress toward a ceasefire, with Israel's spy chief joining negotiations and Hamas signaling readiness to end hostilities if key conditions are met. Following recent talks in Cairo, where Hamas leaders presented ceasefire ideas to Egyptian officials, the group demanded that Israel withdraw from Gaza, agree to a prisoner exchange, and allow displaced Palestinians to return. https://opinionexpress.in/internal-pressure-mounts-on-justin-trudeau-to-resign-as-liberal-leader Calls for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation as Liberal leader have intensified, with a faction of Liberal MPs voicing their dissatisfaction during a closed-door caucus meeting on Parliament Hill. These internal pressures have come to a head as Trudeau faces a growing wave of discontent from within his party, with 24 MPs reportedly signing a document urging him to step down before the next election. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-and-xi-jinping-hold-first-bilateral-meeting-since-2019-at-kazan In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first formal bilateral meeting in five years today, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. This meeting marks a potential breakthrough in the strained relationship between India and China, which deteriorated following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-welcomes-global-south-leaders-at-brics-summit-in-russia Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other world leaders on Wednesday at the BRICS summit in Kazan, as part of Russia's effort to challenge Western dominance on the global stage. Putin emphasized deepening financial cooperation within BRICS, alongside addressing regional conflicts and expanding the bloc's membership. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-urges-peaceful-resolution-to-ukraine-conflict In his televised opening remarks, Modi underscored the deep trust and close coordination between India and Russia, highlighting his second visit to Russia in three months as a testament to their strong relationship. "We are in constant touch regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As I’ve said before, we believe all problems should be resolved peacefully," Modi stated. He affirmed India’s readiness to assist in fostering peace, stressing that "all our efforts give priority to humanity." https://opinionexpress.in/israel-kills-successor-of-hezbollah-chief-hassan-nasrallah Israel's army confirmed on Tuesday that it eliminated Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine, a key figure and likely successor to the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah, in an airstrike three weeks ago in a southern Beirut suburb. Safieddine, head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, was killed alongside Ali Hussein Hazima, the head of Hezbollah's Intelligence Directorate, and other commanders in the strike. https://opinionexpress.in/pre-2020-patrols-to-resume-along-india-china-border-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced today that Indian and Chinese soldiers will soon resume patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as they did prior to the May 2020 border standoff. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Jaishankar said a patrolling arrangement has been reached, allowing for disengagement and restoring peace along the contested border. https://opinionexpress.in/aadhaar-transformed-access-to-government-services-in-india-romer Nobel laureate Paul Romer praised India’s Aadhaar system as the world's most significant technological platform, during his address at the NDTV World Summit on Monday. Romer highlighted Aadhaar’s role in enabling government benefits like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). He emphasized that such a system couldn’t be replicated in the U.S. due to private sector monopolization. https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-drone-targets-benjamin-netanyahus-residence A drone was launched towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea on Saturday, shortly after Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in an Israeli operation. Netanyahu’s spokesperson confirmed that neither the prime minister nor his wife were at the residence during the attack, and no casualties were reported. https://opinionexpress.in/india-must-obeys-extradition-treaty-for-sheikh-hasina-bangladeshs-law-adviser A senior adviser in Bangladesh's interim government has warned that the country would strongly protest if India refuses to extradite ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina under the existing treaty between the two nations, according to media reports on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-diplomats-face-increased-scrutiny-as-canada-issues-stern-warning Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced that the remaining Indian diplomats in the country are clearly on notice, following the government's move to name India’s High Commissioner in Ottawa as a person of interest in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Joly emphasized that Canada will not tolerate diplomats who violate the Vienna Convention or jeopardize Canadian lives. https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-killed-in-targeted-israeli-strike-in-gaza The Israeli military has announced the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, marking a major victory in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Sinwar, 61, was killed on October 16, 2024, during a firefight in the southern Gaza Strip after a year-long pursuit. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Sinwar was tracked moving between homes in Rafah, trying to evade capture. He was eventually cornered and killed by IDF soldiers from the Southern Command. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-digitization-of-agri-trade-framework-set-to-uplift-global-south-markets India has a significant opportunity to expand its agricultural commodities trade, particularly in the global south, where many countries rely on commodities for economic growth. These nations, many of which account for half of the world’s extremely poor, depend on trade to improve livelihoods, making it crucial for India to take the lead in democratizing global commodity markets. By focusing on price discovery and price risk management, India can play a pivotal role in reshaping the trade landscape for agricultural commodities, starting with the Rabi season. https://opinionexpress.in/bency-george-joins-india-gcc-trade-council-board-of-directors India GCC Trade Council today announced that Bency George, Director of the Indian Economic Trade Organization for corporate international relations has been appointed to the India GCC Trade Council board of directors. Mr. George will serve on India GCC Council’s Nominating & Governance Committee and Free Trade Agreement & Human Resources Committee. “We are pleased to welcome a leader of such caliber to our board,” said Saad Al Dabbagh, Chairman of the board. “With Bency’s leadership history of driving growth and change in the bilateral trade diplomacy, India GCC Trade Council is well positioned to help the business and trade companies build a better, more sustainable world and deliver long-term profitable growth,” said Dr. Asif Iqbal, https://opinionexpress.in/trudeau-admits-lack-of-evidence-in-india-canada-diplomatic-row Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted that Canada lacks "hard evidentiary proof" to support allegations linking Indian government agents to the 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Speaking at a public inquiry, Trudeau revealed that the accusations were based on intelligence from Canada and Five Eyes allies, rather than conclusive evidence. This admission comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, which escalated following Trudeau's initial claims. https://opinionexpress.in/sco-summit-pakistan-urges-broad-perspective-on-chinas-bri Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, voiced strong support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), urging that such connectivity projects not be viewed through a "narrow political prism." This remark was a clear reference to India's resistance to endorsing the BRI, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, violating India's territorial integrity. https://opinionexpress.in/omar-abdullah-takes-oath-as-jk-cm Omar Abdullah has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the Union Territory's first government since the revocation of its special status in 2019. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath to Abdullah and eight other lawmakers from his National Conference party. https://opinionexpress.in/india-rejects-every-allegation-made-by-trudeau The diplomatic fallout deepened on Monday when India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its High Commissioner from Ottawa, following Trudeau's repeated claims linking India to Nijjar's death. "Canadian PM Trudeau's press conference was the same old rhetoric for the same old reasons," remarked a source. https://opinionexpress.in/india-signs-mega-defence-deal-for-31-us-predator-drones In a significant enhancement to its military capabilities, India has finalized a deal with the United States to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, marking a pivotal moment in defense cooperation between the two nations. The Indian Navy will receive 15 SeaGuardian drones, while both the Army and Air Force will each be allocated eight SkyGuardian variants. The total cost of the procurement is estimated to be under $3.5 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-leads-harris-to-handle-israel-ukraine-wars-better-opinion-poll A Wall Street Journal opinion poll across seven battleground states indicates a close race between former Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the November presidential election. The poll, conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 8, shows Harris and Trump tied overall across key states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. In three of these states—Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan—Harris holds a slim 2-point lead, while Trump is ahead by 6 points in Nevada and 1 in Pennsylvania. The margin of error in each state is 4 points. https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-drone-strike-kills-4-israeli-soldiers-amid-escalating-conflict A Hezbollah drone attack on an Israeli army base in central Israel on Sunday killed four soldiers and severely wounded seven others, marking the deadliest strike by the Lebanon-based militant group since Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon nearly two weeks ago. The attack, near the city of Binyamina, targeted Israel's elite Golani brigade, with Hezbollah claiming it launched multiple drones and missiles to overwhelm Israeli air defenses. https://opinionexpress.in/india-withdraws-high-commissioner-and-expels-canadian-diplomats-amid-tensions India has withdrawn its High Commissioner from Canada and asked six senior Canadian diplomats to leave the country by Saturday, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions. The move follows Canada's accusations linking Indian diplomats to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. https://opinionexpress.in/india-canada-diplomatic-rift-deepens-with-latest-accusations India and Canada’s diplomatic relations have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Khalistani separatist. India has strongly rejected these allegations, calling them “absurd” and politically motivated. The row intensified when Canada reportedly named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a “person of interest” in its investigation into Nijjar’s death, a claim India dismissed as “preposterous” and “without evidence.” https://opinionexpress.in/bishnoi-gang-warns-salman-khan-after-fatal-attack-on-baba-siddique The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the murder of three-time MLA and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, killed near his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East. The claim was made in a Facebook post by Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar, an associate of the Bishnoi gang, currently in jail. His brother, Pravin Lonkar, is believed to have posted the message, and he was arrested on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-to-deploy-thaad-anti-missile-system-in-israel The deployment is intended to protect Israel while also providing a strategic advantage as Israel contemplates retaliatory actions against Iran. The U.S. military has also increased its presence in the Middle East following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 Israelis. The U.S. has stationed additional air defences and warships throughout the region, with troops positioned in Cyprus to assist in evacuations if necessary. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-dismisses-allegations-linking-it-to-hamas-attack-on-israel Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York has firmly denied claims linking Tehran to Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Iranian state media. The statement was made in response to inquiries from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, following reports that Israel had obtained minutes from Hamas' secret meetings that allegedly suggested Iranian involvement. https://opinionexpress.in/the-new-global-order-proxy-wars-us-politics-the-rise-of-regional-powers The global order is undergoing profound changes from proxy wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to the anticipated realignments following the U.S. presidential elections. As regional powers such as India, Japan, France, and Germany assert themselves, a new multipolar world is emerging, challenging long-standing dynamics between major players like the United States, China, and Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/the-growing-chorus-for-indias-permanent-seat-on-the-un-security-council As the world navigates intense geopolitical shifts and rising regional tensions, the call for reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is growing louder. One of the most prominent voices in this debate is the chorus of countries backing India for a permanent seat on the council. Support from nations like the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Bhutan, Japan, and a host of African nations highlights India’s growing global stature. In an era where China’s aggressive foreign policies are challenging the existing world order, India emerges as the ideal candidate to help balance global power dynamics. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-lauds-rsss-century-long-dedication-to-maa-bharti Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as it marked a historic milestone, entering its 100th year of service. Extending his wishes to RSS volunteers, Modi hailed the organization for its unwavering commitment to the nation. Sharing the link to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's annual Vijayadashami address on social media platform X, Modi called it a "must-listen" for all. https://opinionexpress.in/baba-siddique-shot-dead-by-lawrence-bishnoi-gang-sources Two suspects, Gurmail Baljit Singh (23) from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap (19) from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested, while a third accomplice remains at large. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the possibility of the killing being linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, though the gang has not yet claimed responsibility. The suspects reportedly conducted a month-long recce before carrying out the attack. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-dussehra HAPPY DUSSEHRA  https://opinionexpress.in/india-condemns-durga-puja-attacks-in-bangladesh India has expressed "serious concern" to Bangladesh’s interim government over recent attacks on Hindu temples, shrines, and Durga Puja mandaps. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi called these incidents "deplorable" and part of a "systematic pattern" of desecration, vandalism, and theft targeting places of worship across Bangladesh. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-chief-discusses-deep-state-gaza-tensions-and-indias-rise-at-dussehra-rally At the annual Vijayadasahmi rally in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasized that India has gained strength and international respect in recent years, but warned of ongoing conspiracies aiming to destabilize the country. He highlighted concerns about a narrative being promoted in Bangladesh, portraying India as a threat and suggesting an alliance with Pakistan for defense. This rhetoric, he said, undermines regional stability. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-cautions-arab-allies-us-bases-against-aiding-israel Iran has issued a strong warning to its Gulf neighbors, threatening severe retaliation if their territories or airspace are used to aid Israel in any military strikes against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that this message was conveyed through secret diplomatic channels to countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, and Qatar, which host U.S. military bases. https://opinionexpress.in/us-raises-alarm-over-chinas-dangerous-south-china-sea-conduct US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Southeast Asian leaders Friday that the US is concerned about China's “increasingly dangerous and unlawful” activities in the disputed South China Sea during an annual summit meeting, and pledged the US will continue to uphold freedom of navigation in the vital sea trade route. https://opinionexpress.in/a-graceful-goodbye-to-a-true-national-gem-ratan-tata Standing tall, with a simple elegant dress, an unforgettably graceful smile and his presence well felt by millions at various moments, is a sheer contrast to the business outlook of Shri Ratan Tata. It wouldn’t be wrong if I call him an able successor to the “Father of Indian Industries” who left us with a big void yet a life full of lessons that are testimonials for the current and coming generations. For all those who followed him, were inspired and influenced by him, who are now feeling hopeless, not knowing the way forward; we must understand that Shri Ratan Tata continues to live a life of ethics and philosophies in our lives that’s etched in our memories for time immemorial. From the morning tea you sip, the car you move around with, the steel bars and railings you hold, the schools your children go to, the insurance that you pay bills, and the coffee meeting you hold, there are moments in every step that you take that reminds you that Tata is a legacy to thank and beyond. While his established group of companies and organizations follow the “Tata Culture” to the core, the newer ones are far from emulating the same approach. The man behind the largest industrial set-up in India, a bigger international deal maker and a humble man next door has been easily approachable and accessible to not just the Business community but also young innovative minds. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-leads-donald-trump-among-suburban-voters-poll Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, has erased Donald Trump's advantage among suburban residents and middle-income households, key demographics in the upcoming November 5 election, according to an analysis of Reuters/Ipsos polling. Since President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid on July 21, Harris has surged ahead in these crucial groups, giving new life to the Democrats' campaign, though the race remains tight. https://opinionexpress.in/noel-tata-likely-to-succeed-ratan-tata-as-chairman-of-tata-trusts Noel Tata, the 67-year-old half-brother of the late Ratan Tata, is set to become the next chairman of Tata Trusts, sources revealed on Friday. The decision was made during a board meeting held to determine Ratan Tata’s successor following his passing on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ratan-tata-pioneer-of-indian-industry-and-business-ethics-dies-at-86 Veteran industrialist Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of the Tata Group and a towering figure in Indian industry, passed away late on Wednesday night at the age of 86. His death was confirmed by a top police official to PTI. Tata had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital in recent days due to declining health. https://opinionexpress.in/airtel-and-nokia-team-up-for-green-5g-initiative-to-slash-carbon-emissions A key focus of the initiative is achieving a ‘zero-traffic, zero-watt operation,’ where the network's power consumption is minimized during periods of no traffic. This approach conserves energy while maintaining network performance, contributing to Airtel’s overall sustainability goals. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-to-go-solo-in-delhi-polls The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections independently, confident in its ability to challenge both the Congress and the BJP. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar emphasized the party's determination, calling Congress "overconfident" and accusing them of not valuing alliance partners. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-faces-backlash-from-allies-following-haryana-defeat The Congress party's dismal performance in the Haryana Assembly election has drawn sharp criticism from its allies, with many expressing disappointment over the party's failure to live up to exit poll predictions. Uddhav Thackeray's faction of the Shiv Sena has been particularly vocal, using its mouthpiece, Saamana, to lambast the Congress for its inability to accommodate coalition partners like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and for failing to control local dissent. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-keeps-policy-rate-unchanged-for-the-tenth-time RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the decision during the fourth bi-monthly monetary policy review of the current financial year. This move comes despite the US Federal Reserve recently reducing its benchmark rates by 50 basis points, alongside similar actions taken by several central banks in developed nations. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-surprises-in-haryana-abdullahs-poised-for-jk-victory The latest election trends from Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir present a mixed picture for major political parties as counting progresses. In Haryana, the ruling BJP has surged ahead, leading in 47 out of the 90 seats, surpassing the crucial halfway mark needed for a majority. This shift comes after early morning results indicated a strong showing for the Congress, which is currently leading in 36 seats. https://opinionexpress.in/bla-launches-major-terror-attack-in-pakistan-targets-chinese-nationals A Pakistani separatist group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing late Sunday night that targeted a convoy of Chinese nationals near Karachi’s largest airport. The attack, which killed two Chinese workers and injured eight others, including police officers escorting the convoy, is the latest in a series of violent assaults on Chinese interests in Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/uttarakhand-ready-to-implement-uniform-civil-code Uttarakhand could become the first state in India to enact the UCC after the state's assembly passed the bill in February, and it received Presidential assent from Droupadi Murmu in March. The UCC aims to bring all citizens, regardless of religion, under a unified set of rules for personal matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. https://opinionexpress.in/maldives-president-urges-indian-tourists-to-return-strengthening-ties The Maldives, he said, would not engage in any actions that undermine India’s security, highlighting the island nation's balanced foreign policy approach under the 'Maldives First' policy. This policy seeks to diversify international relations and reduce reliance on any one country without compromising India’s interests. Although he did not mention China explicitly, his statement reflected a balanced diplomatic stance aimed at fostering growth and development through broader international collaboration. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khans-pti-party-vows-to-protest-against-pak-govt Tensions remained high in Pakistan’s capital on Sunday as former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), vowed to continue its protests following violent clashes with security forces. The unrest, which began Saturday, resulted in the death of a policeman and left several others injured. Despite the tense atmosphere, no further violence was reported in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Sunday, and mobile phone services, which had been suspended, were restored. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-endorses-donald-trump-for-2024-presidential-bid Billionaire Elon Musk has publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, signaling his support by changing his X (formerly Twitter) profile picture to one of himself wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap against the backdrop of the American flag. The endorsement comes as Trump prepares for the election on November 5, 2024, and is seen as a significant, though not entirely surprising, move by Musk. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-targets-hezbollah-leadership-in-lebanon The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation, stating on their Telegram channel that the airstrikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure. The strikes followed a prior warning by the Israeli army for residents in southern Beirut to evacuate, advising them to move at least 500 meters away from specific buildings. https://opinionexpress.in/the-possibility-of-the-first-black-female-president-in-us-history In just four months, the United States will head to the polls. The world is currently focusing on the American presidential elections. Republicans nominated Donald Trump again. Current Democratic President Joe Biden intended to run, but he backed down and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris due to his weak circumstances. The party has not officially nominated Kamala Harris, but she is expected to run. https://opinionexpress.in/fm-jaishankar-set-to-visit-pakistan-for-sco-summit-in-october The last Indian external affairs minister to visit Pakistan was Sushma Swaraj in 2015. The decision for Jaishankar's visit highlights India’s commitment to the SCO, an influential regional bloc focused on economic and security cooperation. The visit comes despite the strained relations between India and Pakistan, which have deteriorated since India’s 2019 airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist camp in Balakot following the Pulwama terror attack. Further tensions arose when India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-urges-israel-to-strike-irans-nuclear-facilities In contrast, Trump told his audience that Biden "got that one wrong." He emphasized that Iran's nuclear program posed the greatest threat and should be the primary target. "Isn't that what you're supposed to hit? I mean, it's the biggest risk we have, nuclear weapons," Trump said, adding that the focus should be on neutralizing the nuclear facilities before worrying about other aspects of the conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/major-encounter-at-dantewada-border-in-chhattisgarh In a major breakthrough, security forces in Chhattisgarh killed 36 Maoists during an intense encounter along the Narayanpur-Dantewada border. The operation, launched by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF), began yesterday and reached a critical point around noon today when contact with the Maoists was made. According to sources, the operation is ongoing as the forces continue to pursue remaining insurgents who have retreated deeper into the forest. https://opinionexpress.in/irans-supreme-leader-proclaims-israels-demise-in-first-public-sermon-in-years Khamenei paid tribute to Hassan Nasrallah, the former Hezbollah chief, who was recently killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. He praised Nasrallah's leadership in the fight against Israel, calling him a "high-standing flag against the Zionist enemy" and vowed that his legacy would continue to inspire future resistance. Khamenei urged Muslims globally to support Lebanon’s struggle and the defense of the al-Aqsa mosque. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-orders-special-probe-into-tirupati-laddoo-row The court acknowledged the potential of the allegations to hurt sentiments, but it refrained from delving into the political charges surrounding the case. "We have not gone into allegations and counter-allegations. We will not permit the court to be used as a political battleground," remarked Justice Gavai. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-chairs-top-level-security-meet-on-middle-east-crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened an urgent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to address the escalating crisis in West Asia, following Iran's ballistic missile strike on Israel. The committee, comprising top ministers, including the Home Minister, Defence Minister, Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, and the National Security Adviser, discussed the potential repercussions of the conflict on India and the broader global landscape. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-may-strike-on-iran-oil-facilities-biden U.S. President Joe Biden revealed that discussions are underway regarding potential Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites in response to Tehran's missile barrage on Israel. His remarks, made during an exchange with reporters at the White House, caused oil prices to surge on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-says-hamas-government-top-leaders-eliminated-in-gaza Israel’s military announced that a strike carried out three months ago successfully killed three senior Hamas leaders in Gaza. Among them was Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip and a key figure in the group's military strategy. According to Israeli sources, Mushtaha was instrumental in decisions regarding Hamas' force deployments and was considered a "right-hand man" to Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's top leader in Gaza. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-to-unleash-full-military-might-on-iran-netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran "made a big mistake" and vowed that Israel would retaliate according to its policy: "Whoever attacks us, we will attack them." Israel is currently consulting with the U.S. about potential options, one of which includes a direct strike on Iran’s oil fields. Such an attack would target a key economic sector but could affect Iranian civilians, something Israel has generally avoided in order to keep its focus on Iranian leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/swing-states-will-decide-the-winner-of-the-2024-us-election As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a fiercely competitive race. With just over a month until Election Day on November 5, the race is shaping up to be one of the tightest in modern U.S. history, with critical battleground states determining the outcome. https://opinionexpress.in/bumpy-road-ahead-xi-warns-as-china-marks-75th-national-day China marked its 75th National Day with a low-key celebration, reflecting the country’s current challenges. President Xi Jinping issued a somber warning, acknowledging the difficult path ahead, exacerbated by economic struggles and mounting geopolitical tensions, notably with the U.S. and neighboring nations, including India. Unlike previous anniversaries, the event lacked the grand military parades seen in the past. Instead, the focus was on a ceremonial flag-raising at Tiananmen Square, while Xi's speech served as a rallying call to brace for challenging times. https://opinionexpress.in/dominant-india-decimates-bangladesh-to-win-test-series-2-0 India cruised to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second Test on Tuesday, securing a record 18th consecutive home series win. Despite losing over 200 overs to rain, India’s bowlers shined, dismissing Bangladesh for 146 on the final day before chasing down a target of 95 in just 17.2 overs. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-relations-to-remain-tense-until-border-dispute-is-resolved-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized on Tuesday that tensions between India and China would persist as long as their militaries maintain forward deployments along the border. Speaking at an event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment in the US, Jaishankar noted that China had violated agreements designed to keep the border peaceful in 2020, leading to the ongoing standoff between the two nations. https://opinionexpress.in/middle-east-on-the-edge-iran-fires-missiles-israel-plans-to-retaliate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, warning Iran that it had made a "big mistake" and would face consequences. The missile strikes were reportedly in retaliation for the Israeli operations that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took responsibility for the assault, targeting three Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv. While Iran stated the attack had concluded, it warned that any Israeli retaliation would provoke further strikes. https://opinionexpress.in/public-safety-paramount-religious-places-on-road-must-go-supreme-court A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan was hearing petitions challenging the controversial practice of bulldozer action against individuals accused of crimes. This trend, often termed "bulldozer justice," has been increasingly adopted by several state governments. State authorities, however, have maintained that these actions were aimed solely at demolishing illegal structures. https://opinionexpress.in/harris-promises-immigration-fix-trump-calls-border-trip-too-late Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris pledged to strengthen border security and address America's immigration challenges during a visit to the US-Mexico border in Douglas, Arizona. Amid growing political attacks from her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, Harris emphasized a balanced approach, promising tougher border measures while advocating for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented migrants already residing in the U.S. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-ground-raids-begin-in-lebanon Israeli forces have initiated "limited, localized, and targeted" ground raids in Lebanon, just two days after killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike, further deepening the Middle East conflict. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that these raids are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanese villages near the Israeli border, claiming the area poses an imminent threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel. These operations are part of Israel's broader strategy, named Operation "Northern Arrows," which runs alongside its military campaign in Gaza and other regional theaters of conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/terrorism-has-no-place-in-our-world-pm-modi The conflict, which reignited following the abduction of Israeli citizens by Hamas in October last year, has seen significant escalation. Israel's retaliatory measures have broadened, targeting not only Hamas but also Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group that has attacked Israeli positions. Additionally, Yemen's Houthi rebels have joined in the fray, launching strikes against Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-rukh-khan-wins-best-actor-for-jawan-at-iifa Superstar Shah Rukh Khan won the prestigious Best Actor award for his powerful performance in Jawan at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards. The event, held on Saturday night, also saw Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, bag the Best Picture award. https://opinionexpress.in/spacex-crew-9-mission-rescues-stranded-astronauts-from-iss On Sunday, SpaceX's Crew-9 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), marking the beginning of the long-awaited return journey for two astronauts stranded aboard the orbiting laboratory. The mission, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, took off at 1:17 pm on Saturday and docked with the ISS at 5:30 pm the following day. https://opinionexpress.in/udhayanidhi-stalin-elevated-to-dcm-in-tn In a significant cabinet reshuffle in Tamil Nadu, three DMK MLAs were sworn in as ministers, and Chief Minister MK Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, was elevated to the post of Deputy Chief Minister. This marks a major development in the state's political landscape, with Udhayanidhi becoming the third generation of the Karunanidhi family to hold a key position in the Tamil Nadu government. https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-leader-nasrallahs-death-israel-cheers-iran-in-mourning Netanyahu described Nasrallah's death as a significant milestone in Israel’s security strategy and a key step in stabilizing the northern border. Speaking to the nation, he emphasized that Nasrallah had orchestrated numerous terrorist attacks against Israelis and foreign nationals over the years, including the infamous 1983 bombings in Beirut that killed 63 people at the U.S. embassy and hundreds of U.S. Marines and French paratroopers. https://opinionexpress.in/chorus-for-indias-unsc-permanent-seats-gains-momentum-at-un Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, expressed strong support for India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council during his address at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. He emphasized that India's significant economic growth, population, and leadership in the Global South position it as a deserving candidate for permanent membership in a reformed Security Council. Tobgay argued that the UN must evolve to reflect today’s geopolitical and economic realities, as the current structure is outdated and no longer representative of the modern world. https://opinionexpress.in/top-hezbollah-leader-hassan-nasrallah-finished-idf The Israeli military announced Saturday that it had killed Hassan Nasrallah, the long-standing leader of Hezbollah, in an airstrike on the group’s headquarters in Beirut. The precision strike, conducted on Friday, targeted a high-level Hezbollah meeting in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut. Alongside Nasrallah, Ali Karki, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and several other senior Hezbollah officials were also killed, according to the Israeli military. https://opinionexpress.in/shigeru-ishiba-set-to-become-japan-prime-minister Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba as its new leader on Friday, positioning him to become the next prime minister. With the LDP controlling the majority in parliament, Ishiba’s leadership win is effectively a ticket to Japan’s top office. Known for his expertise in defense policy, Ishiba has advocated for a stronger security alliance between Japan and the US and has floated the idea of an Asian version of NATO. A vocal supporter of Taiwan’s democracy, he has also called for the establishment of a disaster management agency in Japan, one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-targets-hezbollah-chief-hassan-nasrallah-in-beirut Among the casualties was Muhammad Ali Ismail, commander of Hezbollah’s missile unit in southern Lebanon, along with other senior officials, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). While Israeli reports suggested that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was a primary target, Hezbollah denied his death, with sources claiming Nasrallah remained in hiding, evading yet another assassination attempt. https://opinionexpress.in/india-shames-pakistan-on-global-terrorism-stage-at-unga Ms. Mangalanandan condemned Pakistan’s longstanding policy of using terrorism as a state tool and highlighted its international reputation for harboring terrorist groups. “This Assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning,” she began. "A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade, and transnational crime has dared to attack the world’s largest democracy." Her comments referenced Pakistan’s involvement in notorious terrorist attacks, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, both orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror groups. https://opinionexpress.in/power-politics-has-overtaken-nation-building-nitin-gadkari The senior BJP leader highlighted the challenges he and other Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers faced during their early years of activism, recalling a time when their efforts went largely unrecognized. "Earlier, while working as RSS workers, we faced many hurdles. There was no recognition or respect. People even threw stones at our rallies, and after the Emergency, the autorickshaw I used for announcements was set ablaze," Gadkari shared. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-defiant-vows-escalation-in-lebanon-conflict The airstrike is part of a broader campaign that has resulted in more than 700 deaths in Lebanon this week, with 118,000 people displaced due to the escalation of violence. Israel’s attacks have raised fears of a wider conflict across the Middle East. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-unsc-permanent-seat-gets-backing-of-usuk-france UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, addressing the UN General Assembly’s seventy-ninth session in New York, expressed support for India's bid for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Starmer emphasized the need to reform the UNSC, advocating for a "more representative body" that reflects the geopolitical realities of the 21st century. He called for permanent seats for India, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and African nations. Starmer's backing comes shortly after US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron voiced similar support. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-orders-army-to-fight-hezbollah-with-full-force The ceasefire call comes in the wake of intense Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands. In a joint statement, U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other international leaders, including key Arab states such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, urged for an immediate 21-day ceasefire along the Lebanon-Israel border. They emphasized that the situation has become "intolerable" and poses a risk to both Israeli and Lebanese civilians. https://opinionexpress.in/jan-vishwas-bill-20-to-decriminalise-minor-offences-piyush-goyal The initial Jan Vishwas law, enacted last year, focused on promoting business-friendly reforms by decriminalizing minor offences, amending 183 provisions across 42 different laws. Following its success, the ministry is now working on a new version, with consultations ongoing to incorporate additional feedback. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-gains-strong-38-point-lead-over-trump-with-asian-american-voters As of now, 66% of Asian American voters plan to vote for Harris, while 28?ck Trump. The remaining 6% are either undecided or support other candidates. This marks a significant shift since the 2024 Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS), where Biden led Trump by 46% to 31%. https://opinionexpress.in/the-india-us-relationship-is-strong-and-getting-stronger-white-house The relationship between India and the United States is described as "strong and getting stronger," according to the White House, with President Joe Biden set to view his deepening of ties with India as one of the proudest achievements of his presidency. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby highlighted the importance of the partnership during a press briefing, emphasizing Biden's significant investment in the bilateral relationship with India. https://opinionexpress.in/top-hezbollah-commander-killed-in-fresh-israeli-strikes-on-beirut An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Qubaisi, a prominent figure in the group’s rocket division, according to Lebanese security sources. The attack, which claimed six lives, marked the latest blow to Hezbollah, which has faced mounting Israeli strikes in recent days, escalating fears of a full-scale war in the Middle East. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-hits-all-time-high-85000-mark-nifty-at-26000-mark The Indian stock market hit a significant milestone as the Sensex surged past 85,000 points for the first time, extending its record-breaking rally. This bullish momentum has been driven by strong performances in the steel and automotive sectors. The Nifty index is also nearing the 26,000-mark, as both indices reach unprecedented levels. https://opinionexpress.in/anura-kumara-dissanayake-leads-sri-lankas-leftist-resurgence-in-historic-election Sri Lanka has made history by electing Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leftist leader of the Marxist JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna), to power, marking a decisive break from the political dynasties of Rajapaksa, Wickremesinghe, and Premadasa, who have dominated the island’s politics. Dissanayake, popularly known as AKD, won 5.7 million votes (42.3%) in the nation’s first-ever second-preference vote count, defeating Sajith Premadasa, who secured 32.8%, and leaving incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe in a distant third place. https://opinionexpress.in/conflicting-supreme-court-rulings-risk-confusing-lower-judiciary The Supreme Court of India granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy corruption case, which had been lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The judgment, delivered by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, highlighted key issues concerning the prolonged incarceration of the accused, with a focus on individual liberty and the role of investigative agencies. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-targets-hezbollah-in-lebanon Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon killed 182 people, including children, on Monday, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The strikes marked the deadliest escalation along the border in nearly a year and came amid an intensifying cross-border conflict, following the eruption of war in Gaza on October 7. https://opinionexpress.in/global-finance-reform-on-agenda-at-un-summit Global Finance Reform on Agenda at UN Summit: Commodity Exchange and Cooperation in Focus https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-signals-shift-in-war-israel-vows-to-hit-anyone-threatening-security Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated, with both sides threatening to intensify their cross-border attacks, disregarding international calls for de-escalation. Hezbollah's deputy chief, Naim Qassem, declared that the group has entered "a new phase" in its confrontation with Israel, following Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in northern Lebanon, which resulted in significant damage and casualties. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-narendra-modis-meet-with-top-tech-ceos-at-mit Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a high-profile roundtable with leading American technology CEOs, aiming to strengthen collaboration and foster innovation between India and the U.S. The meeting, part of Modi's three-day visit to the United States, took place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering hosting the event. https://opinionexpress.in/the-blooming-lotus-is-all-set-to-trump-the-former-potus India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once remarked, Events crowd in upon us in such quick succession that we are apt to miss their true significance. The American Vice President Kamala Devi Harris is forging ahead of former President Donald John Trump by leaps and bounds in the upcoming US Presidential Elections in all but one of the dozen different polls tracked by the polling aggregator 538 (originally rendered as strong ThirtyEight After their effervescent Presidential Debate on 10 September 2024 in Philadelphia (colloquially referred to as “Philly”), the birthplace of American Independence famous for The State House Bell, now known as the Liberty Bell, which is at once recognizable by its discernible crack and bears the timeless message: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof”. 538 gives Trump only a slender 39% chance of winning the electoral college while boosting Kamala’s odds to a clinching 61%! The Presidential Debate was a watershed moment for Kamala enabling her to steer confidently towards the Gettysburg ideal of “government of the people, by the people, for the people From the moment Kamala ascended onto the stage at the National Constitution Center and firmly shook Trump’s hand with amazing aplomb and élan to introduce herself, she displayed her unmistakable “I-am-in-command” credentials. It was an astute and pace-setting opening move! Since the two had never met before, her decision to shake his hand imbued her with astonishing maturity and gumption. Michael Richard Beschloss, the charismatic Presidential Historian and author of nine books, declared that Kamala had “delivered what is easily one of the most successful debate performances in all of American history”. On 21st September 2024, Kamala challenged Trump to another debate in the lead-up to the election and revealed that she had accepted a debate invitation from Cable News Network (“CNN”) on 23rd October 2024. Three other influential American poll pundits viz. Allan Lichtman (known as the “Nostradamus” of US presidential elections), Nate Silver and Alan Abramowitz have predicted Kamala’s victory. Significantly, Kamala has received full and unequivocal star power and celebrity endorsement throughout the length and breadth of Uncle Sam’s land. Mary Louise “Meryl” Streep, Jennifer Lynn Affleck (nee Lopez), popularly known as “J.Lo”, and Julia Fiona Roberts were among the celebrities who pitched for Kamala in a breezy online 90 minutes star-studded event hosted by Oprah Winfrey on 19 September 2024 on CBS News in Farmington Hills, Michigan, zeroing in on women’s reproductive rights that touched the innermost chords of voters from the fairer sex in the United States. And not to be outdone, Jane Seymour Fonda, Taylor Alison Swift and George Timothy Clooney are triggering the Kamala swing with impassioned gusto in the greatest republic, the greatest democracy and the greatest nation under the sun! https://opinionexpress.in/hr-bhardwaj-the-visionary-behind-indias-modernized-judicial-system Former Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj played a transformative role in reshaping India’s legal landscape, significantly improving the lives of judges, lawyers, and the common people seeking justice. His tenure saw a series of reforms that uplifted the judiciary’s working conditions and brought long-overdue changes to the legal profession. Bhardwaj’s vision was not only to modernize the system but also to make justice more accessible, particularly to the underprivileged, thereby leaving an enduring legacy. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-raids-al-jazeeras-west-bank-office This raid follows an ongoing crackdown by Israeli authorities on the network, which was banned from operating inside Israel in May due to national security concerns. Israeli forces had previously raided an Al Jazeera office set up in a Jerusalem hotel earlier this year. https://opinionexpress.in/india-drubs-bangladesh-by-280-runs-in-1st-test-match India secured a historic victory against Bangladesh in the first Test of a two-match series at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium, marking a monumental moment in their cricketing journey. With this 280-run win, India not only took a 1-0 lead in the series but also achieved a significant milestone: for the first time in its 92-year Test history, India's tally of Test wins surpassed its tally of losses. The team has now won 179 matches, with 178 losses, out of a total of 581 Tests since its debut in 1932. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-biden-summit-unsc-space-tech-and-defense-cooperation-in-focus The US reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council. Both leaders committed to enhancing cooperation in critical areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and clean energy. The joint initiative to advance semiconductor manufacturing and deepen collaboration in cybersecurity and space exploration was underscored. They welcomed NASA-ISRO efforts to conduct joint research aboard the International Space Station by 2025. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-leader-atishi-takes-oath-as-delhi-chief-minister Atishi’s cabinet includes notable figures such as Mukesh Ahlawat, a first-time MLA from Sultanpur Majra, alongside seasoned leaders like Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain, Kailash Gahlot, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, all of whom took oath as ministers. Before the ceremony, Atishi and her cabinet met with the outgoing Chief Minister, Mr. Kejriwal. https://opinionexpress.in/white-house-meets-pro-khalistan-groups-ahead-of-pm-modis-us-visit In a significant development, the White House met with a group of Sikh activists supporting the Khalistan movement just hours before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in the United States for a three-day official visit. The meeting, attended by members of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, Sikh Coalition, and Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), saw US officials assure the group of their commitment to protecting citizens from "transnational aggression" on American soil. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-heads-to-us-for-key-bilateral-talks-and-quad-summit A key highlight of the trip may be the announcement of enhanced India-U.S. space collaboration, including the participation of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. Additionally, a multi-billion dollar deal for India to acquire 31 Predator drones from the U.S. could be on the table. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-attacks-congress-most-corrupt-controlled-by-anti-india-forces Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a public meeting in Wardha, Maharashtra, on the one-year anniversary of the PM Vishwakarma scheme, took aim at the Congress, labeling it the "most corrupt" party, now being influenced by what he described as the tukde tukde gang and urban Naxals. Modi emphasized that today's Congress is far removed from the party Mahatma Gandhi once belonged to, accusing it of losing its patriotic spirit. https://opinionexpress.in/top-hezbollah-commander-killed-in-beirut-by-israels-air-strike Israel announced on Friday that it killed Ibrahim Aqil, the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, in a precision airstrike on Beirut. The strike targeted a meeting of senior commanders, killing 14 people, including 10 high-ranking Hezbollah officials. Aqil, a key Hezbollah military leader implicated in the 1983 bombings of the US Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut, had a $7 million US bounty on him. His death marks a significant blow to Hezbollah’s leadership, particularly following the recent death of senior commander Fuad Shukr in a similar Israeli airstrike. https://opinionexpress.in/food-minister-health-minister-to-probe-into-animal-fat-row-in-tirupati-laddu The controversy began when Naidu, during an NDA legislative party meeting, accused the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government of using substandard ingredients, including animal fat, in the laddus prepared at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati. Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) later presented a lab report from a Gujarat-based livestock laboratory, which allegedly confirmed the presence of "beef tallow," "lard," and "fish oil" in ghee samples provided by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the managing authority of the temple. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-hits-all-time-high-level The BSE Sensex breached the historic 84,000-mark for the first time on Friday morning, fueled by a global market rally after the US Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate, the first such move in over four years. The 30-share Sensex surged 975.1 points, reaching an all-time high of 84,159.90 in early trade, while the NSE Nifty jumped 271.1 points, touching a record peak of 25,686.90. https://opinionexpress.in/fatf-lauds-indias-aml-and-cft-framework-urges-stronger-prosecution The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released its much-anticipated mutual evaluation report on India's efforts to combat money laundering and terror financing, stating that while the country's systems are effective in many respects, significant improvements are required, particularly in prosecution. The 368-page report, released after the FATF's June plenary meeting in Paris, comes after the last such review in 2010. https://opinionexpress.in/isb-launches-pgp-yl-a-20-month-post-graduate-programme-in-management September 18, 2024: Renowned for setting new benchmarks in management education since its inception in 2001, the Indian School of Business (ISB), is poised to embark on another groundbreaking path in its mission to groom future leaders for India and the world.  ISB has announced the launch of PGP YL - a 20 month Post Graduate Programme in Management for Young Leaders (PGP YL), a full time MBA equivalent residential management programme for high-potential aspirants with up to 2 years of full-time work experience. https://opinionexpress.in/government-to-share-info-with-sc-collegiums-on-resolutions-on-hc-chief-justices During the hearing, CJI Chandrachud noted that the Jharkhand government has filed a contempt petition against the Centre for delaying the appointment of Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, a recommendation pending with the Centre. https://opinionexpress.in/us-court-summons-india-over-alleged-plot-to-assassinate-khalistani-leader The Indian government has yet to issue an official response to the summons. Notably, Pannun shared a copy of the court summons on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, but the post has since been withheld. Pannun is the head of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a radical outfit advocating for Khalistan, and holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada. https://opinionexpress.in/walkie-talkies-pagers-explode-in-lebanon-what-next Israel has not officially commented on the explosions, while Hezbollah vowed retaliation and launched rockets at Israeli artillery positions. However, Israel reported no significant damage or casualties. Hezbollah’s reliance on low-tech communication devices, such as pagers, is an attempt to evade Israeli surveillance. https://opinionexpress.in/new-xec-covid-variant-spreads-to-many-countries Scientists have raised concerns about a new, more contagious Covid-19 variant known as XEC, which is spreading rapidly across Europe and could soon become the dominant strain. First identified in Germany in June, XEC has since appeared in countries like the UK, US, Denmark, and several others. A sublineage of the Omicron variant, XEC is a hybrid of two earlier subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, which are currently dominant in Europe. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-to-meet-pm-modi-next-week Despite the critical comments, Trump emphasized his admiration for the Indian leader, saying, "Modi, he's fantastic. I mean, fantastic man. A lot of these leaders are fantastic." He did not provide further details about the meeting or its agenda. https://opinionexpress.in/many-dead-thousands-injured-as-pagers-explode-across-lebanon Hezbollah, which operates both as a political and military organization in Lebanon, immediately blamed Israel for the attack. The group stated that this event marked its "biggest security breach" to date, claiming that Israel had infiltrated its telecommunications system. According to reports, hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded almost simultaneously, suggesting an advanced form of sabotage. Some sources suggested that the pagers, possibly containing hidden explosives near their batteries, were triggered remotely. Other theories pointed to a cyber-attack that caused the pagers' lithium batteries to overheat and explode. https://opinionexpress.in/jk-assembly-elections-may-disrupt-national-unity Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reportedly been advised by US agencies to align with the National Conference ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) assembly elections. This partnership is seen as a way to frame their joint victory as more than a regional outcome. Regardless of the specific winner, regional pro-Islamist political parties are expected to secure a collective victory in the elections. Notably, Pakistan is unlikely to interfere with the process, as it is essential for the global conspiracy against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the elections appear legitimate through significant popular participation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-edge-past-china-1-0-to-clinch-5th-act-hockey-title China's defense was disciplined and resilient, frustrating the Indian attack throughout much of the match. India's forwards created several chances but were unable to find the back of the net. It wasn’t until the final quarter that Jugraj Singh's decisive strike gave India the breakthrough they desperately needed. His goal, a moment of individual brilliance, proved to be the match-winner in a contest where opportunities were few and far between. https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-strongholds-across-lebanon-have-been-hit-by-the-israeli-breach Hezbollah, both a political and military force in Lebanon, is backed by Iran and banned by the US and the European Union. The group has supported Hamas, which has been at war with Israel in Gaza since October 2023. Hezbollah has blamed Israel for orchestrating this attack, calling it the "biggest security breach" it has ever faced. The group claims that the pagers, part of Hezbollah's internal communications, exploded nearly simultaneously, calling it an "Israeli breach" of their network. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-banerjee-sacks-top-cop-health-officials The doctors, part of the Junior Doctors’ Forum, celebrated the government's concession as a significant victory. However, they stated that the protest would not end until the formal orders are delivered and their broader goal — dismantling the corruption network within the hospital — is addressed. They also continue to demand the removal of the state’s health secretary. Banerjee, in turn, announced that ?100 crore would be allocated for upgrading hospital infrastructure and that the officials being transferred had not been dishonored. https://opinionexpress.in/atishi-to-be-delhis-new-aap-chief-minister Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has witnessed a significant shift as Minister Atishi is set to become Chief Minister, following Arvind Kejriwal's resignation after a meeting with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. At a meeting of AAP legislators, party leader Dilip Pandey proposed that Mr. Kejriwal select the next Chief Minister. When Kejriwal suggested Atishi, all MLAs agreed, making her the new leader of the legislative party. https://opinionexpress.in/upholding-institutional-integrity-the-backbone-of-democratic-resilience The recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, which was followed by a video of a private prayer being circulated on social media, raises questions about the ethical boundaries that must be maintained between the judiciary and the executive. While the Modi government has made significant strides in areas such as digital infrastructure, national security, and anti-corruption measures, this particular incident reflects a disturbing trend of breaking conventions and undermining institutions that form the bedrock of democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-is-filled-with-hate-defaming-india-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, indirectly responded to Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks during his US visit, accusing "some people" of trying to defame India and disrupt its unity. While not naming Gandhi, Modi criticized those filled with negativity and hate, claiming they seek to break up the country. His comments come ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, where Congress and its ally, the National Conference, have promised to restore J&K's special status under Article 370, scrapped by the BJP in 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/state-organs-must-collaborate-for-constitutional-success-vice-president "All organs of the state—Judiciary, Legislature, and Executive—share the common goal of ensuring the success of the Constitution's spirit, guaranteeing rights to the people, and promoting India’s prosperity," he said. https://opinionexpress.in/golden-moments-para-athletes-conquer-paris-event The Paris 2024 Paralympics has etched a historic chapter in India's sporting legacy, highlighting a tale of resilience, determination, and unprecedented success. This remarkable event showcased not just athletic excellence but also the indomitable spirit of Indian para-athletes who triumphed against all odds. https://opinionexpress.in/donald-trump-unharmed-in-shooting-incident-at-golf-course Donald Trump is reported to be safe following a shooting incident at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to a statement from Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung, “President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time.” The incident occurred while Trump was on the golf course and was accompanied by his Secret Service detail. https://opinionexpress.in/one-nation-one-election-likely-to-be-reality-soon-sources The Modi government is poised to implement the long-debated "One Country, One Election" policy during its current tenure, according to sources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the initiative in his Independence Day speech this year, emphasizing the government's commitment to reducing the frequency of elections. A committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind has submitted its report, recommending simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the first phase. This would be followed by synchronizing local body elections within 100 days. https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwal-to-resign-soon-sources Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced his resignation from the post just two days after being released on bail, following six months in prison. At a party meeting, Kejriwal revealed his plan to step down, stating, “In two days, I will resign as Chief Minister. I will not occupy the chair until the people deliver their verdict." With elections in Delhi months away, Kejriwal expressed his desire to seek the public’s judgment, saying, “I got justice from the legal court, now I will seek justice from the people's court." https://opinionexpress.in/india-must-become-fair-before-scrapping-reservation-says-rahul-gandhi Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, stated that the Congress Party would consider scrapping reservations when India becomes a fair society, which is not the case currently. Speaking to students at Georgetown University, he explained that financial inequities and lack of representation for marginalized communities demonstrate the ongoing need for reservation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-vows-to-lead-un-revitalization-efforts-ambassador-harish Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish officially took over as India's Permanent Representative to the UN, presenting his credentials to Secretary-General António Guterres. Harish assured Guterres of India’s commitment to revitalizing and reforming the global organization under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, emphasizing the need for reformed multilateralism to address contemporary challenges. https://opinionexpress.in/rg-hospital-protest-is-a-conspiracy-by-centre-left-parties-mamata Speaking at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat, Nabanna, Banerjee dismissed rumors that her government had offered money to the family of the deceased postgraduate trainee doctor. She called the claims slanderous, asserting that she had only offered support if they wished to memorialize their daughter. https://opinionexpress.in/crown-prince-of-abu-dhabi-visits-india-boosting-strategic-partnership During his two-day visit, Sheikh Khaled is set to engage in high-level talks aimed at enhancing the already strong bilateral ties between India and the UAE. On September 9, he will meet Prime Minister Modi to discuss a wide range of areas for cooperation, focusing on expanding the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. The discussions are expected to cover sectors such as trade, investment, energy, technology, and education. https://opinionexpress.in/key-challenges-hinder-cbis-investigation-in-kolkata-doctors-rape-murder-case The rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has triggered widespread outrage, leading to protests across West Bengal. The case, which has drawn sharp criticism of the Mamata Banerjee government, was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after a petition by the victim's parents, accusing the state of shielding the accused and covering up evidence. https://opinionexpress.in/love-respect-and-humility-are-missing-in-indian-politics-rahul-gandhi In a recent address to the Indian American community in Dallas, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized the values of love, respect, and humility as critical elements missing in Indian politics. During his first interaction with expatriates since becoming the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Gandhi criticized the RSS for viewing India as "one idea," while asserting that India is a "multiplicity of ideas." https://opinionexpress.in/pok-should-join-india-rajnath Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during an election rally in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, called on residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to "come and join India," emphasizing that unlike Pakistan, India considers them as its own. His statement came in contrast to a recent affidavit by Pakistan's additional solicitor general, which referred to PoK as foreign land. Singh assured PoK residents that India welcomes them as part of the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-steps-up-mediation-nsa-doval-to-hold-peace-discussions-in-moscow National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is set to visit Moscow this week to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as part of India's ongoing diplomatic efforts to mediate peace. The visit follows a recent phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 27, during which they agreed that Doval would travel to Moscow for peace talks. Prime Minister Modi had previously visited both Ukraine and Russia, holding separate meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Putin. https://opinionexpress.in/j-and-k-heading-for-historic-assembly-elections-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir after the upcoming assembly elections, the first held under the national flag and Constitution since the abrogation of Article 370. Speaking in Jammu during his two-day visit, Shah emphasized that the Modi government would not allow the return of terrorism, "autonomy," or discrimination against communities such as Gujjars, Paharis, Bakerwals, and Dalits, who have received reservations under the BJP government. https://opinionexpress.in/ganesh-utsav-festival-starts-in-india-amid-fanfare The 10-day Ganesh festival began in Maharashtra on Saturday, with vibrant celebrations as devotees welcomed Lord Ganesh into their homes and public pandals. Early in the morning, families, including children and elders, stepped out amid chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" to bring home idols of the deity. Some carried idols in vehicles like autorickshaws and cars, while traditional dhol-tasha troupes led processions. https://opinionexpress.in/hindus-for-america-first-endorses-trump-criticizes-kamala-harris A newly formed grassroots organization, Hindus for America First, has announced its endorsement of Republican candidate Donald Trump for the 2024 U.S. presidential race. The group's chairman and founder, Utsav Sanduja, expressed concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris, stating that her leadership could be "destabilizing for Indo-US relations." https://opinionexpress.in/the-india-we-know-the-indians-we-dont India lives in a strange dichotomy. On the one hand, we hark back to our glorious past to claim our cultural and material superiority. On the other hand, we remain blissfully ignorant and even dismissive of the achievements of our people in the present times. We have this strange habit of looking back in nostalgia and ignoring the work being done in the present. Due to this inherent dilemma, India has done grave injustice to its talented and gifted people. India does have a lot of achievements to show, but only if we care enough to have a look at them. One such unrecognized genius from India was D.R.Kaprekar, a mathematician who is followed by mathematicians the world over. Still, our own countrymen need to be made aware of their life and work. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-plans-musk-led-federal-audit-aims-for-major-reform Donald Trump announced on Thursday that if re-elected as U.S. president, he would appoint billionaire Elon Musk to lead an audit of government spending and implement drastic reforms. Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Trump said that Musk suggested forming a "government efficiency commission" tasked with conducting a comprehensive financial and performance audit of the federal government. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, would head this initiative. https://opinionexpress.in/hasina-must-stay-silent-in-india-yunus Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, has criticized former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political remarks from India, calling them an “unfriendly gesture.” Yunus asserted that Hasina must remain silent to avoid causing discomfort to both countries until Dhaka formally requests her extradition. https://opinionexpress.in/dr-sarvepalli-radhakrishnan-the-teacher-extraordinaire Today is a red letter day inasmuch India and the world are celebrating the 136th  birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India who was a monumental philosopher, educationist, scholar and statesman of international repute. From the hallowed soil of Singapore (conceived in the city of my birth Kolkata by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles where our freedom struggle in a purely military sense materialised under the inspiring leadership of Netaji  Subhas Chandra Bose who galvanised the grand “Azad Hind Fauz” or the Indian National Army  that had been formed with the voluntary participation of Indian soldiers who had been captured by the Japanese Army in Singapore during the Second World War after what Sir Winston Churchill aptly described as “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history”!), our Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his homage to Radhakrishnan and his lasting impact on education and saluted the strength and leadership of educators. https://opinionexpress.in/police-state-conceal-details-of-the-kolkata-crime-parents In Kolkata, the parents of a doctor who was brutally raped and murdered last month have accused the police of initially attempting to suppress the case. The 31-year-old doctor, who was on night duty at the time of the incident, was found dead at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Her parents, speaking at a protest demanding justice, alleged that the authorities tried to conceal details of the crime. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-expresses-concerns-about-peoples-safety-in-bangladesh While the official White House statement following the August 26 call did not explicitly mention Bangladesh, PM Modi's office and his social media post on X confirmed that the two leaders discussed the matter. Modi’s post indicated that both leaders shared their concerns about recent developments in Bangladesh. They emphasized the importance of restoring law and order and ensuring the safety and security of minority communities, especially Hindus. https://opinionexpress.in/india-brunei-elevate-bilateral-ties-to-enhanced-partnership The discussions between the two leaders were comprehensive, covering key areas such as defense, trade, energy, space technology, and health. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. This milestone in India-Brunei relations comes as both nations celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties, a "happy coincidence" noted by Prime Minister Modi in his remarks. He emphasized Brunei's importance in India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision, expressing confidence that the visit would provide strategic direction to the partnership. https://opinionexpress.in/presvu-eye-drops-can-remove-reading-glasses-in-few-mins Presbyopia is a common age-related issue, with an estimated 1.09 billion to 1.80 billion people globally affected. The condition can significantly diminish the quality of life, making everyday tasks challenging. PresVu promises to alleviate this burden by improving near vision within just 15 minutes of application. Additionally, the eye drops provide an added benefit by lubricating the eyes, thanks to its advanced dynamic buffer technology that adapts quickly to the pH of tears, ensuring prolonged effectiveness and protection. https://opinionexpress.in/india-medal-tally-swells-to-20-in-paralympics India achieved its best-ever Paralympics medal haul, surpassing the previous record with a total of 20 medals (3 gold, 7 silver, 10 bronze) at the ongoing Games. This historic achievement was driven by outstanding performances in track and field events, particularly on day six, where Indian athletes added five more medals to the tally. https://opinionexpress.in/many-feared-killed-in-ukraines-poltava-by-russia-ballistic-missiles President Zelensky shared the grim news on the social media platform X, stating, "Two ballistic missiles hit the area, targeting an educational institution and a nearby hospital, partially destroying one of the telecommunications institute's buildings." He expressed deep concern for those still feared trapped beneath the debris, highlighting the ongoing search and rescue operations. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-narendra-modi-arrives-in-brunei-on-historic-visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a historic two-day visit to Brunei Darussalam, marking the first-ever bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the Southeast Asian nation. The visit, at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, comes as the two nations celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-on-mission-mode-to-establish-its-govt-in-j-k-jitendra-singh Highlighting the BJP's commitment to Jammu and Kashmir, Singh stated, "Prime Minister Modi and his government are dedicated to ensuring that J&K plays a pivotal role in India's growth story." He stressed that the formation of a BJP government in the region is central to this mission, with a focus on transparent governance, development, and optimal use of natural resources. https://opinionexpress.in/sandeep-ghosh-ex-principal-of-kolkata-hospital-arrested Alongside Sandip Ghosh, the CBI has also arrested three others: Biplav Singha and Suman Hazara, vendors who supplied medicines to the hospital, and Afsar Ali, a security guard. These arrests are part of a broader investigation into corruption and financial misconduct within the hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/cji-pushes-for-unified-national-judicial-hiring-to-enhance-efficiency Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized the need for a national-level recruitment process for judicial services, urging the judiciary to move beyond the "narrow walls of regionalism and state-centred selections." Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the 'National Conference of the District Judiciary,' CJI Chandrachud highlighted the importance of attracting skilled personnel to address the high pendency of cases, with the national average disposal rate currently standing at 95%. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-vows-to-settle-score-with-hamas-for-killing-6-hostages The bodies of the six hostages were found in a tunnel near Rafah, with Netanyahu accusing Hamas of committing atrocities akin to those carried out in their October 7 attack on southern Israel, which ignited the current conflict. Israeli media reported that three of the recovered hostages, including US-Israeli citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, had been approved for release by Hamas in a potential truce deal that remains unfinalized despite ongoing mediation efforts. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-open-at-record-high Indian shares hit record highs just after the open Monday, tracking gains in regional peers after US economic data eased growth concerns, while investors await domestic quarterly growth data. https://opinionexpress.in/x-banned-in-brazil-after-disinformation-row Brazil's decision to block Elon Musk's social media platform, X, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The platform's refusal to comply with a court order to appoint a legal representative in Brazil led to the suspension. De Moraes accused Musk of disregarding Brazilian sovereignty and the judiciary, framing the platform's actions as a defiance of local laws and an encouragement of extremism and misinformation. https://opinionexpress.in/germany-braces-for-landmark-state-elections-as-far-right-afd-gains-ground Germany is set for pivotal state elections this Sunday in two eastern regions, Thuringia and Saxony, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised to make historic gains. Polls indicate the AfD is leading with 30% in Thuringia and running neck-and-neck with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) in Saxony, polling at 30-32%. A victory for the AfD would mark the first time since World War Two that a far-right party has won the most seats in a German state parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/idf-discovers-bodies-of-six-hostages-in-gaza-tunnel-brutally-murdered-by-hamas In a tragic revelation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced today the discovery of the bodies of six hostages in an underground tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. The victims, including dual citizens holding US-Israeli and Russian-Israeli nationalities, were identified as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino. These individuals were among the 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants during their brutal assault on southern Israel on October 7, which triggered the ongoing conflict. The IDF believes that the hostages were brutally murdered by Hamas just moments before Israeli forces reached them. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-calls-for-swift-justice-in-crimes-against-women Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the urgent need for swift justice in cases of crimes against women, highlighting that it would significantly enhance their sense of safety. Speaking at the inaugural session of a national conference for the district judiciary, held in the presence of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, PM Modi stressed that timely justice is crucial for reassuring half of the population. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-targets-kamala-harris-as-comrade-kamaala Throughout the rally, Trump accused Harris of being out of touch with mainstream American values, displaying clips of her advocating for policies like ending private health insurance and decriminalizing illegal border crossings. He also criticized her past comments on gun control and police funding, framing them as radical and dangerous. Trump emphasized that her father, Donald Harris, is a Marxist, painting her as ideologically aligned with far-left principles. https://opinionexpress.in/harris-declares-us-ready-for-post-trump-era In her first major interview since entering the November presidential race, Kamala Harris declared on Thursday that Americans are ready to move on from Donald Trump and seek a new direction for the country. Speaking on CNN, Harris, 59, aimed to position herself as a centrist, emphasizing her commitment to addressing illegal immigration and supporting oil and gas fracking while maintaining her liberal values. https://opinionexpress.in/the-spiritual-transformation-of-swami-vivekananda-in-gujarat On 12th January 2024, the world and India, in particular, commemorated the 161st  birth anniversary of our legendary scholar,  saint and spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda, famous the world over as the “Messenger of Indian Wisdom to the Western World”. Our Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, whose single greatest source of inspiration was Swamiji (and who by a strange co-incidence proudly bears the name of  Swamiji “Narendra”), tweeted, “Hundreds of salutes to Swami Vivekananda, who established Indian spirituality and culture on the global stage, on the occasion of his birth anniversary and National Youth Day. His thoughts and messages, full of energy and enthusiasm, will continue to inspire the youth to do something from time to time.” Significantly, during Modi’s maiden visit to the United States as the Prime Minister of India in September, 2014, the 44th American President Barack Obama presented  Modi a rare  1200 page book entitled “The World’s Congress of  Religions” documenting Swamiji’s historic speeches at the Parliament of World Religions at the Chicago Art Institute in 1893 with an accompanying note saying - “This gift celebrates Swami Vivekananda's valuable contribution as a bridge between India and US and honors our two nations' shared traditions of pluralism and diversity.” Modi,who had in the days of his youth abortively tried to become a monk at the Belur Math (the Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission in Howrah on the banks of the river Hoogly which was founded by Swamiji and where his mortal remains were consigned to flames on 4th July, 1904 in a sandalwood funeral pyre), subsequently tweeted on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 145th birth anniversary on 2nd October, 2014 that he would cherish the gift forever. Here, my mind is irresistibly drawn to Mahatma Gandhi’s historic visit to Belur Math on 12th January, 1921, on the occasion of Swamiji’s 58th birth anniversary,when he paid a most glorious tribute to Swamiji,“ I have come to pay my homage and respect to the revered memory of Swami Vivekananda, whose birthday is being celebrated today. I have gone through his works very thoroughly, and after having gone through them, the love that I had for my country became a thousand-fold.” https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-aims-to-globalize-upi-and-rupay-governor Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das announced on Wednesday that efforts are underway to make UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and RuPay "truly global" as part of the central bank's future priorities. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2024, Das highlighted key focus areas for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), including financial inclusion, strengthening digital public infrastructure (DPI), consumer protection, cybersecurity, sustainable finance, and the global integration of financial services. https://opinionexpress.in/president-murmu-tells-nation-to-wake-up-end-crimes-against-women President Droupadi Murmu, in a powerful and emotional appeal, has called on the nation to confront and end the growing scourge of crimes against women. Declaring "enough is enough," President Murmu urged India to challenge the deep-seated mindset that views women as inferior and to take definitive action against the objectification of women, which she believes is at the root of these heinous crimes. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-30-big-push-for-12-new-smart-cities-10-lakh-new-jobs The industrial smart cities will be strategically located in Khurpia (Uttarakhand), Rajpura-Patiala (Punjab), Dighi (Maharashtra), Palakkad (Kerala), Agra and Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Gaya (Bihar), Zaheerabad (Telangana), Orvakal and Kopparthy (Andhra Pradesh), and Jodhpur-Pali (Rajasthan). These locations have been selected to maximize regional industrial potential and integrate them into a robust network of industrial nodes. https://opinionexpress.in/protest-erupts-against-canadian-government-by-indian-students-over-deportation-fears Hundreds of Indian graduates in Canada are protesting against new federal policies that could lead to their deportation. These changes aim to cut permanent residency nominations by 25% and limit study permits, leaving over 70,000 student graduates in limbo. The students, who have been protesting for months in provinces like Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, fear they will be deported when their work permits expire this year. https://opinionexpress.in/top-us-diplomats-meets-nc-leader-omar-abdullah National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah has called for a reexamination of travel advisories affecting Jammu and Kashmir, urging a relaxation of restrictions to promote tourism in the union territory. Abdullah raised this issue during a meeting with U.S. diplomats at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-mounts-massive-drone-and-missile-attack-on-ukraine In one of the largest assaults in weeks, Russia launched a wide-ranging drone and missile barrage across Ukraine early Monday, targeting critical infrastructure and residential areas. The attacks, which began around midnight and continued through the morning, left at least three people dead and disrupted essential services, including power and water supplies in the capital, Kyiv. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-governor-building-a-stronger-smarter-financial-system-for-india Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das emphasized the central bank's ongoing efforts to strengthen the country's financial sector by leveraging digital public infrastructure (DPI) and emerging technologies. Speaking at the RBI@90 Global Conference on 'Digital Public Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies,' Das highlighted key initiatives, including the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). https://opinionexpress.in/india-can-push-peace-in-the-world-zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism about India’s potential role in global diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Speaking on Friday, Zelenskyy highlighted India’s significant influence on the global stage and suggested that the country's stance could be pivotal in bringing about peace. He noted that if India were to shift its attitude towards the war and Russia, it could prompt Russian President Vladimir Putin to reconsider his actions. https://opinionexpress.in/india-stands-for-peace-modi-calls-for-an-end-to-war-and-destruction Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a historic visit to Ukraine, reiterated India's firm stance on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through "dialogue and diplomacy." This visit marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Ukraine since it gained independence in 1991. Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted the significance of this visit, emphasizing India's readiness to contribute towards peace efforts in any possible way. https://opinionexpress.in/anil-ambani-and-associates-banned-from-securities-market-for-5-years-by-sebi Sebi imposed a penalty of ?25 crore on Ambani and prohibited him from holding any position in listed companies or intermediaries regulated by Sebi for five years. The market regulator also barred RHFL from the securities market for six months and imposed a fine of ?6 lakh on the company. The 222-page final order revealed that Ambani, leveraging his position as chairperson of the ADA Group, manipulated RHFL management to approve loans worth hundreds of crores to entities with little or no financial credibility. This fraudulent scheme led to significant defaults by RHFL, ultimately triggering the company resolution under the RBI Framework and causing substantial losses to public shareholders. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-accepts-presidential-nomination Harris expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden, praising his character and leadership. Biden, in turn, expressed pride in Harris, predicting that she and her running mate, Tim Walz, would inspire future generations. Harris also paid tribute to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, an immigrant from India who raised her in a working-class neighborhood in California, and her Jamaican father, Donald Jasper Harris, who instilled in her a fearless spirit. Harris's candidacy marks a historic moment, as she seeks to break the highest glass ceiling in the United States.  https://opinionexpress.in/unprecedented-case-in-30-years-says-chief-justice-in-trainee-doctors-murder-hearing During the proceedings, the Chief Justice made significant remarks regarding the conditions under which medical professionals operate, particularly in public hospitals. He emphasized the grueling working hours doctors often endure, noting that it leaves them physically and mentally exhausted. "We know that doctors work over 36 hours. The duty is almost 48 hours, then you are neither in a physical nor mental state to resist if somebody is teasing you," Chief Justice Chandrachud observed. He added, "I have slept on the floor of a government hospital when one of my family members was sick. We understand the conditions doctors face." https://opinionexpress.in/democratic-vp-pick-tim-walz-accepts-nomination The 2024 Democratic National Convention continues today with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the running mate of Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, set to deliver the keynote address. As the convention enters its third day, anticipation is high for Walz's speech, which is expected to highlight the Democratic vision for the future and Harris's leadership qualities. https://opinionexpress.in/india-wants-to-connect-with-everyone-modi PM Modi attributed these historic visits to a fundamental shift in India's foreign policy. "For decades, India's policy was to maintain distance from all countries," he said, subtly criticizing the Non-Aligned Movement of the 1970s. He highlighted that the current approach is vastly different: "Today's India wants to connect with everyone... Today's India is with everyone and thinks about everyone's benefit. Today, the world respects India as Vishwa Bandhu (friend to all)." https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-leaves-for-poland-ukraine Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making a historic visit to Poland today, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 45 years. This visit marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Poland, underscoring the deep-rooted ties between the two nations. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland was Morarji Desai in 1979. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-is-ready-to-be-president-yes-she-can-barack-obama At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered stirring speeches in support of Kamala Harris, who is on the verge of making history as the first Black and South Asian woman to secure a major party’s presidential nomination. https://opinionexpress.in/india-malaysia-upgrade-relations-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership India and Malaysia have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership following discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim. This marks a significant step forward in the diplomatic relationship between the two nations, highlighting a shared commitment to deepening cooperation across various sectors. https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-disney-merger-will-create-monopoly-cci India's Competition Commission (CCI) has raised concerns over the $8.5 billion merger between Reliance and Walt Disney’s media assets, fearing it could harm competition in the cricket broadcast market. The merger, which would create India’s largest entertainment company, is under scrutiny for potentially consolidating too much power over cricket broadcasting rights, a major revenue source given the sport's massive popularity in India. https://opinionexpress.in/lateral-entry-in-cs-attack-on-dalits-obcs-adivasis-rahul-gandhi Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has intensified his criticism of the BJP-led government's lateral entry policy, describing it as a direct attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. Gandhi accused the ruling party of attempting to undermine the reservation system, which he argued is vital for the representation of 'bahujans' in the administrative framework of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-recommendations-to-hospitals-on-safety-of-doctors The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate doctor in Kolkata, recognizing it as a systematic issue concerning the safety of healthcare professionals nationwide. The tragic incident, which occurred at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, has sparked widespread protests across the country. A civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime. https://opinionexpress.in/the-erosion-of-human-value-in-modern-india India, with its burgeoning population of over 140 crores is a ticking time bomb, faces a unique set of challenges, not least of which is the alarming devaluation of human life. As the country grapples with its immense size, the inherent worth of being human seems to have diminished. This indifference has crept into the fabric of our society, evident in the collective apathy towards the frequent and tragic loss of life, whether it be young soldiers martyred at the borders, innocent lives lost in road and railway accidents, or the relentless incidents of rape and murder of our children and women across the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-govt-invites-bids-to-empanel-ai-infra-providers-for-ai-mission The government has launched a bid invitation for the empanelment of entities to provide artificial intelligence (AI) services on the cloud as part of the Rs 10,372-crore India AI mission, approved by the cabinet earlier this year. The selected entities, which may include data centers and cloud service providers, will be tasked with offering high-speed AI computing infrastructure, such as GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), accelerators, and TPUs (Tensor Processing Units). This infrastructure will be accessible to academia, startups, researchers, and government bodies, all at the lowest rates determined through the competitive bidding process. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-has-brought-in-lot-of-hope-and-joy-into-this-election-harrison Harrison emphasized that Harris's presence in the race is crucial, especially when facing a candidate like Donald Trump, who, he argues, thrives on fear and division. He praised Harris's campaign as one of the most remarkable he has witnessed, highlighting its ability to bring people together. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-aspirational-block-program-a-global-perspective-on-rural-development India's ambitious Aspirational Block Program (ABP) marks a pivotal moment in the nation's journey towards inclusive growth. By targeting underdeveloped rural areas, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between India's thriving urban centers, upcoming 2nd and 3rd tier cities and its vast hinterlands. This comprehensive approach considers various factors including population density, economic conditions, natural resources, and infrastructure to catalyze development where it's needed most. https://opinionexpress.in/malaysian-pm-anwar-ibrahim-set-for-india-visit-regional-security-in-spotlight Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to visit India on August 19 and 20, with key discussions expected to focus on regional security, trade, investment, and technology cooperation. This will be Ibrahim’s first visit to India as Prime Minister, though he previously visited in 2019 as the leader of the ruling Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) party. https://opinionexpress.in/multilateral-institutions-fell-short-in-addressing-global-challenges-eam India reiterated its call for reforms in key multilateral institutions during the third India-hosted virtual Voice of the Global South Summit on Saturday, highlighting the need for these institutions to address the critical challenges facing the global order. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the foreign ministers' session, emphasized that multilateral organizations have failed to deliver solutions during times of crisis, due to their obsolescence and polarization. https://opinionexpress.in/governors-disturbing-non-bjp-ruled-states-mallikarjun-kharge Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday, Kharge noted that he had yet to review the specifics of the Governor’s decision, including the reasons cited for granting permission to prosecute Siddaramaiah. "I have neither seen it nor know the details of what the notice is about. I cannot say now whether the notice is right or wrong," he stated. However, Kharge suggested a broader issue, accusing BJP-appointed governors in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka of creating unnecessary challenges for non-BJP governments. https://opinionexpress.in/karnataka-cm-siddaramaiah-to-be-prosecuted-in-land-scam-case Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to face prosecution over alleged irregularities in site allocations by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has sanctioned the prosecution following petitions from activists Pradeep Kumar, T.J. Abraham, and Snehamayi Krishna, who accused Siddaramaiah of involvement in a multi-crore land scam. https://opinionexpress.in/extradition-of-tahawwur-rana-to-india-in-2611-mumbai-case-upheld-by-us-court Rana had argued that his extradition should be barred by the treaty’s Non Bis in Idem (double jeopardy) provision, which prevents extradition if the person has been tried for the same offense in the requesting state. However, the appellate panel concluded that this provision does not apply because the crimes charged by India contain distinct elements from those for which Rana was acquitted in the U.S. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-assures-safety-of-hindus-and-minorities-amid-ongoing-violence In the call, Professor Yunus reaffirmed his commitment to protecting minorities, especially in the wake of recent violence that has spread across Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. PM Modi, in his Independence Day address, expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing that 140 crore Indians are closely watching the developments in Bangladesh, hoping for a swift return to peace and normalcy. https://opinionexpress.in/india-celebrates-independence-day-with-enthusiasm The celebration was graced by the presence of Lt. Gen (Retd.) Shri Satish Dua Ji as the Chief Guest, and Senior Advocate Shri J P Sharma Ji as the Special Guest. Among other notable attendees were Shri Tej Singh Bundela, Editor of Shrestha Matribhoomi Magazine, the Principal of Secondary School Sangam Vihar, and Sadhvi Deepti Jain. All the distinguished guests expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the patriots who participated in the event, honoring the heroes who sacrificed for the nation's freedom. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-puts-earth-observation-satellite-into-orbit ISRO successfully placed two satellites, including an Earth observation satellite and the SR-O DEMOSAT, into their intended orbits today. The space agency's third and final developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D3) carried the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08. The launch occurred at 9:17 AM from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, approximately 135 km east of Chennai. https://opinionexpress.in/a-bond-of-courage-and-patriotism-between-netaji-and-the-sikhs On 8th September, 2022, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 28 feet tall statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, fashioned from a single jet black monolithic granite block weighing 280 tonnes by the celebrated Mysore-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj. The statue had been placed under the Gate Canopy facing India Gate at the end of ‘Kartavya Path’, formerly known as ‘Rajpath’ (designed by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, described by the well-known architectural historian Gavin Mark Stamp as ‘surely the greatest British architect of the twentieth (or of any other) century’, consequent upon the death of King George V, the first Windsor monarch and grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II, on 20th January, 1936), that had symbolically sheltered an imposing marble statue of the King, emblazoned with a flowing robe and complete with globus cruciger and sceptre, from the time of its inauguration on 14th November, 1939 that co-incidentally marked the 50th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. In a powerful speech choked with visible emotion, Modi paid a glowing tribute to Netaji, ‘Netaji Subhash was the first Prime Minister of Akhand Bharat who had liberated Andaman even before 1947 and unfurled the tricolour.If India followed the path of Subhash Babu after Independence, what heights would the country be at today? But unfortunately, this great hero of ours was forgotten after independence.’ https://opinionexpress.in/khamenei-threatens-divine-wrath-if-iran-yields-to-israel Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a stern warning against any form of retreat or compromise, framing it as inviting "divine wrath." His comments come amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, who was killed last month during an official visit to Tehran. https://opinionexpress.in/mahindra-thar-roxx-hits-the-market Mahindra has officially unveiled the highly anticipated Thar Roxx 5-door SUV, marking a significant evolution in the Thar lineup, four years after the launch of the new-generation Thar 3-door model. Set to be one of the most talked-about car launches of 2024, the Thar Roxx aims to captivate potential buyers with its rugged appeal, enhanced practicality, and a host of new features. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-prioritizes-ucc-tech-manufacturing-national-security-and-anti-corruption-drive In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a compelling case for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India, emphasizing that laws dividing the nation along religious lines have no place in modern society. He stated that the Supreme Court has consistently advocated for a UCC, highlighting the constitutional duty to fulfill this vision of the nation's founders. Modi called for widespread discussions, urging everyone to voice their opinions on creating a secular civil code, which he believes is crucial for eliminating religious discrimination. https://opinionexpress.in/goi-appoints-new-home-secretary-ed-director Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a 1984-batch IAS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has served as the Union Home Secretary since August 2019, making him one of the longest-serving individuals in this position. According to a senior official, Bhalla could not be granted another extension as his term had already been extended multiple times under amended rules by the Narendra Modi government. These rules allow for tenure extensions of key officials, including the Home Secretary, for up to five years. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gaurav-glide-bomb-hits-target-in-successful-sukhoi-fighter-jet-test India successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the long-range glide bomb (LRGB) 'Gaurav' from a Su-30 MK-I fighter jet of the Indian Air Force, marking a significant milestone in the nation's defense capabilities. The test was carried out off the coast of Odisha, with the bomb precisely hitting its target at Long Wheeler's Island, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-plea-in-sc-wants-sebi-to-probes-against-adani-group A new plea has been submitted to the Supreme Court, urging the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to expedite the completion of two pending investigations related to alleged stock price manipulation by the Adani Group. The petition, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, references the recent report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, which alleged that SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband held undisclosed stakes in offshore funds connected to the Adani Group’s purported money-laundering activities. https://opinionexpress.in/us-intelligence-iran-likely-to-strike-israel-within-days Iran or its proxies are "increasingly likely" to launch an attack on Israel within days, according to a White House warning based on intelligence. The attack could "happen as soon as this week," White House spokesperson John F. Kirby announced. This warning comes even as the Israeli military remains on "peak readiness" for a potential retaliatory strike. https://opinionexpress.in/students-forced-sheikh-hasina-to-resign-and-flee-yunus Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who recently took charge as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, has praised the students who led protests against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "There is no doubt... because of the student-led revolution the whole government collapsed," Yunus said after meeting with the student leaders on Sunday night. https://opinionexpress.in/us-to-expand-critical-partnership-with-india-white-house "We are eager to continue expanding this crucial partnership, which is immensely beneficial to the American people," Jean-Pierre remarked during her daily briefing. "Our focus remains on enhancing security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and globally as we move forward." https://opinionexpress.in/adani-stocks-nosedive-following-new-hindenburg-report All ten Adani Group stocks took a significant hit in early trading on Monday following allegations by U.S. short-seller Hindenburg Research. The report claimed that SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband had undisclosed investments in offshore funds linked to Bermuda and Mauritius, allegedly the same entities used by Vinod Adani, brother of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, to inflate stock prices. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-and-china-dominate-paris-olympics-sharing-gold-medal-lead India finished in 71st place, earning six medals—five bronze and one silver. https://opinionexpress.in/nda-likely-to-secure-majority-in-rajya-sabha-after-bypolls The BJP-led NDA is on the brink of securing a clear majority in the Rajya Sabha following the upcoming by-elections for 12 seats scheduled for September 3. This majority would bolster the BJP’s ability to pass key legislation, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistans-leadership-vow-to-protect-religious-freedoms-of-minorities As Bangladesh is facing turbulence, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership pledged on Sunday to uphold the rights and religious freedoms of minorities, urging society to foster interfaith harmony, love, tolerance, brotherhood, and unity. This commitment was emphasized on National Minorities Day, observed annually on August 11 to honor a landmark speech by Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in 1947, where he vowed to protect minority rights. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-trails-harris-by-narrow-margin-in-key-swing-states With three months left before the US Presidential election, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has taken a lead over Republican Donald Trump in key swing states—Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. According to polls conducted by the New York Times and Siena College from August 5 to 9, Harris leads Trump by four points, with 50% support to Trump’s 46% among 1,973 registered voters across these states. https://opinionexpress.in/large-hindus-protest-against-violence-in-bangladesh In Bangladesh, massive protests have erupted as lakhs of Hindus take to the streets to condemn ongoing violence against their community following the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India. The protests, concentrated in the capital Dhaka and the second-largest city, Chittagong, saw large crowds gathering on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/how-to-enhance-gut-health Maintaining good gut health is crucial for overall well-being, influencing everything from digestion and metabolism to immunity. Conversely, poor gut health can lead to various diseases. Understanding the causes of gut health deterioration is essential for prevention and improvement. Nutritionist Anjali Mukerjee recently shared an Instagram post outlining “How Good Gut Health Becomes Bad,” highlighting six pathways contributing to dysbiosis, an imbalance marked by the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-accuses-openai-of-choosing-profits-over-humanity Elon Musk filed a lawsuit on Monday against OpenAI and its founders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, accusing the ChatGPT-maker of betraying its founding mission of serving the public good in favor of profit-seeking. The lawsuit, submitted in a Northern California federal court, describes the case as a “textbook tale of altruism versus greed.” According to the complaint, Altman and others allegedly “intentionally courted and deceived Musk, exploiting his humanitarian concerns about the existential risks posed by artificial intelligence.” https://opinionexpress.in/irans-new-leader-faces-off-against-irgc-over-israel-strike-plans A standoff between Iran's newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian and hardliners in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has cast uncertainty over Iran's response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The Iranian government is reportedly divided on how to retaliate against Israel following the killing. https://opinionexpress.in/waqf-bill-to-be-referred-to-joint-parliamentary-panel The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has become the latest in a series of significant draft legislations to be referred to a joint committee of Parliament since 2015. Facing objections from various opposition parties regarding its provisions, the government decided on Thursday to send the Bill to a joint panel for further scrutiny. https://opinionexpress.in/neeraj-wins-silver-pakistans-nadeem-takes-gold-in-javelin-throw Grenada's Anderson Peters claimed the bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters. https://opinionexpress.in/awami-league-will-take-part-in-the-election-sajeeb Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return to her country when the new caretaker government decides to hold elections, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has stated. Hasina fled to India after weeks of violent protests led to her resignation. A caretaker government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, was sworn in to oversee the upcoming elections. https://opinionexpress.in/implications-for-indian-security-of-bangladesh-turmoil The political upheaval in Bangladesh, marked by the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the rise of radical elements, has created a security nightmare for India. This turmoil threatens to destabilize the region and has far-reaching implications for India's security, particularly in the eastern corridor. With Pakistan's instability and China's increasing influence, the situation is becoming increasingly complex. https://opinionexpress.in/hasina-devastated-by-chaos-in-bangladesh-saima-wazed Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's daughter expressed her heartbreak over not being able to see and hug her mother amid the turmoil in Bangladesh. "Heartbroken with the loss of life in my country Bangladesh that I love. So heartbroken that I cannot see and hug my mother during this difficult time. I remain committed to my role as RD," Saima Wazed, the Regional Director for South-East Asia at the World Health Organisation (WHO), wrote on X (formerly Twitter). https://opinionexpress.in/the-ripple-effect-how-bangladeshs-crisis-threatens-indias-stability While Bangladesh struggles with unheard-of political unrest, India is on the verge of a situation that may completely alter its eastern border. Not only are the current events in our neighboring country internal issues, but they also foreshadow greater repercussions that may shake the subcontinent as a whole. What impact will this chaos in Bangladesh have on India, and why should this worry us? https://opinionexpress.in/harris-selects-governor-walz-as-vice-presidential-running-mate Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming presidential elections, lauding him as a champion of working families. Harris, aiming to secure votes from the rust belt and key battleground states, praised Walz's deep commitment to middle-class families, citing his background as a governor, coach, teacher, and veteran. Harris, the first Indian-American to win the Democratic nomination, will face Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump on November 5. https://opinionexpress.in/nobel-laureate-muhammad-yunus-to-lead-bangladeshs-interim-government Student leaders whose protest campaign led to Hasina's ouster met with Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman and President Mohammed Shahabuddin, and the decision was made to form an interim government with Yunus as its chief, the President's office announced. The Bangladeshi Army has reshuffled several generals, demoting those seen as close to Hasina, and sacked Ziaul Ahsan, a commander of the feared Rapid Action Battalion paramilitary force. Former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, 78, was also released from years of house arrest. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-reclaims-upward-trend Equity market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded sharply in early trade on Tuesday, recovering from a severe drop in the previous session, influenced by a strong recovery in Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/political-shift-in-bangladesh-hasina-flees-zia-released A statement from the president's press team announced that a meeting led by Shahabuddin "decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately." The meeting was attended by Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the navy and air force, and top leaders from various opposition parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. https://opinionexpress.in/interim-government-in-bangladesh-to-be-announced-today The Bangladeshi parliament is set to be dissolved today, following the resignation and departure of Sheikh Hasina, as well as the military's takeover amid widespread protests. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-army-ousts-sheikh-hasina-amid-violent-protests Sheikh Hasina has resigned as Bangladesh's Prime Minister, prompting the Army to take control amid violent protests demanding her departure. Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the Army would form an interim government and urged protesters to maintain peace. "The country is in crisis," he said. "I have met with Opposition leaders, and we have decided to form an interim government. I take full responsibility and promise to protect your lives and property. Your demands will be met. Please support us and end the violence. Together, we can find a proper solution. Violence will achieve nothing." https://opinionexpress.in/uk-braces-for-anti-immigration-protests UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned far-right protesters on Sunday that they would "regret" their involvement in England's worst rioting in 13 years, which erupted following the murder of three children earlier this week. Masked anti-immigration demonstrators vandalized a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-burns-98-killed-in-fresh-violence Nearly 100 people were killed yesterday when thousands of Bangladeshi protesters clashed with ruling party supporters, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. The violence-hit nation braces for more protests today. Dozens were injured during the fierce clashes, marking one of the deadliest days since the demonstrations began. With 98 fatalities recorded yesterday, the death toll since the protests started in July has reached approximately 300. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-stock-market-tanks Indian markets faced a severe downturn today amid a global selloff, with the Nifty and Sensex both experiencing significant losses during early trading. The Sensex plummeted by 1,500 points to reach 78,580.46, while the Nifty dropped 489.65 points to 24,228.05. https://opinionexpress.in/actor-sana-makbul-wins-big-boss-ott-3 The season, which began on June 21, saw rapper Naezy as the first runner-up, while actor Ranvir Shorey finished third. TV actor Sai Ketan Rao, known for "Mehndi Hai Rachne Wali," placed fourth, and YouTuber Kritika, famous for being the second wife of contestant Armaan Malik, took fifth place. https://opinionexpress.in/middle-east-on-high-alert-as-regional-conflict-intensifies The killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, hours after the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut, has intensified calls for revenge. Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces since October, claiming support for Hamas. The group announced it had fired dozens of Katyusha rockets at the northern Israeli settlement of Beit Hillel, while Iran expects Hezbollah to hit deeper inside Israel, beyond military targets. https://opinionexpress.in/cji-chandrachud-overburdened-courts-drive-public-to-prefer-settlements Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud highlighted the role of Lok Adalats as alternative dispute redressal mechanisms, emphasizing that people often seek settlements due to their frustration with prolonged court matters. Lok Adalats amicably settle disputes and cases pending in courts or at the pre-litigation stage, with no appeal allowed against mutually accepted settlements. https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-racial-attacks-on-kamala-harris-spark-controversy As the US Presidential election enters its final stretch, both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are actively seeking voter support. Harris, emphasizing her background as a prosecutor, has highlighted her intent to hold the former president accountable for his alleged crimes. Meanwhile, Trump has made racially insensitive comments regarding Harris's heritage, questioning whether she identifies as "Indian or Black." https://opinionexpress.in/us-deploys-warships-and-fighter-jets-as-iran-vows-retaliation-against-israel The United States is increasing its military presence in the Middle East, deploying additional warships and fighter jets to protect US personnel and defend Israel amid rising regional tensions, the Pentagon announced Friday. This move follows threats of retaliation from Iran and its allies after the assassinations of a Hamas leader in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Beirut, raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/tension-in-middle-east-sends-ripples-across-the-globe Tensions have escalated in the Middle East after Iran and its allied groups vowed revenge for the recent killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Israel's assassination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut on Tuesday was a retaliation for the deadly rocket fire on the annexed Golan Heights last week. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-on-global-clues In the US, all three major indices ended lower, with the Nasdaq Composite suffering the most, dropping 2.3%. Initially, US equities had opened higher after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted at a possible interest rate cut in September, the first in four years. However, markets fell after the July manufacturing index, at 46.8%, failed to meet analyst expectations. https://opinionexpress.in/intel-to-slash-15-percent-workforce US chip maker Intel announced Thursday it will reduce its workforce by more than 15 percent as part of a plan to streamline operations. This move is part of Intel's strategy to cut approximately $20 billion in expenses this year, following a reported loss of $1.6 billion in the recent quarter. https://opinionexpress.in/irans-supreme-leader-commands-strike-on-israel-after-hamas-chiefs-death Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered a direct strike on Israel following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, as reported by the New York Times. The order was given during an emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council shortly after Haniyeh's death was announced. Iran and Hamas accuse Israel of the assassination, though Israel has not confirmed or denied its involvement. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-advocates-for-creamy-layer-policy-in-scst-communities In a landmark judgment, Justice BR Gavai, set to become the second Dalit Chief Justice of India, emphasized the need for sub-classification within Scheduled Castes and Tribes to ensure reservations benefit the most marginalized. Justice Gavai, who hails from the Dalit community, called for a policy to identify and exclude the creamy layer from affirmative action, noting that privileged individuals within these communities are monopolizing quota benefits, depriving the majority. https://opinionexpress.in/is-the-right-retreating-globally 2024 has been labelled an “historic” year for democracy, with more people going to the polls than ever in history. As forecasted, several alterations in the global political landscape are unfolding in the current year. The most easily perceptible, according to some, is the fall in the vote share, and derivatively the popularity, of the rightist groups: the BJP lost a majority in India, Conservatives in the UK were ousted from office, and collective action by the Left flank stopped La Pen’s rightist party from forming a government in France. Interestingly, pundits and commentators wasted no time in announcing the global retreat of the right wing. https://opinionexpress.in/munshi-premchand-why-his-stories-matter-more-than-ever A Revolutionary is Born https://opinionexpress.in/from-peaceful-protest-to-violent-unrest-analyzing-bangladeshs-recent-turmoil In recent times, Bangladesh has experienced a period of significant turmoil due to the quota movement, which has evolved from a peaceful protest into a violent upheaval. This unprecedented wave of violence has destroyed national assets worth billions of taka and has victimized young, impressionable students. The intensity and nature of these events have led some to question whether an attempt was made to orchestrate a situation in Bangladesh similar to the Arab Spring. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-encourages-indian-industry-to-seize-moment-amid-global-investor-interest Speaking at a CII post-Budget conference on 'Journey Towards Viksit Bharat', Modi emphasized that his government does not lack political will and will prioritize a 'nation first' approach in all decisions. He noted that India is currently growing at 8 percent, predicting that the country will soon become the third-largest economy globally, up from its current fifth position. Modi expressed confidence that this milestone will be achieved during his ongoing third term. https://opinionexpress.in/manu-bhaker-shines-with-historic-double-medal-win-at-olympics Earlier, Bhaker, 22, won bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event, overcoming the disappointment of her Tokyo 2020 debut. Before her, British-Indian Norman Pritchard had won two silver medals in 1900, pre-Independence. https://opinionexpress.in/rains-floods-landslides-devastates-kerala At least 143 people have died and about 186 others were injured after a series of landslides hit Kerala's Wayanad district amid heavy rain yesterday. https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-chief-ismail-haniyeh-killed-in-iran Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in of Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The group's statement read, "Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) president." https://opinionexpress.in/indias-most-sophisticated-nuclear-reactor-poised-for-launch India's atomic energy program has achieved a major milestone with the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, receiving approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to begin loading nuclear fuel and initiate a controlled chain reaction. Dinesh Kumar Shukla, Chairman of the AERB, hailed the PFBR as an inherently safe reactor and a significant step in India's self-reliant atomic energy program. This development marks the use of plutonium as a nuclear fuel and the initial steps towards utilizing thorium. With limited uranium reserves but abundant thorium, India is advancing complex technology to harness thorium, potentially ensuring energy independence for over three centuries. https://opinionexpress.in/ayodhya-revisited-unveiling-a-unique-historical-perspective-on-lord-rama The ancient city of Ayodhya (meaning ‘unconquerable’) nestled in the heart of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh  is believed to be the birthplace of  Lord Rama, revered as the seventh ‘Avatar’  of  Lord Vishnu (the preserver and protector  of the universe in the Hindu ‘Trimurti’ or Trinity), and the setting of the timeless Indian epic Ramayana by the ‘Adi Kavi’ or Primeval Poet Valmiki which describes Lord Rama as the ‘most ideal’. Ayodhya has been regarded as one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites (‘Saptapuri’) for Hindus. In a lecture delivered at the Shakespeare Club, Pasadena, California (the first women’s club in Southern California established in 1888), on 31st January 1900, the legendary scholar, saint and spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda accorded a summarized story of the Ramayana and observed, ‘There was an ancient Indian town called Ayodhya – and it exists even in modern times…There, in ancient times, reigned a king called Dasharatha. He had three queens, but the king had not any children by them. And like good Hindus, the king and the queens, all went on pilgrimages fasting and praying, that they might have children and, in good time, four sons were born. The eldest of them was Rama.’ In yet another lecture on 11th February,1897 on ‘Sages of India’ at the iconic ‘Castle Kernan’ (where ice, wrapped in pine dust and imported by sea from the United States, used to be stored!) which is now known as ‘Vivekanandar Illam’ or Vivekananda House, on the famous Marina Beach in Chennai, Swami ji said, ‘Rama, the ancient idol of the heroic ages, the embodiment of truth, morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, the ideal father and above all the ideal king, this Rama has been presented before us by the great sage Valmiki. No language can be purer, none chaste, none more beautiful and at the same time simpler, than the language in which the poet has depicted the life of Rama.’  https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-announces-plans-to-reform-us-supreme-court Biden also proposes term limits for Supreme Court justices, who currently serve for life, following controversial rulings such as the repeal of the nationwide right to abortion. He plans to further unveil the reforms in a speech in Austin, Texas. These plans, confirmed during an Oval Office address last week, face significant challenges in a deeply divided Congress. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-criticizes-bjps-budget-claims-india-is-trapped-in-a-chakravyuh Nirmala Sitharaman's facepalm moment in the Lok Sabha has gone viral. The incident occurred when Rahul Gandhi criticized the traditional pre-Budget 'Halwa' ceremony for its lack of diversity, pointing out the absence of Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Adivasis in the preparation process. Gandhi highlighted that out of the 20 officers involved in preparing the budget, only one belonged to a minority community and one to the OBC category. He claimed that 73% of India's population was not represented. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-and-hezbollah-edge-closer-to-full-scale-conflict Israel has attacked Hezbollah targets and threatened further retaliation for a rocket strike that killed 12 people. This comes amidst signals of Israel's openness to a proposed Gaza truce, which might also ease tensions on the Lebanese front. The deadly incident in Golan Heights on Saturday marked the worst single-incident of civilian losses for Israel since Hamas's assault on October 7, which saw Hamas storming Israeli villages and army bases. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-30-president-appoints-new-governors-reshuffles-others President Droupadi Murmu accepted Purohit's resignation as Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh. Anusuiya Uikye, who has been serving as the Governor of Manipur since February last year, will be succeeded by Acharya in this additional role. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-seeks-christian-support-promises-to-fix-everything At a Florida event organized by the conservative group Turning Point Action, Republican nominee Donald Trump assured Christians that if they vote for him in the upcoming November presidential elections, he will fix everything so effectively that they won't need to vote again. "Christians, you have to get out and vote. You won't have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what, it will be fixed, it will be fine. You won't have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you, Christians. I'm a Christian. I love you, get out, you gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don't have to vote again, we'll have it fixed so good you're not going to have to vote," Trump said. https://opinionexpress.in/paris-2024-olympics-kick-off-with-memorable-opening-ceremony The ceremony featured Canadian singer Celine Dion's triumphant comeback. Battling a rare illness, Dion delivered a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf's "Hymn to Love" from the Eiffel Tower's summit. Her performance coincided with the cauldron lighting by France's most decorated track athlete, Marie-Jose Perec, and three-time Olympic gold judoka, Teddy Riner, which soared into the Paris sky in a balloon. This emotional return followed Dion's announcement in December 2022 about her diagnosis with Stiff Person Syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disorder, marking a significant moment of resilience and inspiration. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-pm-likely-to-visit-ukraine-in-next-month Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kyiv next month for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, sources have said. This follows a meeting between PM Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy, where the two leaders shared a hug. https://opinionexpress.in/barack-and-michelle-obama-back-kamala-harriss-presidential-campaign Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle endorsed Kamala Harris's presidential bid on Friday through a one-minute video capturing a private phone call between the couple and the current vice president. “We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama told Harris. https://opinionexpress.in/france-rail-network-hit-by-malicious-bug SNCF stated the attacks aimed to "paralyze the TGV network," resulting in numerous route cancellations. The Atlantic, northern, and eastern lines were severely disrupted, while the southeastern line escaped damage due to a foiled attempt. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-pakistan-fails-to-heed-lessons-from-kargil-missteps Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying a tribute to soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil War, said that Pakistan has not learnt anything from the loss and continues to harbour terrorists.  "Pakistan faced defeat whenever it has carried out any misadventure. It has not learned any lessons from history," PM Modi said at the Kargil War memorial. https://opinionexpress.in/respect-for-lac-key-to-stabilizing-india-china-relations-jaishankar Jaishankar highlighted the importance of the border situation reflecting the overall state of bilateral relations. He stated on X, "Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Vientiane today. Continued our ongoing discussions about our bilateral relationship. The state of the border will necessarily be reflected on the state of our ties." https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-tumble-in-trade-weak-global-peers Equity market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Thursday, continuing to decline for the fifth day running, dragged by Axis Bank and overall bearish global market trends. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-addresses-congress-amidst-demonstrations-on-capitol-hill Massive protests erupted in the US as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began speaking to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. Over 5,000 protesters gathered near Capitol Hill, waving Palestinian flags and urging the US to stop arming Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistanis-have-polluted-canada-chandra-arya Chandra Arya, a prominent Canadian MP of Indian origin, voiced concerns on Wednesday about Khalistani extremists "polluting" the country by "abusing" the freedoms provided under the Charter of Rights. This statement follows the recent vandalism of a Hindu temple in Edmonton amidst rising Hinduphobia in Canada. The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was defaced with alleged hateful and anti-India graffiti on Monday morning in Edmonton, Alberta, approximately 3,400 km from Ottawa. https://opinionexpress.in/plane-with-19-on-board-crashes-at-kathmandu-airport Eighteen of the 19 bodies on board a Kathmandu flight were recovered after the plane crashed at a Nepal airport on Wednesday, according to the country’s civil aviation authority. The flight, bound for Pokhara, included two crew members and 17 Saurya Airlines staff. Around 11 am, the plane caught fire, as confirmed by Nepali police spokesman Dan Bahadur Karki to AFP. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-leads-trump-in-new-usa-poll Vice President Kamala Harris is narrowly leading rival Donald Trump in a national presidential poll released Tuesday, one of the first since President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign. The Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Harris with a two-point lead over Trump, 44 percent to 42 percent. This poll was conducted over two days following Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he was dropping out of the race and endorsing his vice president. https://opinionexpress.in/india-blocs-to-stage-big-protest-against-budget-2024-in-parliament KC Venugopal voiced the collective sentiment of the INDIA bloc following the meeting, stating, "The concept of a budget has already been destroyed by this year's Union Budget. They have completely discriminated against most of the states. So, the general sentiment of the INDIA bloc meeting was we have to protest against this." Venugopal later took to social media, describing the budget as "extremely discriminatory and dangerous," arguing that it goes against the principles of federalism and fairness. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-dip-on-securities-transaction-tax-hike-concerns In early trade on Wednesday, stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty extended their Budget day losses, following the government's proposal to increase the securities transaction tax on futures and options. This proposal, coupled with foreign fund outflows and a negative trend in global markets, adversely affected the domestic markets. https://opinionexpress.in/us-secret-service-director-quits Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday, a day after admitting the agency's failure to prevent an assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Cheatle faced bipartisan calls to step down following the July 13 attack at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a 20-year-old gunman wounded the former president and current White House candidate. https://opinionexpress.in/union-budget-2024-25-a-blueprint-for-rural-growth-employment-skills-and-infrastructure Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to create history by presenting her seventh consecutive budget on Tuesday for 2024-25, surpassing former prime minister Morarji Desai's record. This budget, the first of the Modi government's third term, is anticipated to emphasize post-pandemic fiscal consolidation while pursuing long-term goals under the banner of Vikshit Bharat. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-wins-support-within-democractic-party-for-prez-2024-battle US Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Tuesday that she has garnered the necessary support to become the Democratic presidential nominee, following President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the re-election race two days earlier. Biden, who had been seeking a rematch against Republican candidate Donald Trump in the upcoming November 5 elections, cited health concerns for his withdrawal and pledged to support Harris. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-30-budget-to-be-presented-today Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her seventh consecutive Budget, which aims to chart a course towards a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 and review the past decade's performance. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-growth-to-hit-7-securing-fastest-growing-economy-status-economic-survey India's GDP is projected to grow between 6.5% and 7% in the current fiscal year despite global challenges that may impact exports, according to the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled in Parliament on Monday. This forecast is lower than the 8.2% growth estimated for the previous financial year. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-no-to-bihars-special-status-demand Special Category Status was granted by the National Development Council (NDC) based on criteria like hilly terrain, low population density, strategic location, economic and infrastructural backwardness, and non-viable state finances. Bihar's request for this status was reviewed by an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) in 2012, which found that Bihar did not meet the NDC criteria. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-30-first-economic-survey-to-be-tabled-in-parliament-today The Union government will present the Economic Survey 2023-24 in both houses of Parliament today. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table this pre-budget document, a day before the full Budget presentation for 2024-25. The Economic Survey will be presented in the Lok Sabha at 1 pm and in the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm, followed by a press conference by Chief Economic Adviser Anantha Nageswaran. https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-withdraws-from-presidential-race-endorses-kamala-harris Joe Biden has withdrawn from the US presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's new nominee, shaking up the 2024 race for the White House. Biden, 81, cited the "best interest of my party and the country" after a disastrous June debate against Donald Trump raised concerns about his age and mental fitness. https://opinionexpress.in/global-microsoft-outage-spares-chinas-key-sectors Microsoft's global outage created havoc on Friday, affecting industries from airlines to broadcasting and bringing daily operations to a standstill. However, China remained largely unaffected by the disruption. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the country's airline and banking sectors were not impacted due to the tech glitch, as China relies on its own infrastructure to support daily operations. Chinese state media also reported that operations at Beijing airports were unaffected. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-strike-on-yemen-port-escalate-tensions-in-middle-east Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning to anyone "doubting" Israel after Israeli warplanes killed three people in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port of Hodeida. The strikes on the key port are Israel's first in the Arabian peninsula's poorest country and were in "direct response" to Iran-backed rebels' drone attack in Tel Aviv on Friday, which killed an Israeli civilian. https://opinionexpress.in/the-roxx-mahindra-thar-5-door-revealed The Mahindra Thar 5-door will be named the Mahindra Thar Roxx and is set to debut on August 15th, marking four years since the current generation Thar was introduced on the same date. The company also released a teaser video providing a glimpse of the Thar Roxx. This new model features the addition of two doors, increased length, and a longer wheelbase, along with subtle design updates, including new circular headlights and a redesigned grille. Despite these changes, the Thar Roxx unmistakably belongs to the 'Thar' family. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-aviation-systems-across-airports-working-normally-minister Airline systems impacted by a global IT outage on Friday have started functioning normally, and all issues are expected to be resolved by noon on Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said. The ministry is actively monitoring airport and airline operations to ensure travel readjustments and refunds are managed effectively. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-under-curfew-military-steps-in-after-violent-clashes-kill-105 Bangladesh imposed a curfew and deployed military forces after police failed to quell days of deadly unrest that have claimed at least 105 lives, according to AFP-reported hospital counts. The clashes between student demonstrators and police present a significant challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government after 15 years in power. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-pm-netanyahu-condemns-world-courts-palestine-order Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling that deemed Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, labeling it a "decision of lies." Netanyahu's condemnation was echoed by conservative, far-right, and centrist Israeli politicians. https://opinionexpress.in/obama-reportedly-pushes-biden-to-step-back-from-presidential-bid According to a report from the Washington Post on Thursday, former US President Barack Obama has reportedly advised allies that President Joe Biden should reconsider his reelection bid. Citing sources briefed on Obama's perspective, the newspaper indicated that Obama believes Biden's chances of winning have diminished, suggesting Biden should "seriously consider the viability of his candidacy." https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-faces-unrest-as-students-challenge-government-policies In Bangladesh, escalating protests over civil service hiring rules have led to widespread violence, resulting in at least 32 deaths. The unrest intensified after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's appearance on state broadcaster BTV failed to quell tensions. Protesters, demanding reforms, clashed with riot police, overwhelming them and setting fire to BTV's headquarters in Dhaka. Despite initial reports of people trapped, all were evacuated safely. https://opinionexpress.in/sky-to-lead-in-t20is-gill-named-vice-captain-for-sl-tour India vs Sri Lanka Squad Announcement Highlights: Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed to lead the Indian team in T20Is against Sri Lanka, with Shubman Gill named as his deputy for the three-match series. In the ODI squad against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been included, with Sharma captaining the side. Gill is also the vice-captain in the ODI series. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for the series. https://opinionexpress.in/bhagwat-confident-in-indias-future-due-to-collective-efforts RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, addressing a village-level workers' meeting organized by the non-profit Vikas Bharti, expressed confidence in India's future, attributing his optimism to the collective efforts of many working for the country's betterment. He emphasized that with so many dedicated individuals striving for progress, positive results are inevitable. https://opinionexpress.in/kiran-mazumdar-shaw-opposes-karnatakas-job-quota-bill All major industry associations, and leaders of private industry including Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon, have voiced opposition to reserving private jobs for local hires in Karnataka, home to India's tech hub Bengaluru. On her official X account, she argued that highly skilled recruitment should be exempt from the state's mandate for reserving jobs for Kannadigas in private firms. She emphasized that such reservations should not jeopardize Karnataka's leading position in technology. https://opinionexpress.in/usha-vance-from-lawyer-to-potential-second-lady-of-usa Indian-American lawyer Usha Chilukuri Vance has emerged into the national spotlight after her husband, JD Vance, was selected by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as his running mate. If Trump and Vance win the November 5 general elections against incumbent President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Usha, 38, would become the first Indian American second lady. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-pm-likely-to-address-high-level-unga-session-on-sep-26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the high-level UN General Assembly session on September 26, according to a provisional list of speakers issued by the UN. The General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly will occur from September 24-30. https://opinionexpress.in/jd-vance-calls-uk-truly-islamist-state-with-nuclear-weapons These remarks were made at a conference for UK Conservatives last week. In response, Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner downplayed Vance's comments, labeling them as typical of his history of making "fruity" remarks. Rayner emphasized that Britain would work with whoever wins the upcoming US presidential election, stating, "I don't recognize that characterization. We're interested in governing on behalf of Britain and also working with our international allies." https://opinionexpress.in/zen-tech-launches-made-in-india-ai-powered-robot-for-global-market Among the new offerings is Prahasta, an AI-powered robotic quadruped that utilizes LiDAR (light detection and ranging) and reinforcement learning to generate real-time 3D terrain maps. This technology enhances mission planning, navigation, and threat assessment capabilities. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-gets-first-judge-from-manipur Justices Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh and R Mahadevan were elevated to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, bringing the court back to its sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice. https://opinionexpress.in/four-soldiers-including-major-martyred-in-jk-terrorist-battle The operation commenced around 9 pm when the security forces made contact with the terrorists, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire. The Army posted on X late Monday night, "Contact with terrorists was established at about 9 pm in which heavy firefight ensued. Initial reports suggest injuries to our bravehearts." https://opinionexpress.in/trump-nominated-republican-nominee-picks-j-d-vance-as-running-mate Donald Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination and named Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, launching a triumphant convention in Milwaukee. Trump praised Vance, a former critic turned loyal supporter, on Truth Social, highlighting his commitment to the Constitution and the military. https://opinionexpress.in/nda-now-12-below-majority-mark-in-rajya-sabha With the NDA needing 13 additional votes to pass bills, they will rely on non-aligned parties. The YSR Congress Party (11) and AIADMK (4) are potential allies, despite AIADMK's recent split from the BJP. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) with nine MPs has also distanced itself. There are 12 nominated members who typically support the ruling party. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-and-americas-gun-culture-are-under-attack During a rally on Saturday, former US President Donald Trump narrowly avoided a potentially dangerous situation. He narrowly avoided a gunshot, which grazed his ear, causing injury. It's disheartening to witness such acts of violence, whether in the US or anywhere else. It is important to always seek peaceful resolutions when faced with conflicts. https://opinionexpress.in/unlocking-human-health-secrets-through-fruit-flies Komal Kumar, a PhD candidate in biological sciences at Michigan Technological University, working under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Werner, has made a remarkable discovery: three genes that are responsible for cancer and disease in humans also dictate the spot patterns on fruit flies. This breakthrough paves the way for exploring these genes in fruit flies, potentially offering new insights into treating human diseases. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-aims-to-boost-reelection-effort-after-attempt-on-trumps-life President Joe Biden had just started to gain momentum in his reelection campaign when the attempt on Donald Trump’s life disrupted his strategy of focusing on his opponent's actions and second-term plans. Facing doubts about his mental fitness and calls to step aside, Biden delivered a vigorous speech in Detroit on Friday, promising to "shine a spotlight" on Trump. However, about 24 hours later and less than 200 miles away, shots were fired at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, highlighting an era of radicalized views and heated rhetoric in American politics. https://opinionexpress.in/spain-beat-england-2-1-to-clinch-record-4th-euros-title Spain took the lead early in the second half with a goal from Nico Williams. However, England fought back with substitute Cole Palmer equalizing for the Three Lions. As the match approached its conclusion, England nearly snatched another equalizer. Marc Guehi’s effort was on target, but Spain's Dani Olmo made a crucial defensive play, heading the ball off the line to preserve the lead and ensure Spain's victory. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-escapes-assassination-attempt-stays-committed-to-presidential-bid In an official statement quoted by NBC and CBS, the FBI said, "The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania." Initially, law enforcement officials had tentatively identified the shooter but had not released the information publicly, and the motive remains unknown. https://opinionexpress.in/india-bloc-8-ndabjp-2-in-key-polls-across-7-state-elections The Opposition INDIA alliance, which fiercely contested the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, has triumphed in the by-elections for 13 Assembly seats across seven states. The INDIA bloc secured eight seats and is leading in two others. In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won a record third term in the Lok Sabha polls, managed to claim just two seats. https://opinionexpress.in/home-ministry-boosts-powers-of-lt-governor-in-jk In a significant move, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, enhancing some powers of the Lieutenant Governor of the erstwhile state. President Droupadi Murmu has approved these amendments, exercising powers conferred by section 55 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, read with the Proclamation dated October 31, 2019, issued under section 73 of the Act, according to a notification by the MHA. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-ed-adhere-to-law-not-discretion-in-arrests The Supreme Court stated on Friday that arrests under the anti-money laundering law cannot be made at the discretion of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to an excise policy scam, emphasized that undue latitude to the ED undermines constitutional values. https://opinionexpress.in/r-g-rajan-recognized-with-prestigious-u-s-awasthi-iffco-award-for-fertilizer-development Beyond his leadership roles, Shri Rajan is an accomplished author, having written the highly acclaimed book "Life Lessons For Managers." He also contributes regularly to various national magazines and newspapers, offering insights on various management issues through his monthly column. His extensive experience and contributions to the fertilizer industry and management literature have made him a respected figure in both fields.  https://opinionexpress.in/indias-population-peak-in-2060s-signals-future-challenges India, having surpassed China as the world's most populous nation last year, will retain this status through 2100. The UN report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Population Division, predicts India's population will peak at 1.69 billion in 2054 and then decline to 1.5 billion by 2100. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-relief-to-arvind-kejriwal-in-liquorgate The Supreme Court has granted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal bail in a money-laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy, filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Despite the interim bail, Mr. Kejriwal will remain in jail as he is also being questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a separate case. The judgment was delivered by a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, noting Mr. Kejriwal's over 90-day incarceration. https://opinionexpress.in/amid-pressure-biden-stands-firm-on-2024-election-run Biden expressed his determination in a letter to Congress and a rare call to a television program, starting a crucial week that includes a NATO summit in Washington, where he will face increased scrutiny. "I am firmly committed to staying in the race," Biden wrote. "It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump. It's time for it to end." https://opinionexpress.in/indian-american-support-for-biden-declines-by-sharp-19-per-cent A recent bi-annual Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS) reveals a significant 19-per cent decline in support for incumbent President Joe Biden among Indian Americans between the 2020 and 2024 election cycles. Conducted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), AAPI Data, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), and AARP, the survey indicates that only 46 per cent of Indian Americans plan to vote for Biden this year, compared to 65 per cent in 2020. This decline is the largest among all Asian-American ethnic communities. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-arrives-in-austria On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi will meet with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The two leaders will also address business leaders from India and Austria, exploring opportunities for increased economic collaboration. https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-gambhir-appointed-indian-cricket-team-new-head-coach Gautam Gambhir will be the next head coach of the Indian cricket team, as confirmed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah on social media. The former India cricketer will take over from Rahul Dravid, whose tenure concluded after the T20 World Cup 2024. "It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Mr. @GautamGambhir as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Modern-day cricket has evolved rapidly, and Gautam has witnessed this changing landscape up close. https://opinionexpress.in/ukrainian-president-calls-modi-putin-meeting-a-blow-to-peace-efforts Zelenskyy's tweet included photographs of the bombed hospital and babies in ambulances, highlighting the devastating impact of the strike. His post came shortly after Prime Minister Modi met President Putin in Moscow, where visuals showed the two leaders sharing an embrace, drinking tea on a terrace at Putin's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, and being driven around in a golf cart. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-vows-to-stand-by-northeast-communities He expressed deep sorrow over the devastation, including the tragic death of 8-year-old Avinash in Guwahati, and extended condolences to affected families. Gandhi highlighted the displacement of over 24 lakh people and criticized the BJP government for mismanaging flood relief despite promises of a flood-free Assam. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-war-in-focus-as-modi-meets-putin-in-moscow Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day official visit to Russia, engaged in an informal meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the latter's official residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow. https://opinionexpress.in/why-is-wb-state-interested-in-protecting-an-individual-sc The Supreme Court has ruled that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will continue investigating sexual assault and land-grabbing charges against Sandeshkhali strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides. The West Bengal government's challenge to this probe was dismissed on Monday by a bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, who questioned why the state was interested in protecting an individual. https://opinionexpress.in/nato-summit-to-show-strong-support-for-ukraine The NATO summit hosted by US President Joe Biden this week is set to demonstrate strong support for Ukraine and announce significant new military, political, and financial aid for the country, according to administration officials. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-asserts-only-lord-almighty-can-drive-him-out-of-presidential-race US President Joe Biden has dismissed concerns about his health and his re-election bid in November, attributing a poor debate performance to a "bad episode." In a Friday television interview, Biden, 81, insisted only “the Lord almighty” could persuade him to exit the race. https://opinionexpress.in/law-commission-was-bypassed-in-framing-the-new-criminal-laws-chidambaram Speaking at a DMK advocate wing protest against the new laws, Chidambaram said, "The laws were not referred to the Law Commission nor was it consulted. This is wrong." He also criticized the inclusion of solitary confinement as a punishment, calling it unusual and cruel as per the Constitution, and noting that it has been abolished worldwide. Additionally, he questioned the need for both life sentences and life sentences for the remainder of one’s life, asking, "What is the difference?" https://opinionexpress.in/twin-attack-firing-on-army-camp-in-jk The first encounter occurred in Modergam village when security forces, comprising the CRPF, Army, and local police, initiated a search operation based on intelligence about terrorist presence. During the initial exchange of gunfire, a para-trooper was fatally wounded. The operation escalated into a full-scale assault on a house where the terrorists had taken shelter. By late Saturday night, security forces had destroyed the house, and the body of one terrorist was recovered on Sunday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/fm-nirmala-sitharaman-to-table-modi-30-budget-on-july-23 Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the full Budget for 2024-25 will be presented on July 23, with the Parliament session beginning on July 22 and concluding on August 12. The Budget session will be the first in Narendra Modi's third term as Prime Minister, marking the first time the BJP does not have a majority on its own. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented an interim Budget in February due to upcoming Lok Sabha elections, will be presenting her seventh consecutive Budget, a historic achievement surpassing Morarji Desai's record. https://opinionexpress.in/liberal-masoud-pezeshkian-all-set-to-become-iran-president Masoud Pezeshkian's victory over hardliner Saeed Jalili in Iran's presidential election signals a shift towards more pragmatic and reformist policies. As a seasoned lawmaker and cardiac surgeon, Pezeshkian has championed domestic and international reforms. However, with hardliners still dominating Iranian politics and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei retaining ultimate authority, his ability to implement his vision remains uncertain. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-pm-starmer-changed-labour-partys-stance-on-kashmir Historically, the Labour Party faced criticism for its stance on Kashmir, contrasting with the British government's view that it's a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan. Under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, a 2019 emergency motion called for international observers in Kashmir and the right to self-determination for its people. India condemned this as pandering to vote-bank interests. https://opinionexpress.in/google-pixel-smartphones-to-be-manufactured-in-india According to reports, Google is set to make India a key production hub for its Pixel smartphones, with plans to export them to Europe and the US, according to a report. The tech giant is expected to unveil the Google Pixel 9 series on August 13 at an event. A portion of these devices destined for Europe will reportedly be manufactured in India. Two different manufacturing firms will handle the production, with Google anticipated to make a formal announcement about this new development in the coming months. https://opinionexpress.in/historic-landslide-labour-dominates-uk-elections Keir Starmer's Labour Party achieved a landslide victory in the UK general elections, marking a significant shift in British politics as Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party faced a major collapse. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's last-ditch efforts to sway voters proved futile as the Conservatives suffered a heavy defeat. Before the vote, Conservatives had warned that a Labour government would result in higher taxes. https://opinionexpress.in/hemant-soren-back-as-jharkhand-chief-minister Ranchi: Hemant Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister of Jharkhand this evening, marking the end of a five-month political journey that began in January when he resigned just before his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate over a land fraud case worth crores. In June, he was granted bail by a High Court that found no direct evidence of his involvement in the alleged scam. https://opinionexpress.in/champion-team-india-returns-to-delhi-with-world-cup-glory Hundreds of supporters, despite the early hour and weather, gathered to celebrate the team’s victory. Waving the national flag and holding congratulatory placards, they eagerly awaited their heroes, who secured a thrilling seven-run victory against South Africa in Bridgetown the previous Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/hemant-soren-set-to-return-as-jharkhand-cm To set up the stage for Hemant Soren's return as Jharkhand's Chief Minister, his close aide, Champai Soren, resigned from his post just five months after taking office. Champai Soren, a prominent figure in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had assumed the role on February 2, following the arrest of then-Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a land scam. Hemant Soren was released on bail on June 28 by the Jharkhand High Court, which found sufficient reason to believe he was "not guilty of the offence." https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modis-speech-sparks-opposition-walkout-in-upper-house Modi remarked that the Opposition cannot handle the replies to their questions and prefers to walk out. His comments included a jab at former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, implying that she ran the Manmohan Singh government from behind the scenes. "They don't believe in working, they just know how to wait," he said. https://opinionexpress.in/caste-from-confrontation-to-consolidation-the-politics-of-nitish-kumar-in-bihar The history of caste is one of the defining features of politics in Bihar. Without delving deep into historical antecedents, it suffices that colonialism made it politically active. In the 1920s, a formidable caste alliance was forged in the form of ‘Triveni Sangh’ to challenge the dominance of upper castes. This formation had some initial success in the local elections of that time. Since then, the plank of caste regularly surfaces and has been articulated in the form of social justice. Although its aspirations were partially addressed by giving reservations to SCs and STs, its political significance was not recognised until the implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations in the 1990s. Full-fledged recognition of caste accorded it a critical significance as all political parties joined the mad race to capture the OBC's vote bank. Still, the glory endured to those parties who had been at the forefront of such demand before and after independence - socialist parties of various hues. Indian politics, after the implementation of the Mandal Commission’s recommendations, no longer remained merely ritualised parliamentary politics where the elite-dominated its course without being challenged. It was now open for the demos coming from vernacular traditions to overwhelm the realm of politics. It was a radical reversal of traditional elite politics in India- perhaps an inevitable consequence of democratic politics. A calm and tradition-based electoral process no longer remained the same as it (the recommendations) re-energised and invoked the lower caste political consciousness. Caste no longer remained only a social category but suddenly became a potent political identity. It imbued agential power to those on the margins who were mainly passive and patronised despite their overwhelming number in the population. https://opinionexpress.in/bhartiya-nyaya-sanhita-a-political-ageda The New Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 successor of Indian Penal Code, 1860 along with the two other bills, The Bhartiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (successor of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) and the Bhartiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 (successor of Indian evidence act received the president assent on 25 December 2023. However, the government's action casts serious questions on the motives behind it. The law was tabled in the parliament during the period when 97 MPs were suspended; as a result, any possibility of discussion and debate was eliminated. Since all three of the new laws are perfect replicas of the ones that came before them, the motivation for such an act is nonetheless unclear. https://opinionexpress.in/the-need-for-youth-participation-in-bangladeshs-politics According to the philosopher Aristotle, "Man is by nature a political animal," and thus, politics is the most favored topic among the people of Bangladesh. From the tea stalls in neighborhoods to the air-conditioned rooms of corporate offices, discussions about politics are ubiquitous. However, these discussions about politics are mostly negative. Conversations often begin with analyses of how bad politics is and conclude with how far we should stay away from it. Naturally, a child grows up hearing negative discussions about politics and, upon reaching youth, realizes how far they should stay from it. The idea of participating in politics does not even cross the minds of these young individuals, and they fail to develop any political awareness. They start to perceive political engagement as a kind of crime. To be politically aware, one must first understand the answers to two questions: What is politics? And what does political awareness mean? https://opinionexpress.in/shah-rukh-khan-to-receive-prestigious-career-achievement-award-at-locarno Superstar Shah Rukh Khan will receive the career achievement honor at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, the organizers announced on Tuesday. He will be the first Indian to receive the 'Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism' award. Previous recipients include Italian filmmaker Francesco Rosi, American singer-actor Harry Belafonte, and Malaysian director Tsai Ming-liang. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-slams-congress-for-divisive-politics-in-lok-sabha Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, mocking him as 'balak buddhi' (childish mind) and accusing him of linking Hindus with violence and making false claims in the Lok Sabha. Modi demanded stringent action against Gandhi to protect parliamentary democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-hits-historic-80000-milestone Shares surged to record highs at the market's open on Wednesday, driven by a significant rise in HDFC Bank, the country's top private lender. HDFC Bank reached an all-time high amid optimism about an anticipated increase in its weightage in a major global index. https://opinionexpress.in/up-stampede-kills-120-devotees A stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in 121 deaths, was triggered by a chaotic rush for dust stirred up by the car of a self-styled godman. Men, women, and children were trampled in the frenzy to collect the dust left by Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari or Bhole Baba. The tragedy was exacerbated by the organizers' negligence and an insufficient police presence. https://opinionexpress.in/expunging-truth-is-futile-in-modis-india-rahul-gandhi "Whatever I had to say, I have said and that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want, but the truth will prevail," Gandhi told reporters in the Parliament complex. https://opinionexpress.in/akhilesh-yadav-mocks-bjp-over-lok-sabha-debacle A day after ally Rahul Gandhi's remarks sparked an uproar in the Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav targeted the Narendra Modi government with a speech rich in sarcasm and poetry. Addressing the House during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, the Kannauj MP highlighted issues such as competitive exam paper leaks and expressed ongoing concerns about the EVM voting method, even if his party wins every Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/hindenburg-and-anderson-face-sebi-allegations-on-adani-report The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a show-cause notice to Hindenburg Research LLC, Nathan Anderson, and the entities of Mauritius-based foreign portfolio investor Mark Kingdon for alleged trading violations involving Adani Enterprises Ltd. SEBI claims that Hindenburg and Anderson breached regulations under the SEBI Act, SEBI's Prevention of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices regulations, and the SEBI Code of Conduct for Research Analysts. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-grants-trump-limited-presidential-immunity Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, stated that a president has "absolute immunity" from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office. "There is no immunity for unofficial acts," Roberts added, sending the case back to a lower court to determine which charges involve official or unofficial conduct. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-launches-fiery-broadside-against-bjp-in-parliament Armed with a copy of the Constitution and photos of religious figures including Lord Shiva, Prophet Mohammed, Jesus Christ, and Guru Nanak Singh, Mr. Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce attack on the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, claiming neither truly represented all Hindus. The Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, hit back strongly, accusing the Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition of insulting all Hindus. https://opinionexpress.in/far-right-surge-threatens-macrons-majority-in-french-elections France’s far right is eyeing a historic opportunity to form a government and claim the prime minister’s post after winning the first round of legislative elections. The National Rally (RN) party, led by Marine Le Pen, emerged victorious, while President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist forces came in third. However, it remains uncertain if the RN will secure an absolute majority in the July 7 second round, necessary for Le Pen's protégé, Jordan Bardella, 28, to become prime minister. https://opinionexpress.in/new-criminal-laws-take-effect-from-today The changes aim to ensure faster justice and adapt to contemporary crime forms. Judgments must now be delivered within 45 days of trial completion, and charges framed within 60 days of the first hearing. The new laws allow anyone to file a Zero FIR at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction, and enable online police complaint registration and electronic serving of summons. https://opinionexpress.in/the-maestro-of-melodies-prem-anands-musical-odyssey Odissi music, deeply intertwined with the Jagannatha temple of Puri, remains an integral part of Odisha's culture. Traditionally, Odissi music was a form of sev? (service) to the deity Jagannatha, with the Gitagovinda of Jayadeva sung nightly during the Badasinghara ritual. This unbroken tradition reflects the genre's historical and spiritual significance. https://opinionexpress.in/cs-setty-to-become-new-chairman-of-sbi The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has selected Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, the senior-most managing director, as the next Chairman of State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender. Setty, who took on the role of managing director in January 2020, currently oversees International Banking, Global Markets, and Technology. https://opinionexpress.in/irans-runoff-presidential-election-pezeshkian-and-jalili-in-final-showdown Iran will hold a runoff presidential election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, after no candidate secured an outright win in the initial vote. The runoff, scheduled for this Friday, will see reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian face off against hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. https://opinionexpress.in/general-upendra-dwivedi-takes-helm-as-chief-of-indian-army General Upendra Dwivedi has taken over as the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) from General Manoj Pande, who assumed the role in May 2022. Before this, General Dwivedi served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He has been honored with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and three General Officer Commanding-in-Chief commendation cards. https://opinionexpress.in/cricket-greats-kohli-and-sharma-announce-t20i-retirements Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India's greatest cricketers, announced their T20I retirements after India clinched their second T20 World Cup title. Kohli retired minutes after the historic win, while Sharma announced it during the post-match press conference. Sharma confirmed he would continue playing ODIs and Tests. https://opinionexpress.in/india-wins-t-20-icc-trophy-after-17-years Earlier in the match, Virat Kohli played a pivotal role with a gritty 76 off 59 balls, guiding India to a formidable total of 176 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. This score marked the highest total ever recorded in the final of a men's T20 World Cup. India had found themselves in early trouble, reduced to 34 for 3 in just 4.3 overs. However, a crucial 72-run partnership between Kohli and Axar Patel helped stabilize the innings. Axar made a significant contribution with a brisk 47 off 31 balls before being dismissed. https://opinionexpress.in/first-debate-trump-sets-the-pace-biden-struggles In a surprising twist, Donald J. Trump delivered the sole moment of clarity in the first 2024 presidential debate. “Let’s not act like children,” Trump said to President Joseph R. Biden, as they compared golf handicaps. https://opinionexpress.in/india-surpasses-china-in-infrastructure-with-gati-shakti-initiative-morgan-stanley Morgan Stanley has highlighted the success of the PM Gati Shakti scheme in boosting India's infrastructure development and multi-modal connectivity across highways, railways, and ports, spurring economic growth. The report notes that over the past decade, India has significantly scaled up its infrastructure with better-targeted and potentially more productive investments. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rains-expose-flaws-in-ayodhyas-ram-path-and-temple-infrastructure Six months after the grand opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the first round of showers has caused heavy waterlogging in the temple town, raising questions about its rapid infrastructure overhaul. The newly built Ram Path road, which leads to the Ram Temple, has experienced several cave-ins since the seasonal rains began. https://opinionexpress.in/india-storms-into-t20-world-cup-final-set-to-clash-with-south-africa The Rohit Sharma-led team secured a commanding 68-run victory over England in the second semi-final at Providence Stadium, Guyana. With this win, the 2007 champions will face South Africa, who defeated Afghanistan by 9 wickets in the first semi-final. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-chief-minister-hemant-soren-granted-bail-in-land-scam-case Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been granted bail by the High Court. "Bail is granted. The court held, prima facie, Hemant Soren is not guilty, and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence on bail," said Soren's counsel Arunabh Chowdhury to PTI. With no other cases currently against him, Soren is expected to be released soon, with bail granted upon the payment of two sureties of ?50,000 each. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-downpour-batters-ncr-region-t1-airport-terminal-collapses This morning, a portion of the roof at Delhi airport's Terminal 1 (T1) collapsed on cars due to heavy rain, resulting in one fatality and six injuries. The Terminal 1, which handles only domestic flights, has temporarily suspended all departures, as announced by the civil aviation ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/india-rises-to-3rd-largest-domestic-aviation-market-globally President Droupadi Murmu highlighted India's significant growth in the aviation sector during her address to a joint session of Parliament. She announced that India is now the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, with flight routes increasing from 209 in April 2014 to 605 by April 2024. This expansion has particularly benefitted Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. https://opinionexpress.in/presidents-address-amplifies-bjps-critique-of-congress-over-emergency President Droupadi Murmu, in her first address to Parliament after the recent general election, called the 1975 Emergency the darkest chapter of a direct attack on the Constitution. She emphasized the resilience of the Constitution, stating, "The imposition of Emergency on 25th June 1975, was the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country felt outraged." Despite this, she noted, "the country emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces as the traditions of the republic lie at the core of India," amidst cheers from the treasury benches and protests by the Opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/india-looking-at-institutional-reforms-on-terror-related-cases-top-us-official Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused of conspiring to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was extradited to the US this month after being arrested by Czech officials last June. The US alleges that Gupta, 53, plotted with an Indian government official to hire a 'hitman'—an undercover American federal agent—to carry out the murder in exchange for dropping a criminal case against Gupta in Gujarat. Gupta pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court. https://opinionexpress.in/india-chooses-spacex-falcon-9-for-gsat-20-launch-in-august In a groundbreaking move, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its latest large satellite, GSAT 20, using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. ISRO Chairman S Somanath announced at the India Space Congress-2024 in New Delhi that the GSAT 20 satellite has been cleared for shipment to the US, where it will be launched on a dedicated Falcon 9 rocket in mid-August. The two-stage SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, approximately 70 meters in length, has a strong track record with 358 successful launches to date. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-begins-tenure-as-leader-of-opposition-in-18th-lok-sabha As the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will now participate in the appointment process for key officials such as the CBI director, the Chief Election Commissioners, the National Human Rights Commission chairperson, and the Chief Vigilance Commissioner. Mr. Gandhi today took over as Leader of the Opposition in the lower House, a position that was vacant for the past 10 years due to no Opposition party meeting the minimum strength criterion. Previously, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury held the position of leaders of the Congress in the House. https://opinionexpress.in/om-birla-re-elected-as-speaker-of-the-18th-lok-sabha The re-election of Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker today was marked by a brief moment of unity and cordiality. Smiles and handshakes were exchanged between rivals, including a congratulatory gesture from Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to Mr. Birla. Mr. Gandhi also shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, they escorted Mr. Birla to the Speaker's chair. https://opinionexpress.in/india-uae-set-to-enhance-strategic-partnership External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan reviewed the multi-faceted India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Jaishankar's visit to the UAE on Sunday, as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/yoga-unites-people-with-balance-mindfulness-peace-un-chief UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has praised yoga for its roots in India and its global embrace, highlighting its values of balance, mindfulness, and peace. In his message on the 10th International Yoga Day, Guterres urged people to draw inspiration from yoga’s timeless values for a more harmonious future. https://opinionexpress.in/jp-nadda-named-leader-of-house-in-rajya-sabha BJP president and Union minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has been appointed as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, official sources announced on Monday. Nadda replaces Union minister Piyush Goyal, who recently won the Lok Sabha elections and took oath as a member of the Lower House on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ls-speaker-post-to-witness-government-vs-opposition-contest-in-decades The BJP's ruling coalition and the Congress' INDIA opposition bloc are set to compete on Wednesday for the Speaker's post in the Lok Sabha, one of the most significant roles in a parliamentary democracy. This election marks the first of its kind since 1952, following the parties' failure to agree on seat division. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-holds-extensive-talks-with-bangladesh-pm-hasina Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held extensive talks with his visiting Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina to further enhance cooperation in diverse areas including trade and connectivity. https://opinionexpress.in/18th-lok-sabha-kicks-off-oaths-administered-to-pm-modi-and-new-mps The first session of Parliament after the Lok Sabha elections began today, with newly-elected MPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking oath. BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab was first administered the oath as the Pro-Tem Speaker by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He then called upon the Prime Minister to take his oath. About 280 newly-elected MPs are taking oath today, while the remaining 260, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, will take oath tomorrow. https://opinionexpress.in/new-gst-rate-adjustments-for-products-and-services-unveiled Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired pre-Budget consultations with finance ministers of states and Union Territories to gather their views. This was followed by the 53rd meeting of the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Council. https://opinionexpress.in/hat-trick-success-for-isros-pushpak-orbital-entry-trials-next-milestone ISRO proudly announced its third consecutive success in the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Landing Experiment (LEX). The third and final test of the series, LEX 03, took place at 07:10 IST at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-advocates-open-immigration-policy-for-us Softening his stance on immigration, former US President Donald Trump has promised to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from US colleges to prevent them from returning to their home countries like India and China where they become multibillionaires. Trump's departure from the anti-immigrant rhetoric comes ahead of the November presidential election in which immigration and deportation of illegal immigrants are among the key issues for voters. Trump, however, always supported a merit-based legal immigration system. https://opinionexpress.in/hindujas-handed-four-year-sentence-for-worker-exploitation-at-swiss-residence A Swiss court has sentenced four members of Britain’s richest family, the Hindujas, for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal received sentences of four years and six months, while their son Ajay and his wife Namrata were given four-year terms. The family, who did not attend the court proceedings, was acquitted of human trafficking but convicted on other charges. This verdict is a significant blow to the family, whose fortune is estimated at £37 billion ($47 billion). https://opinionexpress.in/jail-and-hefty-fines-new-law-targets-neet-exam-leaks Amid ongoing controversies surrounding the NEET and UGC-NET exams, the Centre has taken a crucial step by notifying a stringent law to prevent paper leaks and cheating. This law, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, was passed in February and has now been officially implemented. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-high-court-paused-kejriwal-release-in-liquor-gate-case In a significant setback for Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi High Court has paused his release order in a corruption case related to the Delhi Liquor Policy until the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) petition is heard. The ED challenged Mr. Kejriwal's bail in the case today, just hours before his scheduled release from Tihar Jail. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-leads-yoga-day-celebrations-in-scenic-kashmir The yoga event took place on the banks of Srinagar's Dal Lake at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex. This year's theme, "Yoga for Self and Society," underscores yoga's crucial role in promoting personal well-being and social harmony. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-granted-bail-amidst-liquor-policy-allegations Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been granted bail in the liquor policy case. Kejriwal's lawyer argued that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lacked evidence against him. The ED intends to appeal the trial court's order in the Delhi High Court tomorrow, according to ANI. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-and-kim-sign-mutual-defence-pact Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a partnership agreement, including a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked, during a Pyongyang summit on Wednesday. This comes as both nations face escalating tensions with the West. https://opinionexpress.in/net-scrapped-amid-neet-row The cancellation of the UGC-NET examination amid ongoing protests against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has provided fresh ammunition for Opposition parties to target the Narendra Modi government ahead of the Parliament session. UGC-NET is a crucial test determining eligibility for assistant professorships in universities and colleges, as well as for awarding research fellowships. On Tuesday, the Education Ministry ordered the exam's cancellation, citing concerns over compromised integrity. https://opinionexpress.in/heatwave-engulfs-645-hajj-pilgrims-in-mecca A Saudi Arabian diplomat reported on Wednesday that 68 Indian nationals died during this year's hajj pilgrimage, which was marked by extreme heat. This brings the total death toll to over 600. "We have confirmed around 68 dead. Some are due to natural causes, particularly among older pilgrims, while others we assume succumbed to the weather conditions," the diplomat, speaking anonymously, told AFP. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-millionaire-migration-trends-persist-in-2024 Nearly 4,300 millionaires are expected to leave India this year, with many opting for the UAE as their new home, according to a recent report by Henley & Partners, an international investment migration advisory firm. This follows the relocation of 5,100 Indian millionaires abroad last year. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistan-issue-deepens-rift-between-canada-and-india In response to the Canadian parliament's moment of silence for Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Indian Consulate General in Vancouver has announced a memorial service to honor the 329 victims of the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing. This tragic event, one of the deadliest in civil aviation history, occurred when a bomb planted by Canadian Sikh terrorists exploded, destroying the aircraft mid-flight at 31,000 feet. https://opinionexpress.in/hinduja-family-accused-of-human-trafficking-scam-report The billionaire Hinduja family is facing a human trafficking trial in Switzerland, accused of exploiting household staff at their Lake Geneva villa. Allegations include confiscating staff passports and paying them as little as $8 for 15-18 hours of work, Bloomberg reported. Four family members—Prakash Hinduja, his wife Kamal, their son Ajay, and his wife Namrata—are on trial. https://opinionexpress.in/china-objects-to-indias-growing-ties-with-taiwan Taiwan has dismissed China's objections over a recent exchange of messages between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, calling Beijing's reaction "unreasonable interference." Deputy Foreign Minister of Taiwan, Tien Chung-kwang, remarked, "I think Modi ji will not be intimidated." https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-retains-raebareli-priyanka-goes-to-wayanad The Congress party's strategic decision to have Rahul Gandhi retain Raebareli and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contest from Wayanad is seen as a significant move. This approach aims to secure a strong presence in both northern and southern India, laying the groundwork for future elections. https://opinionexpress.in/nuclear-powers-advancing-weapon-systems-sipri In 2023, nine nuclear-armed nations, including the US, Russia, France, China, India, and Pakistan, continued modernizing their nuclear arsenals and deploying new nuclear-capable weapon systems, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). China's nuclear arsenal notably increased from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 by January 2024 and is expected to keep growing. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-and-us-nsas-engage-in-comprehensive-talks-on-icet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday held extensive talks with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan primarily focusing on implementation of the ambitious India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). https://opinionexpress.in/pak-vows-to-end-dependency-on-foreign-aid-and-imf-bailouts-shehbaz Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged to end Pakistan's dependency on foreign aid and IMF bailouts, aiming to surpass neighboring nations in economic activity through bold reforms to reduce government expenses and revive the economy. https://opinionexpress.in/gupta-charged-with-khalistani-terrorists-murder-plot-in-us-report Currently, Gupta is held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where he is listed as an inmate. The Washington Post was the first to report on his extradition. https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-predicts-significant-political-changes-ahead-for-tamil-nadu VK Sasikala, confidante of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, declared on Sunday that despite recent electoral setbacks, the AIADMK is far from finished, as her 're-entry' has begun. She vowed to restore 'Amma's rule' by winning the 2026 Assembly elections and asserted her intention to challenge the government if Edappadi K Palaniswami, the current leader of the opposition, fails to do so effectively. https://opinionexpress.in/frances-former-socialist-president-francois-hollande-to-run-for-prez-office A new left-wing alliance has emerged, while the leader of the main right-wing party has signaled willingness to ally with the far right, causing internal strife. On Saturday, about a quarter of a million people protested nationwide against the possibility of the far right coming to power, although polls still show them leading comfortably. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-committed-to-work-with-india-on-very-important-issues-trudeau "I'm not going to get into the details of this important, sensitive issue that we need to follow up, but this was a commitment to work together, in the coming times, to deal with some very important issues," Trudeau told reporters. https://opinionexpress.in/g7-leaders-to-focus-on-issue-of-migration Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations convened in Italy's Puglia region, addressing a spectrum of global challenges on the summit's second day. Central to their discussions was migration, a topic particularly poignant for Italy, situated on a major entry route into the European Union for migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-30-aims-to-fast-track-one-nation-one-poll-strategy The Union Law Ministry is working intensively on this, part of the 100-day agenda set by Prime Minister Modi before the Lok Sabha elections. Ahead of the elections, Modi directed all Union Ministries and departments to draft a 100-day agenda for the new Government. https://opinionexpress.in/at-g7-summit-pm-connects-with-zelensky-meloni-macron-and-pope Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his participation in the G7 Summit held at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy's Apulia region, marking his first overseas visit since beginning his third consecutive term. As an Outreach country, India was invited to the summit, where PM Modi engaged in significant bilateral meetings with various world leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/us-lauds-indias-landmark-election-as-largest-democratic-exercise-in-history The United States has praised India's recent elections, calling them the largest exercise of the electoral franchise in any country at any time in history. However, the U.S. refrained from commenting on the lack of Muslim representation from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-in-italy-for-g7-summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Apulia, southern Italy, for the G7 Summit's Outreach session and bilateral talks with global leaders. Modi will attend a summit session on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean, hosted by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, with Pope Francis also expected to hold bilateral talks with him. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-pmo-retains-key-leaders-in-third-term Ajit Doval, known for his extensive experience in intelligence and national security, has been a key advisor to the Prime Minister on strategic and defense matters. His reappointment signals continuity in the government's approach to national security. https://opinionexpress.in/donald-trump-was-not-born-to-be-a-politician-or-president The American Empire failed due to the incompetence of its politicians. Corporate greed, wealth inequity, power-hungry politicians, the church's heavy involvement in politics, and the general dumbing down of its populace have all destroyed the 250-year-old democratic experiment. https://opinionexpress.in/caa-2019-a-pandoras-box-of-unfulfilled-demands-for-dalits-bahujans-adivasis The introduction of CAA 2019 supercharged the political landscape of India for the first time since the formation of the BJP government at the Centre in 2014. The most notable of all aspects that the CAA 2019 brought under the limelight is the grant of citizenship based on religion, causing a rupture in the constitutionally secular fabric of citizenship laws in India. As the movement against CAA 2019 picked up, citizens and pressure groups were quick to point out that besides Muslims, people from the Dalit, Bahujan and Adivasi (DBA) communities are equally vulnerable to the said amendment in the Citizenship Act. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-and-upsc-cse-the-case-for-a-compensatory-exam-attempt The win-win results of the general elections 2024 as described by political professionals and analysed by experts and psychologists alike, where PM Modi is starting his historic third consecutive inning as the Prime Minister of the world's largest democratic republic, return of coalition government at centre after a strong and alleged authoritarian regime, with Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu playing vital roles of kingmakers; strengthening of the opposition with Congress almost doubling its seats and Samajwadi party capturing a good share of electoral numbers in Uttar Pradesh- politically the most crucial state to form government at the centre, with Mamta Banerjee consolidating her position in her stronghold. The EVM is happy among the all being coming out as clean and poise as after the dip in holy Ganga. The election verdicts not only silenced those Western prophets of democracy who always diminished India's democratic soul from the Selig Harison Most Dangerous Decade; of the 1960s to &electoral autocracy; in 2028 to one of the worst autocratisers lately; just before the commencement of the 2024 general elections but has vindicated that the poor and semi-literate masses of India has the highest Democracy Intelligence Quotient; or DIQ in the world to elect a full majoritarian government whenever required and to never shy away from curtailing the wings of their loved and revered charismatic leaders, from Indira Gandhi to Modi, if they smell the traces of authoritarianism or arrogance of ruling elite or any perceived threat to the constitutional model of democracy, diligently crafted by the founding fathers of the modern democratic Bharat. https://opinionexpress.in/security-forces-thwart-major-terror-plots-in-jk-amid-surge-in-attacks In a prolonged operation lasting over 15 hours, security forces killed a terrorist holed up in Saida Sukhal village, Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday. The operation also resulted in the death of his partner and a CRPF jawan, officials reported. The incident began on Tuesday night when two terrorists were spotted in the border village. https://opinionexpress.in/ipls-business-value-stands-at-164-billion The Indian Premier League (IPL) has significantly increased its financial footprint, reaching a business value of Rs 135,000 crore (US$16.4 billion), according to a recent report by global investment bank Houlihan Lokey. This marks a 6.5% growth over the past year, highlighting the league's robust global appeal and commercial strength. https://opinionexpress.in/neet-exam-with-grace-marks-scrapped-re-exam-on-june-23-centre The Centre has informed the Supreme Court of its decision to cancel the scorecards of 1,563 NEET-UG 2024 candidates who were awarded grace marks, following allegations of unfair practices during the examination process. This announcement was made on Thursday, with the Centre assuring that these candidates will be given the opportunity to retake the test, aiming to uphold the fairness and integrity of the examination. https://opinionexpress.in/lt-gen-upendra-dwivedi-to-lead-indian-army-from-june-30 Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi will succeed Gen Manoj Pande as the next Chief of the Army Staff, the government announced, ending speculations about the key appointment. Currently serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Dwivedi will assume the new role on June 30, following Gen Pande's retirement. https://opinionexpress.in/18th-parliament-session-from-june-24-to-july-3-kiren-rijiju The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will commence on June 24, focusing on the oath or affirmation of the newly elected members, as announced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday. The initial three days will be dedicated to this process and the election of the Speaker of the House. The session will conclude on July 3. https://opinionexpress.in/major-fire-engulf-kuwait-building-over-40-indian-workers-killed At least 41 people were killed in a devastating fire that broke out in a building housing workers in Kuwait's Mangaf city. The incident occurred around 6 am local time (9 am IST). According to the Kuwaiti health ministry, approximately 43 people were hospitalized due to the fire, with four of them succumbing to their injuries. https://opinionexpress.in/andhra-pradesh-odisha-gets-new-cms-cbn-back-in-ap Governments led by the BJP and its ally, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), will take charge of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, respectively, following the swearing-in ceremonies held today. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-and-edge-forge-global-defence-alliance Adani Defence and Aerospace has signed a landmark agreement with EDGE Group, a leading advanced technology and defence company from the UAE. This collaboration aims to establish a global platform that leverages the defence and aerospace capabilities of both companies. By integrating their respective product portfolios, the partnership intends to address the needs of global and local customers. The scope of cooperation includes core product domains such as missiles and weapons for airborne, surface, and infantry applications, ammunition, air defence products, and systems. Additionally, the agreement covers platforms and systems like unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions, counter-drone systems, unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), as well as electronic warfare (EW) and cyber technologies. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-ai-poised-for-late-start Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday is expected to showcase the company's foray into generative artificial intelligence, a move anticipated to be as revolutionary as the iPhone's debut. The event will likely feature AI enhancements for the iPhone and other Apple products, particularly upgrading Siri and enriching the user experience in photos, music, texting, and on-the-fly emoji creation. https://opinionexpress.in/cbn-poised-to-take-over-as-andhra-pradesh-cm TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, marking his fourth term in the role. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11:27 am at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport, on the outskirts of Vijayawada. https://opinionexpress.in/team-modi-30-for-the-next-five-years Prime Minister Narendra Modi https://opinionexpress.in/italian-far-right-leader-meloni-wins-big-in-european-elections Giorgia Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party won a decisive victory in the European elections in Italy, with near-final results showing a significant lead. With over 99 percent of the votes counted, her party secured 28.81 percent of the vote, surpassing the 26 percent achieved in the September 2022 national elections. Meloni described the results as "resounding" and emphasized Italy's unique position compared to other European nations, where governing parties generally suffered losses. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-elections-see-significant-right-wing-resurgence Far-right parties made notable gains in the European Union elections on Sunday, dealing a significant blow to French President Emmanuel Macron and the Greens. Here are five key takeaways from the vote, which saw centrist political groups emerge relatively unscathed and voter turnout higher than in 2019 across the bloc's 27 states. https://opinionexpress.in/bumrahs-heroics-lead-india-to-thrilling-win-over-pakistan In a thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 match, India edged past Pakistan by 6 runs, thanks to a stellar performance by Jasprit Bumrah at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Chasing a modest target of 120, Pakistan seemed well-positioned at 73 for 3 in 12.1 overs, needing just 47 runs from 47 balls. However, Bumrah's sensational spell turned the game around. He finished with remarkable figures of 3 for 14 in four overs, crucially restricting Pakistan to 113 for 7 in their 20 overs. https://opinionexpress.in/narendra-modi-begins-record-third-term-as-prime-minister Narendra Modi took the oath of office as India's Prime Minister for the extraordinary third consecutive time on Sunday, marking a historic achievement. He joins Jawaharlal Nehru as the only individual in Indian history to achieve this feat, following Nehru's successive wins in the 1952, 1957, and 1962 elections. https://opinionexpress.in/team-modi-30-finalized-ahead-of-swearing-in Hours before the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a meeting with several NDA leaders, many of whom are anticipated to receive ministerial posts. BJP veterans and leaders from NDA allies, such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dr. S. Jaishankar, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Piyush Goyal, occupied the first row. Other notable attendees included BJP veteran Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, JDU leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, RLD's Jayant Chaudhary, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, and Jitin Prasada. https://opinionexpress.in/russias-economy-growing-despite-heavy-sanctions President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the Russian economy is growing despite heavy international sanctions and the country has expanded economic ties with countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as he sought to court investors. Addressing the leaders of Bolivia and Zimbabwe and business leaders at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said Russia “remains one of the key participants in world trade”, despite the fact that the country is under sweeping sanctions for sending troops in Ukraine. The forum has been used by Russia for decades as a showcase for touting the country’s development, though Western officials and investors have steered clear of the session since sanctions cut off much of Russia’s trade with Western Europe, the US and their allies. The main driver of Russia’s economic growth is the fighting in Ukraine — now as important to the Kremlin economically as it is politically. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-aims-for-cordial-ties-dialogue-with-india-spokesperson Pakistan expressed a desire for cordial and "cooperative ties" with all its neighbors, including India, seeking to resolve disputes through dialogue, according to Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. Her remarks came a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected oath for a third consecutive term. Led by PM Modi, the National Democratic Alliance secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, set to form the government for a record third term. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-brings-100-metric-gold-reserve-from-uk-to-india In FY24, the RBI transferred 100 metric tonnes of gold stored in the UK to domestic vaults, marking one of the largest gold movements by India since 1991, when the country had to pledge part of its gold holdings to manage a foreign exchange crisis. Governor Das noted that the amount of gold stored abroad had remained static for a long time. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-chariot-of-victory-three-terms-as-cm-and-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chosen by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as its leader for a third term, stated on Friday that he would strive for unanimity in all decisions of his next government. He emphasized that the NDA is an organic alliance committed to the principle of 'nation first'. https://opinionexpress.in/stock-market-soars-to-new-heights-amid-rbi-decision The Indian share market posted significant gains after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the policy rate unchanged for the eighth consecutive time. The 30-share Sensex surged over 1,600 points to reach a record high of 76,787 points, while the Nifty rose by more than 450 points during the day. This marks the third straight session of gains following an initial rout on vote counting day. The Sensex, a BSE benchmark, has increased by 2,995.46 points or 4.15% over the previous two sessions, recovering most of the losses from the vote counting day. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-keeps-key-lending-rate-at-65 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has maintained its key lending rate unchanged for the eighth consecutive time, citing robust economic growth that allows it to focus on reducing inflation. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, addressing a press conference, remarked, "The world has gone through one crisis after another in recent years, but the Indian economy exhibits strong fundamentals. We need to remain vigilant in an uncertain global environment." He emphasized that the RBI remains committed to aligning inflation to 4% on a durable basis. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-30-bjp-likely-to-keep-top-ministries Two days after the Lok Sabha election results denied the BJP a clear majority, its NDA allies have begun bargaining for key positions at the Centre. However, the BJP is reportedly unwilling to relinquish critical ministries and roles. As the single largest party falls short of the majority mark, NDA allies face a tight deadline to reach a consensus, with plans to hold the swearing-in ceremony for Narendra Modi's third government this weekend. https://opinionexpress.in/us-and-europes-contrasting-approaches-to-tech-innovation-and-policies Two starkly different approaches with different outcomes, yet clearing the way forward. https://opinionexpress.in/coalition-politics-resurfaces-in-modi-30-governance With the BJP falling short of a majority in the Lok Sabha, its NDA allies are leveraging their positions to secure key ministerial roles at the Centre. Coalition veterans like N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar have reportedly made their demands known during the NDA meeting held yesterday. Although no official details have been released, intense negotiations are underway. https://opinionexpress.in/gaza-school-hit-by-israeli-strike-30-dead-israel-says-hamas-inside The Israeli military reported a deadly strike on a UN school in Gaza on Thursday, claiming it targeted a Hamas compound. The strike killed at least 27 people, according to Hamas, and injured dozens more. The military stated that the operation "eliminated" several "terrorists" and described the strike as a precise hit on a Hamas facility embedded within the UNRWA school in Nuseirat, central Gaza. UNRWA is the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. https://opinionexpress.in/devendra-fadnavis-offered-to-quit-as-dcm-over-maharashtra-result Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has offered to resign, taking responsibility for the BJP's poor performance in the state's Lok Sabha election. "Whatever loss we suffered in Maharashtra... I take full responsibility. I urge top leadership to relieve me of my ministerial duties," he stated. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-judiciary-remains-entirely-independent-cji Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud addressed the Oxford Union Society, emphasizing the judiciary's role in maintaining constitutional values and the significance of technology in enhancing transparency within the judicial system. Speaking at the University of Oxford, he highlighted how judges ensure continuity of constitutional principles, which protect democratic structures. He noted that judges are not elected in India to preserve this continuity. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-30-majority-to-minority-the-political-tightrope Following the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-led NDA secured 294 seats in the 543-member Parliament, exceeding the majority mark of 272 by 22 seats. The INDIA Opposition bloc garnered 234 seats, falling 38 short. Key NDA allies, Chandrababu Naidu of TDP and Nitish Kumar of JDU, hold pivotal roles in forming the government. Despite contesting the election with BJP, INDIA leaders are attempting to persuade these coalition veterans to join their bloc. INDIA needs support from both JDU and TDP, along with some unaligned MPs, to secure a majority. https://opinionexpress.in/nda-clinches-third-term-as-modi-faces-stronger-opposition Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised for a third term, with the NDA nearing the 300-seat mark. However, the day also highlighted a resurgent Opposition, surpassing the modest expectations of exit polls. https://opinionexpress.in/cbn-back-with-a-bang-in-ap N Chandrababu Naidu, leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on June 9, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the ceremony, according to sources. Naidu, 74, will assume the role for the fourth time, having previously served as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004 and as the first Chief Minister of the residuary state after its bifurcation in 2014. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-jodo-yatra-helps-gandhis-to-reclaim-the-lost-territory-in-ls-2024 For years, BJP has targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with ridicule, often calling him names like 'pappu' and 'shehzade.' However, as Congress nears a 100-seat tally in this Lok Sabha election—its best in a decade—the Gandhi siblings have been pivotal. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-4000-points-on-ls-results-day Indian stock markets plunged nearly 4,000 points today following a sharp rally in the previous session. Early vote-counting trends showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance leading in more than 272 seats, but the extent of their victory remained unclear and their lead was narrower than predicted by exit polls. https://opinionexpress.in/election-2024-bjps-stronghold-up-sees-india-bloc-surge Uttar Pradesh is experiencing a surprising shift as vote counting for the Lok Sabha polls unfolds. Nearly four hours in, the traditionally BJP-dominated state shows a fierce contest between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, comprising the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress. The INDIA bloc currently holds a narrow lead over the NDA. https://opinionexpress.in/ls-2024-created-world-record-with-642-cr-votes-ec India has set a world record with 64.2 crore voters participating in this year's Lok Sabha elections, including 31.2 crore women, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-stock-market-soars-as-exit-polls-predict-major-bjp-victory The share market witnessed a significant surge in early trading today, fueled by optimism over political stability as indicated by recent exit polls. The 30-share BSE Sensex soared over 2,000 points this morning, while the 50-share NSE Nifty experienced its largest jump in four years at market opening. https://opinionexpress.in/nipl-and-rbi-to-extend-upi-services-to-20-countries-by-2029 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL) aim to expand UPI to 20 countries by FY29, aligning with the Viksit Bharat 2047 goals. The initiative starts in 2024-25 and is set to complete by 2028-29, as highlighted in the RBI Annual Report. Efforts include exploring Fast Payment System (FPS) collaborations with regions like the European Union and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), along with pursuing multilateral linkages. https://opinionexpress.in/us-defense-secretary-no-immediate-threat-of-war-with-china United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured a gathering of top security officials that war with China is neither imminent nor unavoidable despite escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. Speaking at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, Austin emphasized the importance of renewed dialogue with his Chinese counterpart to avoid "miscalculations and misunderstandings." This follows his recent meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, the first such meeting since 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-third-term-likely-as-exit-polls-predict-major-win Exit polls predict a historic third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the final phase of the Lok Sabha election concludes. An aggregate of 12 exit polls suggests the NDA will secure 365 seats, with the BJP alone winning 317. The INDIA bloc is predicted to fall short, gaining only 146 seats, with the Congress getting 61, up from 52 in the last election. https://opinionexpress.in/10-lakh-crore-bad-loans-recovered-in-10-years-fm Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Friday that the Modi government has revitalized the banking sector through various reforms and improved governance, resulting in banks recovering over Rs 10 lakh crore in bad loans between 2014 and 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-will-permanently-eliminate-hamas-netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Friday that the Gaza war would persist until Hamas's ability to govern and wage war is eradicated, following US President Joe Biden's announcement of a new peace roadmap proposed by Israel. Netanyahu's office stated that the negotiating team had been authorized to present a framework for the return of hostages while ensuring that the war's objectives, including the elimination of Hamas's military and governmental capabilities, are fully achieved. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-convicted-in-historic-hush-money-trial Donald Trump has become the first former US president convicted of a crime, with a New York jury finding him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Although he could theoretically face up to four years in prison per count, probation is more likely. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-grow-7-plus-in-fy25-rbi India's economy is projected to grow at 7% in the current fiscal year, making it the fastest-growing major economy globally, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This growth is driven by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, the RBI stated in its annual report released on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/isros-backing-and-determination-how-a-chennai-start-up-made-rocket-history Agnikul Cosmos, a private space start-up based in Chennai, scripted history today by successfully test-firing its rocket, Agnibaan SOrTeD (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator). The rocket, powered by an engine that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is still striving to master, marked a significant milestone for the young team of engineers who displayed remarkable patience and perseverance. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-monsoon-sets-in-over-kerala-and-northeast The southwest monsoon set in over the Kerala coast and parts of the northeast on Thursday, a day earlier than forecasted by the weather office, spurred by Cyclone Remal. This cyclone, which struck West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday, likely pulled the monsoonal flow to the Bay of Bengal, contributing to the early onset over the northeast. https://opinionexpress.in/intense-heatwaves-wreak-havoc-across-the-globe A deadly heatwave gripped large regions of Asia for weeks in April and May 2024, with temperatures soaring past 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) in India on May 7. The oppressive heat caused politicians, local news announcers, and voters to faint. From Japan to the Philippines, the relentless heat disrupted everyday life. In Cambodia, students and teachers were sent home as hand-held fans provided little relief in poorly ventilated classrooms. Thai farmers saw crops wither and livestock perish under the punishing sun, leading to hundreds of heat-related deaths. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-violated-peace-pact-with-india-nawaz-sharif Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif admitted on Tuesday that Islamabad had "violated" an agreement with India, referring to the Kargil conflict orchestrated by General Pervez Musharraf. Speaking at a meeting of the PML-N general council, which elected him president of the ruling party six years after his disqualification by the Supreme Court, Sharif reflected on the events of 1999. https://opinionexpress.in/rafah-refugee-camp-hit-by-israeli-strike-45-civilians-dead At least 45 people, including children, were killed at a refugee camp in Gaza's Rafah after an Israeli air strike, triggering international outrage and deepening Israel's global isolation over the Gaza conflict. The strike occurred just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its operations in Rafah. https://opinionexpress.in/shrinking-population-is-making-a-dent-in-chinas-economy-experts China's declining population is raising serious concerns among policymakers and economists. Ma Jiantang, former party secretary at the Development Research Centre of the State Council, highlighted the issue, calling for an "urgent response" to address the country's low birth rate, aging population, and decreasing proportion of young people, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-bsense-scales-76000-peak The Sensex scaled the 76,000 mark for the first time, while the Nifty reached a new lifetime peak before closing slightly down in a highly volatile session on Monday, as investors booked profits in the final 30 minutes of trading. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-israel-relations-plummet-as-spain-and-ireland-recognize-palestinian-state Relations between the European Union and Israel deteriorated sharply on the eve of Ireland and Spain diplomatically recognizing a Palestinian state. Madrid even suggested sanctions against Israel due to its ongoing attacks in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza. https://opinionexpress.in/triple-triumph-for-india-at-cannes-2024 Indian talent made a remarkable impact at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, with significant wins across three competitive sections. Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine As Light," Chidananda S Naik's "Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know," and Anasuya Sengupta of "The Shameless" fame were the standout winners, showcasing the country's creative prowess on an international stage. https://opinionexpress.in/deadly-cyclone-remal-leaves-trail-of-destruction-in-bengal-bangladesh Severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh, unleashing winds up to 135 km/h. The storm struck between Sagar Island and Khepupara near the southwest of Mongla in Bangladesh at 8:30 pm on Sunday, bringing torrential rains that flooded homes and farmlands, causing widespread destruction. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-judge-voted-for-icj-order-against-israel The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel on Friday to immediately halt its military operations in Rafah. Judge Dalveer Bhandari, the Indian representative at the ICJ, supported the ruling. Bhandari, an esteemed jurist, has been a member of the ICJ since 2012 and has a distinguished career, including receiving the Padma Bhushan in 2014. https://opinionexpress.in/ucc-one-poll-to-be-implemented-in-next-term-amit-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the BJP will implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the entire country within the next five years if it returns to power. This will follow extensive consultations with all stakeholders. In an interview with PTI, Shah outlined the Modi government's plans for its next term, which include implementing 'One Nation, One Election,' suggesting that simultaneous elections would be more cost-effective. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-led-nda-will-try-to-scrap-undemocratic-collegium-system Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha expressed hope on Sunday that the BJP-led NDA, upon returning to power, will attempt to abolish the "undemocratic" collegium system for appointing judges in the higher judiciary. Addressing an election rally in the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency, where he is a candidate, Kushwaha made his remarks in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. https://opinionexpress.in/taiwan-confronts-chinese-military-exercises-off-its-coast On Friday, Taiwan tracked numerous Chinese warplanes and navy vessels off its coast during the second day of large-scale exercises by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), which were held in response to the inauguration of Taiwan's new leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-warns-israel-of-impending-surprises-amid-ongoing-gaza-conflict With the Gaza conflict now in its eighth month, Iran-backed Hezbollah is reportedly preparing for a surprise attack on Israel. The group's secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, warned Israel to expect surprises in a televised speech marking the 24th anniversary of Resistance and Liberation Day. https://opinionexpress.in/lok-sabha-elections-2024-will-reject-bjps-lies-hatred-and-propaganda-rahul-gandhi On Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha elections, people prioritized real issues over lies, hatred, and propaganda. He encouraged voters to turn out in large numbers for the sixth phase, emphasizing the importance of voting for their rights and the future of their families. https://opinionexpress.in/100b-market-cap-breached-by-aditya-birla-group The Aditya Birla Group (ABG) has achieved a significant milestone with its combined market capitalisation surpassing $100 billion (Rs 8,51,460.25 crore) on Friday. The group’s diverse portfolio includes firms such as UltraTech Cement, Grasim, Hindalco, Aditya Birla Capital, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, Vodafone Idea, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, TCNS Clothing, Aditya Birla Money, Century Textiles, Century Enka, and Pilani Investment, all contributing to this impressive valuation on the BSE. https://opinionexpress.in/revolutionizing-financial-engineering-empowering-cooperative-sectors-for-prosperity Power Gilt Fixed Income Debt Management LLP is at the forefront of providing Fixed Income Investment and Debt Capital Portfolio Management Services to Corporate Treasuries. With a track record spanning over a decade and serving a diverse clientele of over 1000 Institutional/Corporate and retail investors, Power Gilt has been a dominant player in the Debt Market since 2005. Our mission is clear: to offer superior returns with safety, security of capital, and easy liquidity in the Indian Fixed Income space. https://opinionexpress.in/grisly-murder-of-bangladeshi-politician-highlights-immigration-related-security-threats Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, missing since May 14, has been found murdered in Kolkata under gruesome circumstances. Anar, who had arrived in Kolkata two days before his disappearance, was discovered to have been skinned, chopped up, and disposed of in plastic packets across the city. The West Bengal CID made a significant breakthrough in the case with the arrest of Jihad Hawladar, an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh living in Mumbai. Hawladar has reportedly confessed to his involvement in the murder, carried out in an apartment in New Town, Kolkata. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-at-record-high-after-rbis-dividend-boost Domestic stock market rose over 1 per cent on Thursday (May 23), with the Sensex rising over 1,000 points and the Nifty crossing 22,900 level for the first time. https://opinionexpress.in/job-market-woes-one-third-of-iit-graduates-unplaced-in-2023-24 The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), renowned for their engineering education, are facing an unprecedented job placement crisis. Data obtained through Right to Information (RTI) applications by IIT Kanpur alumnus Dheeraj Singh reveals that approximately 8,000 (38%) of IIT students across 23 campuses remain unplaced this year. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-mp-found-murdered-in-kolkata Veteran Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar, who had gone missing in India, was found murdered in Kolkata, announced Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-labels-india-bloc-as-corrupt-and-family-centric Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing an election rally in Bihar's East Champaran constituency, alleged that the INDIA bloc epitomizes corruption, appeasement politics, and an anti-Sanatan mindset, all of which would face a "big blow" with the Lok Sabha poll results on June 4. https://opinionexpress.in/public-sector-giants-invest-rs-50200-crore-in-april-capex In April FY25, large public sector companies spent over Rs 50,200 crore on capital expenditure, achieving 6.46% of their annual target of Rs 7.77 lakh crore, according to an official. This spending pace is slower compared to April FY24, when Rs 54,177 crore was spent, representing 7.3% of the full-year target of Rs 7.42 lakh crore. https://opinionexpress.in/raisis-death-plunges-iran-into-political-instability-and-unrest President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran, once seen as a likely successor to the Supreme Leader, died in office, leaving the Islamic Republic's hardline establishment facing an uncertain future. Raisi, a 63-year-old ultraconservative, was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Iran's remote northwest, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other high-ranking officials. This tragedy occurs at a delicate time, as the country faces significant challenges both domestically and internationally. https://opinionexpress.in/nda-getting-stronger-and-stronger-narendra-modi On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the people of India have decided in favor of a strong BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, emphasizing that the wave of support for the alliance is "getting stronger and stronger." https://opinionexpress.in/india-bloc-will-form-the-next-government-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated on Tuesday that with the completion of each phase of the Lok Sabha polls, it is becoming increasingly evident that the Narendra Modi government is on its way out, and the INDIA bloc is poised to assume power on June 4. https://opinionexpress.in/tecno-camon-30-5g-camon-30-premier-5g-with-50-megapixel-selfie-cameras-launched-in-india The Tecno Camon 30 5G series, which includes the Tecno Camon 30 5G and Camon 30 Premier 5G, was launched in India on Saturday. Both models are powered by MediaTek Dimensity chips and run on HiOS 14 based on Android 14. The Premier model boasts three 50-megapixel rear cameras, while both handsets feature a 50-megapixel selfie camera. Each phone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery supporting 70W wired charging. https://opinionexpress.in/india-the-pioneer-of-digital-democracy It is a well-known fact that India is the world's largest democracy, but not many know that India pioneered and perfected mass electronic voting. The country deployed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the first time anywhere in the world on May 19, 1982, in Kerala's North Paravur constituency. Fifty out of the 84 polling stations used the first-ever secure direct digital vote recording devices. The Netherlands followed almost a decade later in the 1990s. https://opinionexpress.in/hansraj-bhardwaj-a-stalwart-friend-of-legal-reform-in-india Dr Hansraj Bhardwaj, a prominent figure in Indian politics, served as the Law Minister of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao and later under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. His long tenure is often noted for significant reforms and contributions to the Indian legal system, which have had lasting impacts on the judiciary and legal practice in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/aishwarya-rai-dazzles-in-black-gown-at-cannes-2024 Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan graced the Cannes red carpet for the premiere of Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis," dazzling in a stunning black gown by designers Falguni & Shane Peacock. A Cannes regular for the past two decades, Aishwarya posed in the monochrome gown adorned with 3D metallic elements and golden accents. The custom-made dress featured a corset-inspired silhouette and a floor-sweeping train. https://opinionexpress.in/india-targets-1-trillion-in-merchandise-exports-by-2030-with-major-infrastructure-boost The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is conducting a study for India's commerce ministry to assess the infrastructure required and identify key industry clusters to achieve a USD 1 trillion merchandise export target by 2030. The study is expected to be submitted by August-September, according to a ministry official. https://opinionexpress.in/after-special-court-has-taken-cognisance-of-complaint-ed-cant-arrest-accused-sc The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot arrest an accused under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) once a special court has taken cognisance of the money laundering complaint. The decision came from a bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan. https://opinionexpress.in/astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-linked-to-fatal-blood-clotting-disorder Researchers have found that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, developed with Oxford University, increases the risk of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT), a rare but potentially fatal blood clotting disorder. This condition emerged following the use of the adenovirus vector-based Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, marketed as Covishield in India and Vaxzevria in Europe, during the height of the Covid pandemic in 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-courts-big-ruling-on-pmla-arrest The Supreme Court ruled that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot arrest an accused under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) if they respond to a summons from a special court. The ED must first seek the court's approval for any arrest after cognisance of the complaint has been taken. https://opinionexpress.in/first-batch-of-citizenship-certificates-issued-under-caa The first set of citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was issued on Wednesday to 14 individuals, initiating the process of granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-to-be-made-accused-in-excise-money-laundering-case-ed The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Delhi High Court on Tuesday of its intention to name the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as an accused in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-leadership-benefits-india-region-and-world-tarar Baltimore-based Pakistani-American businessman Sajid Tarar has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that Modi’s leadership has propelled India to new heights and expressing confidence that he will secure a third term as Prime Minister. Tarar emphasized that Modi’s influence extends beyond India, benefiting the entire region and the world. He expressed a desire for Pakistan to have a similarly strong leader. https://opinionexpress.in/skip-extra-tea-coffee-intake-icmr The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued new dietary guidelines in collaboration with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), aiming to promote healthier eating habits across India. These guidelines emphasize a diverse diet and an active lifestyle while cautioning against excessive consumption of tea and coffee, which are deeply ingrained in Indian culture. https://opinionexpress.in/openai-releases-new-gpt-40 OpenAI made headlines on Monday with the release of an enhanced version of its AI technology, the backbone of its widely used generative tool, ChatGPT. This upgraded version, dubbed GPT-4o, boasts superior performance and an even more human-like interface. Notably, OpenAI has made GPT-4o accessible to all users for free. https://opinionexpress.in/melinda-to-leave-gates-foundation Melinda French Gates has announced her resignation as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a globally influential organization, stating that her final day at the foundation will be on June 7. Emphasizing the gravity of her decision, she expressed that this move wasn't made lightly, affirming that it marks a pivotal moment for her philanthropic journey. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-tank-downwards-on-foreign-fund-outflows Indian equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty commenced trading on Monday (May 13) with a downward trajectory, influenced by ongoing foreign fund outflows and subdued performances in US and Asian markets. Sensex initiated trading 0.27 percent lower at 72,476.00, marking a decrease of 187.82 points, while Nifty opened at 22,028.00, reflecting a decline of 0.12 percent or 27.20 points. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-trade-at-all-time-high-reports China has solidified its position as India's foremost trading partner, with bilateral commerce amounting to USD 118.4 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24, slightly surpassing the United States, according to data from the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), an economic think tank. This marks a significant shift, as Washington held the top position in the preceding two fiscal years. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-manage-chabahar-port-in-iran-report India is poised to finalize an agreement with Iran on Monday regarding the management of the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar for the ensuing decade, according to a report by the Economic Times. The anticipated signatory of the agreement, India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, is expected to journey to Iran for the formalization, as per undisclosed sources cited in the report. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankas-economic-stability-depends-on-imf-programme-prez Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized to lawmakers that there is no other viable route to economic recovery for the nation apart from adhering to the reform plans prescribed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The island nation has been grappling with its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from British rule in 1948, resulting in a significant surge in the prices of essential goods, including fuel. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-repeats-nuclear-bomb-warning-to-israel An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has revived concerns regarding the country's nuclear aspirations, especially amid escalating tensions with Israel. Kamal Kharrazi, the adviser, hinted at a potential shift in Iran's nuclear strategy if it perceives its existence to be under threat from Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-warns-of-potential-loan-default-by-pakistan-urges-immediate-action According to a recent report, the IMF has expressed serious concerns about Pakistan's ability to repay its debts, citing significant risks such as delayed reforms, high public debt, and low reserves. The report emphasizes the importance of strong policy implementation and external financing to restore Pakistan's repayment capacity. It also highlights geopolitical instability and global financial uncertainty as additional risks. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-foresees-unified-elections-and-singular-leadership-after-june-4th Arvind Kejriwal, emerging from incarceration, launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging a perilous slide towards authoritarianism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. In his first press conference post-release, he accused the BJP of a systematic campaign to dismantle democracy, targeting not only opposition figures but also dissenting voices within their own ranks. https://opinionexpress.in/solar-fury-strikes-earth-faces-disruption-to-communication-power-networks A historic solar storm, the most potent in over two decades, struck Earth on Friday, igniting dazzling celestial displays from Tasmania to Britain and posing potential risks to satellites and power grids throughout the weekend. The initial coronal mass ejection (CME) occurred just after 1600 GMT, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center. Upgraded to an "extreme" geomagnetic storm, it marks the first such event since the "Halloween Storms" of October 2003, which caused widespread blackouts and infrastructure damage. https://opinionexpress.in/campaign-trail-ignites-kejriwal-leads-charge-for-india-alliance Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wasted no time in hitting the ground running after being granted interim bail, with plans for a roadshow and public remarks. He urged voters to "save the country from dictatorship," signaling his intent to actively engage in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The Supreme Court's decision to grant bail until June 1 allows Kejriwal to campaign, positioning him as a key figure in the INDIA alliance, which seeks to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/big-court-setback-for-brij-bhushan-ex-wfi-body-chief A Delhi court's recent decision dealt a significant blow to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former Wrestling Federation of India chief, ordering the framing of charges against him in connection with sexual harassment allegations raised by female wrestlers. The court, citing ample evidence, greenlit the commencement of trial proceedings against Singh. https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwal-gets-interim-bail-till-june-1 The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal until June 1, coinciding with the final phase of voting in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal, facing charges in the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy scam and arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21, is required to surrender to prison authorities by June 2. https://opinionexpress.in/dwarkeshlaljis-vision-uniting-humanity-through-the-sanatan-parliament Shashthpithadishwar Pujya Pad Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshree, affectionately known as Dwarkeshlalji Maharaj, is a revered figure in the Sanatan Dharma Pushtimarg tradition. His life's mission revolves around the fundamental values of love, compassion, and friendship. https://opinionexpress.in/ramaswamy-sparks-dialogue-on-racisms-persistence-in-the-us Indian-American Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy shared a revealing encounter with American author Ann Coulter during his podcast, where she bluntly stated she wouldn't vote for him because of his ethnicity. Despite this, Ramaswamy expressed respect for Coulter's candidness. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-sailors-on-ship-seized-by-iran-released The Indian Embassy in Iran announced a significant diplomatic breakthrough, revealing the release of five Indian sailors who were among the crew of an Israel-linked vessel seized by Tehran. The sailors, previously detained since April 13, have departed from Iran following their release. Expressing gratitude, the embassy commended the Iranian authorities for their close cooperation with the Embassy and Indian Consulate in Bandar Abbas throughout the process. https://opinionexpress.in/hindu-population-declines-by-78tween-1950-2015-muslims-up-4315-panel A recent working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) analyzed the demographic shifts in India between 1950 and 2015, shedding light on the changing religious composition of the population. According to the paper, during this period, the Hindu population decreased by 7.82%, while the Muslim population increased by 43.15%, showcasing a conducive environment for diversity in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-express-fires-30-over-mass-sick-leave Air India Express has terminated the employment of at least 30 cabin crew members following a disruptive protest where nearly 300 employees called in sick and switched off their phones. The airline, a subsidiary of Tata-owned Air India, faces a growing crisis with 74 flights canceled today alone. https://opinionexpress.in/rashmika-mandanna-to-share-screen-space-with-salman-khan-in-sikandar Actress Rashmika Mandanna, known for her role in the film "Animal," is set to star opposite superstar Salman Khan in the upcoming movie "Sikander," as announced by the makers on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-trying-to-influence-indian-lok-sabha-polls-russia The US aims to destabilise India during the 2024 general election, the Russian foreign ministry has said after a US federal commission's report criticised New Delhi for alleged violations of religious freedom. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-targets-pitroda-for-disrespecting-india Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized Congress leader Sam Pitroda for his recent remarks, demanding a response from Rahul Gandhi and emphasizing that India won't tolerate disrespect based on skin color. Pitroda's statement, made during an interview with The Statesman, described India's diversity in a manner deemed insensitive. As videos of Pitroda's comments circulated online, the Congress distanced itself from his remarks, with senior leader Jairam Ramesh calling them unfortunate and unacceptable. https://opinionexpress.in/astrazeneca-withdraws-covidshield-vaccine-globally AstraZeneca has initiated a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine following reports of rare side effects and the emergence of updated vaccines targeting new variants. The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and produced as Covishield by the Serum Institute of India, is being withdrawn due to a surplus of newer vaccines available for COVID-19, according to The Telegraph. https://opinionexpress.in/putins-fifth-term-launches-amidst-stormy-continuation-of-power-in-russia Vladimir Putin commenced his fifth term as the leader of Russia on Tuesday, inaugurated amidst pomp and ceremony at the Kremlin. This marks the continuation of his enduring tenure, now spanning nearly a quarter-century, making him the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin. With his new term extending until 2030, Putin retains a firm grip on power, having consolidated authority and sidelined political opponents. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-withholds-bail-for-kejriwal-amidst-money-laundering-probe The Supreme Court is yet to deliver its verdict on interim bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 over money laundering allegations related to the purported liquor policy scandal. https://opinionexpress.in/sunita-williams-mission-to-space-called-off The highly anticipated launch of the Boeing Starliner, carrying astronaut Sunita Williams for her third space mission, faced an unexpected delay due to a technical issue. Scheduled to depart from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, the event was poised to mark a significant milestone in space exploration, especially for Williams, a prominent figure for aspiring female astronauts. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-faces-nia-probe-over-alleged-khalistan-sfj-funding In a dramatic twist on Monday, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has demanded an anti-terrorism investigation into allegations that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received political funding from the banned Sikhs For Justice group, founded by wanted terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-military-gears-up-for-major-ground-operation-in-rafah The Israeli army announced on Monday that approximately 100,000 individuals were being evacuated from eastern Rafah in anticipation of an impending ground assault in the southern Gaza city. A military spokesperson informed journalists about the evacuation figure when queried about the ongoing operation. https://opinionexpress.in/warren-buffett-sees-bright-future-in-indian-markets Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, recently expressed interest in the untapped opportunities present in the Indian market, stating that his conglomerate holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, is keen on exploring them in the future. Speaking at Berkshire's annual meeting, Buffett responded to a query from Rajeev Agarwal of DoorDarshi Advisors regarding Berkshire's potential ventures in India, the world's fifth-largest economy. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-cabinet-votes-to-shut-down-al-jazeera Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet decided on Sunday to shut down Al Jazeera's operations in Israel for as long as the war in Gaza continues, on the grounds the Qatari television network threatens national security."The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu posted on social media following the unanimous cabinet vote. https://opinionexpress.in/rajnath-singh-believes-people-in-pok-will-voluntarily-join-india In an exclusive interview with PTI, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that India's claim on Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) remains steadfast, emphasizing that the region rightfully belongs to India. Singh highlighted the significant progress and development witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir, attributing it to the improved ground situation and economic growth. He suggested that as Kashmir flourishes under Indian governance, the people of PoK would naturally desire integration with India, negating the need for forceful capture. https://opinionexpress.in/major-terror-attack-in-jk In a tragic incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, one Indian Air Force (IAF) soldier lost his life, and five others sustained injuries when their convoy, including an IAF vehicle, faced heavy terrorist gunfire in the Surankote area. Among the injured, one airman is reportedly in critical condition. They were swiftly airlifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur for urgent medical attention. https://opinionexpress.in/s-jaishankar-reacts-to-bidens-xenophobic-remark External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rebuffed recent assertions by US President Joe Biden characterizing India and other nations as "xenophobic" for their purported reluctance to embrace immigrants. Jaishankar, in an interview with The Economic Times, emphasized India's historical openness to diverse societies, countering Biden's claims. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-arrests-three-indians-in-khalistani-terrorists-nijjar-murder Canadian authorities announced on Friday the arrest of three individuals from India suspected to be involved in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. The killing of Nijjar had triggered a diplomatic confrontation between India and Canada when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused "Indian agents" of involvement, a claim vehemently denied by India. https://opinionexpress.in/congresss-shuffle-rahul-gandhi-moves-to-raebareli-priyanka-gandhi-vadra-opts-out In a surprising twist, the Congress party made an 11th-hour decision regarding the key constituencies of Amethi and Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi, initially expected to reclaim Amethi, has been named as the candidate from Raebareli. This seat was recently vacated by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, upon her move to the Rajya Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/sudden-infection-claims-life-of-noted-boeing-whistleblower Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, passed away at the age of 45 on Tuesday due to a sudden and rapidly spreading infection, as reported. His demise comes shortly after another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, reportedly died by suicide two months prior. https://opinionexpress.in/uae-battered-by-thunderstorms-heavy-rains Heavy rains and thunderstorms swept through the UAE today, causing the cancellation of multiple international flights. This incident occurred just two weeks after Dubai faced unprecedented storms that had brought the emirate to a standstill for several days. Responding to the situation, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) raised the readiness and preparedness levels of the national system. https://opinionexpress.in/godrej-family-stands-divided-after-127-year The Godrej Group, established 127 years ago and known for its diverse businesses from soaps and appliances to real estate, is undergoing a split among its founding family members. The agreement divides the conglomerate into two branches: Adi Godrej and Nadir Godrej retaining Godrej Industries along with five listed firms, while cousins Jamshyd Godrej and Smita Godrej Crishna gain control of unlisted Godrej & Boyce and its affiliates, alongside a substantial land bank including prime properties in Mumbai. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-collection-stands-at-all-time-high-in-april-2024 In April 2024, Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections soared to a new high of ?2.10 lakh crore, marking a substantial 12.4% increase compared to the previous year. This milestone, announced by the finance ministry, is credited to a robust economic landscape, heightened domestic transactions, and amplified imports. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-squad-for-wc-2024-announced-bcci India will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York before facing Pakistan in a much-anticipated encounter at the same venue on June 9. India will play the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistani-minister-we-beg-as-india-rises-to-superpower-status Pakistan's prominent right-wing Islamic leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman unexpectedly voiced support for his former rival, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), affirming their right to hold rallies and possibly govern. In a fiery speech at the National Assembly, Rehman, the head of his faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), criticized the influential establishment for allegedly manipulating the political system. https://opinionexpress.in/hindus-wont-gain-from-ucc-mamata-banerjee West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP for using the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as a political tactic ahead of elections, stating that Hindus won't benefit from it. At a rally in Jangipur, Murshidabad district, Banerjee accused the BJP of divisive strategies due to anticipated defeat early in polling. https://opinionexpress.in/india-lodges-strong-protest-against-pro-khalistan-slogans-in-presence-of-canadian-pm At Toronto's Khalsa Day Celebrations, pro-Khalistan slogans resounded in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, reflecting a surge in anti-India sentiment in Canada. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-meets-chinese-premier-li-qiang Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, made an unannounced visit to Beijing, where he is anticipated to meet senior officials regarding the rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and the transfer of data overseas. Chinese state media reported his meeting with Premier Li Qiang, who commended Tesla's contribution to US-China economic cooperation. https://opinionexpress.in/pro-palestine-protests-spread-rapidly-across-us-universities Protesters, in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, expanded their activism to various universities. Notably, at Harvard University, the Palestinian flag replaced the US flag, and a large Palestinian flag was displayed at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-contrasts-karsevak-shooters-vs-ram-temple-builders Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, criticized the opposition during a public rally in support of BJP candidate Rajveer Singh from Etah-Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh. Shah targeted them for delaying the Ram temple issue and emphasized the choice between "those who opened fire at karsevaks and those who built the Ram temple." https://opinionexpress.in/indian-coast-guard-seizes-600-crore-in-drugs The Indian Coast Guard made a significant interception today, seizing a suspicious Pakistani boat carrying nearly 86 kg of drugs valued at ?600 crore. Acting on actionable intelligence, the Coast Guard collaborated with the Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to crack down on a drug trafficking syndicate in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/pro-palestine-protests-continue-in-us Hundreds of students across prestigious universities like Harvard, Columbia, Yale, and UC Berkeley are rallying for disclosure and divestment concerning investments tied to Israel and weapons fueling the Gaza conflict. Led by figures like Malak Afaneh, a UC Berkeley law student, these protests demand universities to sever ties with entities linked to Israel, including BlackRock, Google, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, and Airbnb. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-supreme-courts-evm-verdict-shatters-oppositions-dreams Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue of 100% VVPAT verification of votes after the Supreme Court dismissed the requests. He criticized the Opposition, accusing them of instilling doubt in people's minds about EVMs and labeled it as a sin. Speaking at a rally in Bihar during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections covering 88 seats, Modi expressed satisfaction that the Supreme Court's ruling shattered the Opposition's hopes. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-dismisses-petitions-seeking-100-verification-of-votes The bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Datta emphasized the importance of meaningful criticism while avoiding blind skepticism that could erode trust in systems like the judiciary and legislature. He noted that democracy thrives on maintaining harmony and trust among its pillars. Cultivating a culture of trust and collaboration, he argued, would strengthen the democratic voice. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-share-cause-list-filing-and-listing-info-via-whatsapp-cji Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud recently unveiled a significant leap in digitization at the Supreme Court, announcing the integration of WhatsApp into its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services. This move aims to streamline communication with advocates, reducing paper usage and contributing to environmental conservation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-trashes-us-report-on-alleged-rights-abuse-in-manipur India strongly rebuked a US State Department report citing "significant human rights abuses" in Manipur post-violence, calling it biased and poorly informed. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, dismissed the report during a media briefing, urging others to do the same. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-grapples-with-private-property-rights-debate The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, delved into a critical legal debate on Wednesday regarding private property's status as "material resources of the community" under the Constitution. The discussion stemmed from arguments presented by various parties, including the Property Owners Association (POA) of Mumbai, who vehemently opposed the notion of state authorities taking over private properties under constitutional provisions like Articles 39 (b) and 31 C. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-gears-up-for-rafah-operation-amidst-regional-tensions The situation in Gaza is escalating as Israel plans to proceed with a military operation in Rafah targeting Hamas, prompting concerns from Egypt. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government confirmed the move, mentioning the acquisition of tents to accommodate displaced Palestinians. The operation's timeline remains undisclosed. https://opinionexpress.in/us-warns-pakistan-of-sanctions-risk-in-iran-trade-deal The US has recently issued a warning to Pakistan about the potential for sanctions due to its business dealings with Iran. The warning, delivered by US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, emphasized ongoing actions against proliferation networks, particularly those involved in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) procurement. https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-industries-shares-peak-at-historic-highs-on-strong-annual-results Reliance Industries Ltd saw a 0.85% rise in its stock price on Tuesday following its announcement of record-breaking annual earnings. The stock reached Rs 2,986.05 on the BSE and Rs 2,987 on the NSE, reflecting investor optimism. https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-launches-fresh-rocket-attack-at-israel Hezbollah launched numerous Katyusha rockets at the Israeli army headquarters in northern Israel. This action was confirmed by a Hezbollah statement, mentioning "dozens" of rockets fired. The attack was allegedly in response to Israeli activities in southern Lebanese villages. https://opinionexpress.in/india-surges-to-second-place-as-top-source-of-new-us-citizens The Congressional Research Service's latest "US Naturalisation Policy" report for the fiscal year 2022 revealed that a total of 969,380 individuals were naturalised as US citizens. Among these, individuals born in Mexico accounted for the highest number of naturalisations, followed by those from India, the Philippines, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. https://opinionexpress.in/pro-china-leaders-party-in-maldives-wins Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's party, the People's National Congress (PNC), has emerged victorious in a sweeping electoral win, securing control of parliament in a resounding mandate. The election results, as reported by the Elections Commission of Maldives, indicate a significant shift in support towards Muizzu's pro-China stance and a departure from the country's traditional ties with India. https://opinionexpress.in/caa-will-be-repealed-congress Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has announced that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be repealed during the first parliamentary session after the INDIA Bloc forms the government. Although not explicitly stated in the Congress's manifesto, Chidambaram assured that the intention to repeal the CAA is clear. He attributed its absence from the manifesto to space constraints. Chidambaram criticized the BJP's decade-long rule, vowing to repeal five damaging laws, including the CAA. https://opinionexpress.in/turkey-host-hamas-chief-in-istanbul President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Palestinians to unite amid Israel's war in Gaza following hours-long talks with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul on Saturday, his office said. Erdogan has failed to establish a foothold as a mediator in the Gaza conflict that has roiled the region, with the Hamas-run Palestinian territory bracing for a new Israeli offensive and a reported Israeli attack on Iran. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-and-israel-step-back-from-escalation-of-hostilities Iran and Israel have taken steps to ease tensions despite recent escalations. The United States approved new military aid for Israel amidst criticisms of its actions in Gaza. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-hit-with-harsh-sanctions-by-us-and-uk-amid-rising-tensions The US and UK have jointly imposed fresh sanctions on Iran following heightened concerns over Tehran's recent attack on Israel, fearing it could escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East. https://opinionexpress.in/pro-iran-troops-bombed-in-iraq The Middle East remains tense as a military base in central Iraq housing army troops and pro-Iranian paramilitaries was bombed overnight amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The attack, which the US military denied involvement in, resulted in one death and eight injuries at the Calso base. Hashed al-Shaabi, a former pro-Iranian paramilitary group now part of Iraq's security forces, suffered casualties and material losses. https://opinionexpress.in/india-delivered-brahmos-supersonic-cruise-missiles-to-the-philippines India delivered BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines as part of a $375 million deal signed in 2022. The Indian Air Force utilized its C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft to transport the missiles, marking the first time India has exported the BrahMos missile system to another country. https://opinionexpress.in/israels-strike-on-iran-intensifies-middle-east-conflict The recent military strike carried out by Israel inside Iran has sparked concerns of escalating tensions in the region. Reports indicate that blasts were heard near Isfahan, prompting the activation of Iran’s air defense systems in various locations. Despite these events, Iranian officials have downplayed the situation, stating that air defenses intercepted three drones and no missile attack occurred. https://opinionexpress.in/epic-indian-election-2024-underway The Lok Sabha elections of 2024, heralded by the BJP as a stepping stone towards 2047 and portrayed by the Opposition as a decisive battle for the preservation of democracy, commenced today. This inaugural phase encompasses 102 constituencies spread across 21 states and Union Territories. https://opinionexpress.in/drdo-itcm-successfully-tested-rajnath-singh India achieved a significant milestone on Thursday with the successful flight testing of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, according to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-backs-permanent-unsc-seat-for-india In a recent press briefing, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed the United States' support for reforms within United Nations institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This statement came in response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's criticism of India's absence from the UNSC's permanent membership. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-govt-notifies-new-fdi-rules-for-space-sector The Indian government has recently introduced amendments to the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy in the space sector, aiming to attract offshore investors in satellite manufacturing and satellite launch vehicles segments. These amendments, detailed in a gazette notification dated April 16, 2024, have established a more liberalized entry route and provided clarity regarding FDI in satellites, launch vehicles, associated systems or subsystems, spaceports for spacecraft launching and receiving, and manufacturing of space-related components and systems. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-govt-huge-praise-for-narasimha-rao-manmohan-singh-in-sc The BJP-led central government has recently lauded former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and his then Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, for their pivotal roles in kickstarting economic liberalization and opening up the Indian economy in 1991. This commendation came during a Supreme Court hearing, where Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a nine-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud about the significant changes brought about by Rao and Singh's economic reforms. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-weighs-strike-on-irans-nuclear-sites-amid-escalating-tensions Israel's war cabinet is urgently deliberating on retaliatory measures following Iran's unprecedented drone and missile attack, with nearly 300 projectiles launched from Iranian soil. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite international calls for restraint, is adamant about a forceful response to avoid signaling weakness and inviting further aggression. https://opinionexpress.in/singapore-prime-minister-lee-to-step-down-on-may-15 Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently announced his forthcoming resignation on May 15, ending his nearly two-decade-long tenure leading the country's government. This move aligns with the pre-planned leadership transition, with his deputy Lawrence Wong set to succeed him. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-continue-to-slump-over-tensions-in-middle-east Equity indices extended their decline on Tuesday, driven by concerns over escalating Middle East tensions and weak global market trends. Foreign fund outflows and a rise in Brent crude oil prices further soured investor sentiment. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-leadership-under-pressure-over-iran-attack Israel is under intense scrutiny following Iran's significant attack, yet its war cabinet remains undecided on the course of action. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, usually outspoken, has refrained from outlining a response strategy to Iran's unprecedented assault involving over 300 drones and missiles, which was triggered by an earlier strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. https://opinionexpress.in/un-worried-about-strikes-on-nuclear-sites-in-israel-iran-war Israel is preparing to respond to Iran's recent attack, which has sparked fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East. World leaders are urging de-escalation to prevent further turmoil in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/inr-weakens-to-record-low-against-us-dollar The Indian rupee saw a 9 paise decline against the US dollar in early trading on Tuesday, landing at 83.53, attributed to a strong US dollar and heightened crude oil prices. This downward trend was exacerbated by negative movements in domestic equities and ongoing foreign fund outflows, impacting investor confidence. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-manifesto-is-for-every-section-of-the-society-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the comprehensive nature of the BJP's manifesto during a recent public address in Kattakada, Attingal Lok Sabha constituency. He highlighted the party's commitment to creating a roadmap that addresses the needs of every segment of Indian society. https://opinionexpress.in/irans-president-issues-strong-warning-over-potential-israeli-retaliation President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel and its allies against reckless actions after Iran's drone and missile attack, marking the first direct military assault on Israeli territory by Iran. Raisi emphasized that any provocative behavior from Israel or its supporters would result in a decisive and stronger retaliation from Iran. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-unveils-vision-2047 During an interview with ANI, Prime Minister Modi addressed concerns about opposition claims regarding the BJP's potential to alter the constitution if elected to power. He emphasized that his intentions were not to intimidate but rather to focus on the holistic development of the nation. PM Modi expressed his belief that despite efforts made in the right direction, there is still much to be done to fulfill the needs and dreams of every Indian citizen. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-attack-threat-on-israel-puts-region-on-edge Residents in central Gaza reported heavy Israeli fire on Friday amid escalating regional tensions following Iran's threats of reprisals over a recent strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals. https://opinionexpress.in/eliminating-corruption-has-been-our-priority-modi During an exclusive interaction with Hindi outlet Hindustan, the Prime Minister reiterated his government's strong stance against corruption, emphasizing that combating corruption has been a top priority for the past ten years. He also countered the opposition's assertions that actions are biased towards targeting political adversaries or non-BJP governed states, stating that anti-corruption measures are being pursued even in BJP-ruled states. https://opinionexpress.in/billionaire-executed-for-27-billion-corruption-scheme-in-vietnam Lan was found guilty of siphoning funds from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) over a period of ten years. The verdict cited that her actions had severely undermined public trust in the leadership of the Communist Party and the state. https://opinionexpress.in/need-to-address-border-situation-on-lac-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the urgent need to address the India-China border situation to rectify the "abnormality" in their bilateral interactions, highlighting the significance of the relationship between the two countries. In an interview with Newsweek magazine, PM Modi underscored that stable India-China relations are crucial not only for both nations but also for the entire world. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-minister-resigns-quits-party-citing-corruption Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand recently tendered his resignation from both his ministerial post and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). His departure was motivated by what he perceives as the party's shift from its roots as an anti-corruption force to one entangled in corrupt practices. This sentiment was particularly fueled by the Delhi liquor policy case and the subsequent arrests of key AAP figures, including party chief Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy Manish Sisodia. https://opinionexpress.in/myanmars-military-has-begun-basic-training-at-military-bases Myanmar's military has initiated basic training at various military bases and schools nationwide as part of the country's recently activated conscription law, according to state-run media reports on Tuesday. This law, activated in February, aims to bolster the military's ranks, which have been depleted due to ongoing conflicts with ethnic minority armed groups and pro-democracy resistance forces opposed to military rule since February 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/no-trace-of-indian-intervention-in-canada-elections An official investigation into allegations of foreign interference in Canadian elections has concluded that India did not attempt to meddle in the country's politics. A panel of senior Canadian officials monitoring the 2021 elections found no evidence of India trying to influence national polls. One poll official stated to the probe panel, "I do not believe during the 2021 election that we saw evidence of the Government of India using those tools in the campaign." https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwal-to-stay-in-jail-hc On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court ruled that Arvind Kejriwal will stay in jail, dismissing his challenge to the March 21 arrest related to an alleged liquor policy scam. The court found his argument "not sustainable," especially given the Enforcement Directorate's assertion of evidence showing his involvement in formulating the now-revoked rule. Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party leader, dubbed the "kingpin" of the scam by the ED, will remain in Delhi's Tihar Jail until April 15, per a previous city court directive. Despite the ED not seeking an extension of custody, they opposed Kejriwal's release, citing his lack of cooperation during interrogation sessions. https://opinionexpress.in/high-higher-and-highest-journey-of-sensex On Tuesday, benchmark equity indices surged to unprecedented levels, with the BSE Sensex surpassing 75,000 points for the first time during early trading, and the Nifty reaching a new record high. The rally was primarily fueled by strong buying activity in IT stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-ev-car-in-india-soon-elon-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk emphasized the importance of India embracing electric vehicles, stating that it's a natural progression for every country to adopt them. He expressed his company's commitment to providing Tesla electric vehicles in India during a X Spaces session with Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. https://opinionexpress.in/astrological-prediction-on-the-eve-of-solar-eclipse-2024 Opinion Express set of experienced astrologers have briefly predicted some important tips for our readers: https://opinionexpress.in/new-zealand-hit-by-unsustainable-levels-of-migration New Zealand announced immediate adjustments to its employment visa program following a surge in migration that officials deemed unsustainable. These changes encompass new criteria like an English language requirement for low-skilled positions, a minimum skills and work experience threshold for most employer work visas, and a reduction in the maximum continuous stay for low-skilled roles from five to three years. https://opinionexpress.in/total-solar-eclipse-today A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, partially or completely blocking the Sun's light. This creates a shadow on Earth known as the "path of totality," where the Sun is entirely obscured. Within this narrow band, observers can witness a total solar eclipse, experiencing darkness akin to dawn or dusk. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-at-all-time-high Equity indices surged at the start of trading on Monday, with both the Sensex and Nifty hitting new highs, buoyed by positive sentiments in global markets and increased foreign fund investments. Reliance Industries' stock buying also contributed to the market's upward trend. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-accuses-cong-for-being-hostile-towards-sanatan-dharma Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress during a rally in Nawada district, Bihar. He accused the Congress of echoing the Muslim League in their manifesto and criticized their leaders for allegedly opposing national integrity and Sanatan Dharma. Modi praised ally Nitish Kumar and BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi for transforming Bihar from 'jungle raj' under Congress-RJD rule. https://opinionexpress.in/one-step-away-from-the-decisive-victory-netanyahu Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement said that Israel was "one step away from victory" in the Gaza war and vowed there would be no truce until Hamas frees all hostages. He was speaking in a cabinet meeting marking six months of the war that broke out on October 7 after an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-accuses-india-of-interfering-in-its-elections Canada has accused India and Pakistan of interfering in its elections, a claim India strongly denies. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) released a report alleging that both countries attempted to influence Canada's electoral processes during the 2019 and 2021 general elections. The report suggests India targeted specific districts with Indian-origin voters sympathetic to the Khalistani movement or pro-Pakistan views. It alleges that a government proxy agent may have provided illicit financial support to favored candidates. Pakistan is also accused of engaging in clandestine activities to advance its interests in Canada's political landscape. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-sounds-alarm-of-imminent-conflict-with-israel Iran has urged the US to "step aside" as it readies a response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria, while Iran's proxy in the Middle East has warned of preparedness for war. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-ai-tactics-likely-to-target-indian-elections Microsoft has cautioned about China's plans to disrupt upcoming elections in India, the United States, and South Korea using AI-generated content. This alert follows China's trial during Taiwan's presidential election, where AI was used to influence outcomes. https://opinionexpress.in/lok-sabha-elections-2024-anticipated-outcome-and-broad-impacts The upcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2024 in India are anticipated to be one of the most crucial, mammoth, and consequential electoral exercises in recent history. The likely outcome of these polls, the national effect, and the global implications are topics of immense interest and significance. https://opinionexpress.in/analyzing-the-2024-lok-sabha-elections-domestic-and-global-significance As 1.4 billion Indians gear up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, anticipation and speculation are at an all-time high regarding the potential outcomes and the broad impacts that these elections might have, both nationally and globally. The dynamics of alliances and coalitions are also poised for a shift in the upcoming elections. Theruling Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance is seeking to consolidate its position and secure a renewed mandate, highlighting its achievements in governance, economic reforms, and national security. On the other hand, the opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress and various regional outfits, are aiming to forge alliances and present a united front against the incumbent government. https://opinionexpress.in/india-knows-better-than-un-on-free-and-fair-elections-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to a United Nations official's recent comments on India's elections, asserting that India doesn't need the UN to dictate that its elections should be "free and fair." Jaishankar dismissed the UN official's remarks as unnecessary, highlighting that the Indian people themselves ensure the fairness of elections. https://opinionexpress.in/key-lending-rate-unchanged-rbi The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained its key lending rate at 6.5% for the seventh consecutive time, announced RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. The decision, reached by a 5:1 majority at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, suggests that loan interest rates are likely to remain stable. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-capital-markets-commands-global-trust-buch Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch highlighted the robust valuations in Indian capital markets, attributing them to foreign investors' bullish outlook on the country's economic growth. She noted increased interest among foreign investors due to India's accelerating economy, evident in metrics like GST collections, advance tax payments, and energy consumption. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-mp-sanjay-singh-walks-out-of-jail-targets-bjp AAP MP Sanjay Singh walked out of Tihar jail after being granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi excise policy case. He promptly aimed the BJP, criticizing the party for allegedly harboring corrupt leaders and vowed to respond to their actions. https://opinionexpress.in/indo-pak-relations-to-improve-post-indian-polls-pak-mod Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed optimism regarding the prospects of improved relations with India following the general elections in India. Asif's statement came in the wake of remarks by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Singapore, where he accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism at an "industry level," signaling a shift in India's stance towards addressing terrorism more assertively. https://opinionexpress.in/strongest-earthquake-in-25-years-hits-taiwan A devastating earthquake hit Taiwan, claiming four lives and injuring nearly 60 individuals while causing significant damage to numerous buildings. The quake, among the strongest in Taiwan in years, triggered tsunami warnings reaching Japan and the Philippines, although these were later lifted. Officials, including Wu Chien-fu from Taipei's Central Weather Administration's Seismology Center, cautioned about potential aftershocks following the main tremor. https://opinionexpress.in/sanjay-singh-aap-mp-gets-bail The Supreme Court granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh, questioning the Enforcement Directorate (ED) about the reasons for his more than six-month detention without a trial or the recovery of an alleged bribe of ?2 crore. The court pointed out that no evidence had been found, stating that there was no trace of the money supposedly received by the AAP for liquor licenses. https://opinionexpress.in/india-likely-to-get-permanent-un-security-council-seat-soon-jaishankar During an interaction with intellectuals in Rajkot city, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed optimism about India securing permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He highlighted that although the UNSC's current permanent members were designated nearly 80 years ago by five nations—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—the world has significantly changed since then, with the number of independent countries growing to around 193. https://opinionexpress.in/middle-east-tensions-rise-as-israel-strikes-iranian-targets After the deadly air strike by Israel, the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group warned that Israel would pay for killing high-level Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in a strike on the country's consulate in Damascus, Syria, the day before. Hezbollah has exchanged near-daily cross-border fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas since the Gaza war erupted in October. "Certainly, this crime will not pass without the enemy receiving punishment and revenge," Hezbollah said in a statement. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-likely-to-help-donald-trump-for-us-elections Elon Musk, among the wealthiest individuals globally, remains noncommittal about backing Joe Biden or Donald Trump directly in the US election, although his social media activity leans towards supporting Republicans. Despite hints of favoring Trump, Musk stated in an interview that he's unlikely to contribute to any campaign, preferring to offer a detailed explanation if he endorses a candidate. https://opinionexpress.in/s-jaishankar-reignites-katchatheevu-row External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance on the Katchatheevu island controversy, revealing historical perspectives. He mentioned Jawaharlal Nehru's willingness to cede the island to Sri Lanka and the subsequent acceptance of the island by the Indira Gandhi government in 1974 under the Indo-Sri Lankan maritime agreement. https://opinionexpress.in/tax-relief-for-congress-till-elections The Centre assured the Supreme Court that it would refrain from pursuing tax recovery against the Congress, amounting to ?3,500 crore, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The court scheduled the next hearing for July 24. The Congress had contested Income Tax notices demanding ?3,567 crore, accusing the BJP of "tax terrorism" to hinder its financial stability pre-election. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-in-tihar-jail-till-15-april Arvind Kejriwal is sent to Judicial custody till 145 April. He is likely to be lodged in Tihar Jail.  https://opinionexpress.in/us-ambassador-pledges-to-reduce-visa-waiting-times The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, highlighted President Joe Biden's directive to reduce visa waiting times in India, noting it as an unprecedented move. He mentioned the legislative aspects contributing to the green card backlog, emphasizing Congress's role in addressing these issues. https://opinionexpress.in/india-alliance-blasts-modi-for-undemocratic-tactics Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc gathered at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, demanding the release of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, accusing the BJP of undermining democracy. Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra listed demands to the Election Commission, condemning actions by investigative agencies. They called for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into BJP's alleged fund extortion via electoral bonds. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-ratna-awardees-showcase-modi-govts-dedication-to-development-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the Modi government's dedication to farmers, the downtrodden, and backward communities during the Bharat Ratna ceremony where former Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan, and former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur were posthumously honored. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-questions-delhi-minister-kailash-gahlot Delhi Minister and AAP Leader Kailash Gahlot Summoned by Enforcement Directorate in Money Laundering Case Related to Liquor Policy https://opinionexpress.in/indian-navy-rescues-pakistanis-from-pirate-attack-on-iranian-vessel The Indian Navy swiftly responded to a distress call regarding a potential piracy incident in the Arabian Sea, targeting the Iranian fishing vessel 'Al-Kambar 786'. This event, occurring on March 28, prompted the deployment of two Indian Naval ships already engaged in maritime security operations. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-threatens-tough-action-to-democracys-adversaries Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader, vowed that his party would take significant measures against those undermining democracy, particularly targeting the government, after receiving a substantial ?1,800 crore income tax notice, labeling it as "tax terrorism." The notice spans from assessment years 2017-18 to 2020-21 and includes penalties and interest. https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-rs-1700-crore-it-notice-to-congress The Income Tax Department has issued a fresh ?1,700 crore notice to the Congress party following the Delhi High Court's dismissal of the party's petition contesting previous tax notices. The new notice covers assessment years from 2017-18 to 2020-21, including penalties and interest charges. https://opinionexpress.in/international-voices-echo-the-need-for-a-level-playing-field-in-indias-elections A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hopes for the protection of political and civil rights in India and any country undergoing elections. The remarks were made in response to concerns about political unrest in India ahead of national elections, particularly regarding the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of the Congress Party's bank accounts. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-china-grapple-with-high-youth-unemployment-rates According to a recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), India faces a concerning trend where highly educated young individuals are more likely to be unemployed compared to those with lower levels of education. The unemployment rate for graduates in India stands at 29.1%, which is nearly nine times higher than the 3.4% rate for illiterate individuals. Similarly, young people with secondary education or higher face an unemployment rate six times higher than those without formal education, at 18.4%. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-in-trouble-over-tax-reassessment-by-it-authorities In mounting trouble for the grand old party just before the Lok Sabha polls, the Delhi High Court today rejected petitions by the Congress challenging the initiation of tax reassessment proceedings against it for four years by tax authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/no-normal-ties-with-china-is-possible-until-s-jaishankar In a recent interaction with the Indian community in Kuala Lumpur, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that achieving normalcy in bilateral ties with China hinges on adhering to traditional troop deployment practices. He underscored that securing India's borders remains a top priority and reiterated his commitment to not compromise on border security. https://opinionexpress.in/sadanand-vasant-date-has-been-appointed-as-the-director-general-of-the-nia Sadanand Vasant Date, the chief of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as per a Personnel Ministry order. Date, a 1990-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been selected by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for a tenure until his superannuation on December 31, 2026. He will succeed Dinkar Gupta, who is set to retire on March 31. https://opinionexpress.in/pavan-davuluri-iitian-to-head-microsoft-windows Pavan Davuluri, an IIT Madras alumnus, has been appointed as the new head of Microsoft Windows and Surface, marking another instance of an Indian professional assuming a leadership position at a major technology company, similar to Google's Sundar Pichai and Microsoft's Satya Nadella. Davuluri succeeds Panos Panay, who transitioned to Amazon last year. Previously, Davuluri oversaw the Surface group while Mikhail Parakhin led the Windows department. Following the departures of Parakhin and Panay, Davuluri now heads both Windows and Surface departments. https://opinionexpress.in/6-feared-dead-in-the-us-bridge-collapse Six individuals are feared dead following a ship collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, US, causing it to collapse into the water. The incident occurred when the container ship Dali, operated by an Indian crew, lost power temporarily and collided with the bridge. Although all 22 crew members were safe, six repairmen working on the bridge were reported missing. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-hints-at-afspa-repeal-troop-withdrawal-in-jk Shah emphasized the transformation in public trust towards the Jammu and Kashmir Police, noting that they now effectively lead operations. Regarding the controversial AFSPA, which grants broad powers to armed forces personnel in disturbed areas, including search, arrest, and use of force for public order maintenance, Shah stated that reconsideration for its revocation is underway. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-holds-off-confirming-isis-involvement-in-moscow-attack The Kremlin maintained silence on Monday regarding the Islamic State group's assertion of responsibility for the deadliest attack in Russia in two decades. The incident, which occurred at the Moscow concert hall where camouflaged gunmen initiated gunfire, resulting in a blaze and claiming the lives of at least 137 individuals, has led to the detention of eleven suspects. https://opinionexpress.in/navin-jindal-joins-bjp-unconventional-move-signals-new-political-dynamics Navin Jindal's entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana would undoubtedly have significant implications for the political landscape in the state. As a prominent figure with a history in Congress and close ties to Rahul Gandhi, his move to the BJP could signal a notable shift in alliances and strategies within the state's political circles. https://opinionexpress.in/global-it-stocks-slides IT stocks experienced a significant decline in early trading on Friday following reports of tech giant Accenture revising its revenue guidance for fiscal year 2024. This news led to a sharp drop in shares of major IT companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwals-arrest-sparks-clash-between-aap-and-bjp The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for a 'gherao' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, sparking a contentious political showdown. Simultaneously, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned a counter-protest demanding Kejriwal's resignation, intensifying the political tension in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/boeing-faces-scrutiny-over-safety-incidents Boeing disclosed on Monday that its CEO Dave Calhoun would step down amid growing scrutiny following several safety incidents and manufacturing challenges. Calhoun, acknowledging the global attention on Boeing, expressed confidence in the company's ability to emerge stronger from the current challenges. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-russia-are-time-tested-friends-eam-jaishankar India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed the enduring positive relationship between India and Russia, emphasizing mutual care for each other's interests. Dismissing notions of Russia gravitating towards China, Jaishankar urged viewing relationships pragmatically. He highlighted Russia's historical contributions and cooperation with India, asking whether Russia had benefited or hindered India. https://opinionexpress.in/india-alliance-will-cross-272-mark-congress Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-corruption rhetoric as "hollow," emphasizing that the opposition remains united despite recent shifts in alliances. Ramesh highlighted that despite Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's change in stance and Mamata Banerjee's independent decisions, the INDIA bloc, comprising various opposition parties, remains intact and focused on ousting the BJP from power in the upcoming elections. https://opinionexpress.in/maldives-president-urged-to-improve-relations-with-india-for-diplomatic-resolution Former Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has urged current President Mohamed Muizzu to abandon stubbornness and engage in dialogue with neighboring countries to address the nation's financial challenges. This advice comes in the wake of President Muizzu's recent call for debt relief from India, a move that has been viewed in the context of his pro-China stance. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-mandir-rath-yatra-set-to-begin-in-the-united-states The Ram Mandir Rath Yatra is set to commence from Chicago in the United States on Monday, embarking on a journey to visit 851 temples across 48 states, covering over 8,000 miles within the next 60 days. Organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), the yatra will feature a specially constructed chariot, fashioned from a Toyota Sienna van, carrying statues of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman. Additionally, it will transport sacred prasadam from the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and a kalash of Prana Pratishtha Pujit Akshat. https://opinionexpress.in/india-confronts-germany-over-remarks-on-kejriwals-arrest India lodged a formal protest on Saturday by summoning the German deputy chief of mission in response to remarks made by the German Foreign Ministry concerning the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-demands-sc-monitored-sit-probe-in-electoral-bond-bribes The Congress reiterated its call for a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into the electoral bonds controversy, arguing that the lack of transparency in the scheme facilitated the channeling of prepaid, postpaid, and post-raid bribes through the banking system. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-raids-mahua-moitra-in-cash-for-query-case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra in connection with the cash-for-query case. Simultaneously, raids were also carried out at other locations in Kolkata. These actions followed the filing of an FIR against the former TMC MP by the CBI on Thursday, following directives from the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-pm-bestowed-bhutans-order-of-the-druk-gyalpo Expressing his gratitude, Modi shared on social media platform X, "Honored to be conferred with 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' Award by Bhutan. I dedicate it to 140 crore Indians." The award was presented by Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck during Prime Minister Modi's two-day State visit, marking his third visit since assuming office in 2014. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-foreign-exchange-reserves-at-usd-643-billions-hit-all-time-high India's foreign exchange reserves surged for the fourth consecutive week, reaching an unprecedented high of USD 642.292 billion by March 15, according to recent data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The reserves saw a notable increase of USD 6.396 billion during this week alone. Prior to this, in the week ending March 8, the reserves had surged by USD 10.470 billion, totaling USD 636.095 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/moscow-mourns-60-dead-100-injured-after-isis-gunmen-target-concert More than 60 individuals tragically lost their lives, with about 115 others sustaining injuries, following a devastating attack carried out by gunmen at a concert hall in Moscow, according to statements from Russian authorities. The initial count of casualties at 40 was later revised upwards, reflecting the severity of the incident. https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwal-kingpin-of-the-liquor-gate-ed During the hearing, Mr. Raju portrayed Mr. Kejriwal as the central figure in the alleged scam, directly involved in implementing the policy and favoring the southern group. The ED also accused him of using proceeds of crime. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-files-case-against-apple-for-monopolising-smartphone-market The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of unlawfully maintaining a monopoly over its iPhone, which allegedly restricts competition and imposes excessive costs on consumers. The lawsuit, supported by multiple US states, claims that Apple's practices generate substantial revenue while hindering consumer choice and innovation. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-leader-and-delhi-cm-kejriwal-arrested-by-ed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an excise policy-linked money laundering case has sparked intense political reactions, especially with the Lok Sabha elections looming. The arrest, deemed significant as the first of a sitting chief minister, followed the Delhi High Court's denial of protection to Kejriwal from coercive ED action. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-systematically-crippling-congress-financially-sonia Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has leveled a grave accusation against the government just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, alleging that the Prime Minister has systematically attempted to financially cripple the party. This claim echoes similar sentiments expressed by senior leader Rahul Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/india-all-set-to-host-2036-summer-olympics-thakur India's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anurag Thakur expressed unwavering commitment to hosting the Youth Olympics in 2030 and the Summer Olympics in 2036. During the leading Tv Summit, Thakur emphasized India's readiness to organize these prestigious sporting events, affirming that no effort will be spared in ensuring their success. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-challenges-cult-worship-of-nehru-era-as-great-years External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticized certain decisions made by the Jawaharlal Nehru government, urging a departure from the "cult worship" of the post-1946 era as a time of greatness for India's foreign policy. He highlighted flaws in Nehru's handling of Pakistan and China while acknowledging successes with the United States. Jaishankar emphasized the need for critical analysis of past policies rather than blind adherence. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-challenges-practice-of-keeping-individuals-in-jail-with-supplementary-chargesheets The Supreme Court has raised concerns about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing supplementary charge sheets to prevent accused individuals from obtaining default bail and keeping them incarcerated indefinitely. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta expressed unease over this practice, emphasizing that the purpose of default bail is to prevent arrests until investigations are complete and trials can begin promptly. https://opinionexpress.in/arunachal-pradesh-is-an-integral-part-of-india-mea The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to recent comments by the Chinese Defence Ministry regarding Arunachal Pradesh, affirming India's unwavering stance on the state's sovereignty. The MEA expressed its disapproval of what it termed as "absurd claims" by the Chinese spokesperson regarding the territory of Arunachal Pradesh. This reaction follows a series of exchanges between the two countries, with China reiterating its assertion of Arunachal Pradesh being a part of its territory, and India firmly rejecting these claims. https://opinionexpress.in/worlds-records-hottest-decade-ever The WMO's State of the Climate report issued a "red alert" to the world, emphasizing that climate change goes beyond rising temperatures. Record-breaking events such as unprecedented ocean warmth, glacier retreat, and Antarctic sea ice loss are causes for significant concern. Marine heatwaves affected nearly a third of the global ocean daily, with over 90 percent experiencing heatwave conditions at some point in the year, posing threats to marine ecosystems and coral reefs. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-combat-piracy-terrorism-in-indian-ocean-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's dedication to upholding freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region. His statement came following a message from Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, thanking India for the safe return of seven Bulgarian nationals. https://opinionexpress.in/k-kavitha-and-kejriwal-linked-to-excise-policy-scandal-probe-agencies The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have reported significant progress in their investigation into the Delhi liquor policy case. According to the CBI's statement to the court, they have made strides in uncovering alleged money laundering linked to the now-defunct Delhi excise policy for 2021-22, which purportedly favored specific liquor dealers. The agency has indicated the potential arrest of "high-profile persons" in connection with this probe. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-directs-sbi-to-disclose-all-info-on-electoral-bonds During the hearing of a petition challenging the perceived inadequacy of data provided by the SBI regarding electoral bond donations, CJI Chandrachud emphasized the need for complete transparency. He expressed dissatisfaction with the bank's previous data submissions and insisted on a thorough disclosure of all pertinent information within its possession. https://opinionexpress.in/putins-re-election-warns-of-escalation-to-world-war-iii Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the West regarding the potential for a direct conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO alliance, cautioning that such a scenario would bring the planet perilously close to World War Three. Putin's remarks come amid heightened tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has strained Moscow's relations with Western nations to their breaking point. https://opinionexpress.in/india-slams-pakistan-for-references-to-ayodhya-caa-in-unga India strongly criticized Pakistan's recent remarks at the UN General Assembly, labeling them as repetitive and lacking in global perspective. The exchange occurred during discussions about the 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' resolution, introduced by Pakistan and adopted by the General Assembly with overwhelming support. https://opinionexpress.in/fir-lodged-against-bhupesh-baghel-over-mahadev-betting-app-allegations The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh has registered a case against former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others in the alleged Mahadev online betting scam based on a probe report submitted by the ED, officials said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/double-trouble-kejriwal-faces-two-new-ed-summons-amidst-election-season Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is facing fresh summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), as disclosed by his cabinet colleague Atishi. One summons pertains to the Delhi liquor policy case, while the other is related to an alleged false case linked to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Atishi raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the DJB case and speculated that it might be a tactic to impede Kejriwal's participation in the Lok Sabha elections. https://opinionexpress.in/india-saw-glorious-turnaround-under-nda-govt-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in response to the announcement of the seven-phase Lok Sabha election schedule, asserted the readiness of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) while criticizing the opposition as lacking direction and substantive agendas. Modi expressed confidence in retaining power and emphasized the accomplishments of his government over the past decade. https://opinionexpress.in/about-1-billion-indians-eligible-to-cast-votes-in-ls-polls During the press conference, Kumar introduced the two new Election Commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and expressed confidence in delivering a historic and impartial election that would enhance India's reputation globally. https://opinionexpress.in/ls-2024-elections-from-april-19-in-7-phases-results-on-june-4 The 2024 general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases that will begin on April 19 and continue till June 1, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said today, announcing the commencement of the world's largest democratic exercise in which the BJP would attempt to win a third consecutive term in power. The results of the election will be announced on June 4. https://opinionexpress.in/k-kavithas-house-raided-over-delhi-liquor-policy-case The Enforcement Directorate conducted a raid at the residence of BRS Leader K Kavitha in Hyderabad as she had repeatedly ignored summons related to the Delhi liquor policy case. Kavitha, a Member of the Legislative Council in Telangana and the daughter of former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is implicated in the 'South Group' alongside Hyderabad businessman Sarath Reddy, YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, and his son Raghav Magunta Reddy, who have turned approvers. https://opinionexpress.in/lok-sabha-2024-election-dates-to-be-announced-tomorrow The Election Commission of India announced that the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election would be disclosed at 3 pm on Saturday, along with the schedule for four Assembly polls set to occur around the same time. The Model Code of Conduct will be enforced upon the announcement of dates. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-has-completed-all-impossible-tasks-shah During a virtual attendance at a Gujarat government event, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, highlighting accomplishments such as the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP). Shah commended Modi for achieving what seemed impossible, referencing the completion of long-pending tasks from the BJP's manifesto and the efficient execution of developmental projects. https://opinionexpress.in/us-is-monitoring-indias-new-citizenship-law-caa The United States today said it is closely monitoring the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) implemented by India to expedite Indian citizenship for persecuted migrants from neighbouring countries. https://opinionexpress.in/bankers-in-india-gets-higher-salary-increases-than-singapore-hong-kong Finance professionals in India are poised to receive larger salary increases compared to their counterparts in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2024, reflecting the country's robust economic growth amid China's slowdown, as reported by Bloomberg Intelligence. According to analyst Sarah Jane Mahmud, salaries in India are expected to rise by 10% this year based on survey data from consulting firm Aon, while the increases in Hong Kong and Singapore are projected at 4%. https://opinionexpress.in/public-data-on-electoral-bonds-made-public-by-eci According to the disclosed information, buyers of electoral bonds include prominent entities such as Grasim Industries, Megha Engineering, Piramal Enterprises, and Bharti Airtel. Meanwhile, parties redeeming electoral bonds encompass a wide spectrum including BJP, Congress, AIADMK, and Shiv Sena among others. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-need-simultaneous-polls-kovind-committee-report Today, the high-level committee on 'one nation, one election' presented its findings to President Droupadi Murmu, advocating for synchronized elections across the country. Chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, the committee expressed unanimous support for simultaneous polls. https://opinionexpress.in/sukhbir-sandhu-and-gyanesh-kumar-are-the-new-poll-commissioners Bureaucrats Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar have been appointed to fill two vacant positions on the top panel of the Election Commission of India, as announced by Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The selection process involved a panel chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah also participating alongside Chowdhury. https://opinionexpress.in/emerging-technologies-counter-strategies-for-dragons-nefarious-dream The People's Republic of China (PRC) has emerged as a dominant force in global technology development and acquisition, utilizing a variety of methods, both legal and illegal, to bolster its technological prowess and military strength. The PRC's aggressive pursuit of advanced technologies through international collaborations and investments raises concerns about the dual-use nature of these technologies and their impact on diplomatic relations. https://opinionexpress.in/the-plight-of-private-school-teachers-a-call-for-action 'Education is the cornerstone of progress and prosperity, the teachers deserve to be accorded the respect and remuneration commensurate with their important role'. https://opinionexpress.in/latest-survey-sheds-light-on-household-spending-education-health-in-focus Analysis of household consumption surveys is integral for discerning the underpinnings of an economy—its trajectory, its resilience, and its demand potential. As consumption drives a substantial part of economic growth, these surveys unravel the narrative of an economy's strength and the well-being of its citizens. The latest household consumption survey 2022-23 by MOSPI, NSSO presents a striking development: a near doubling of consumption expenditure from 2011-12. This leap underscores inflationary trends and possibly reflects improved living standards and consumption capabilities of Indian households. Such consumption growth is a testament to an economy’s expanding potency, often heralding sustained developmental progress. https://opinionexpress.in/saini-government-wins-trust-vote-in-haryana-assembly The Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) had directed its 10 legislators to abstain from voting on the confidence motion. However, during the voting process, five of its MLAs left the House despite the party whip. https://opinionexpress.in/eci-will-disclose-details-on-electoral-bonds-in-time-cec Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that the Election Commission has received the necessary details from the State Bank of India (SBI) regarding electoral bonds and will disclose all pertinent information promptly. This follows a Supreme Court directive to SBI to furnish details of electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019, to the EC. SBI serves as the designated financial institution for issuing electoral bonds. Kumar emphasized the commission's readiness for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, including in Jammu and Kashmir, urging widespread participation in the democratic process. To combat misinformation, each district will establish a social media cell to promptly address fake news. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-over-1000-points On Wednesday, the Indian stock market witnessed a significant downturn as the Sensex plummeted by over 1,000 points, dipping below the 73,000 mark before experiencing a partial recovery. Concurrently, the Nifty also experienced a decline of over 1%. The most pronounced drops were observed in the smallcap and midcap indices, particularly the BSE smallcap index, which recorded a staggering decline of over 5%. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-to-develop-worlds-most-powerful-fusion-reactor India and Russia are exploring a broad spectrum of collaborations, including research on controlled thermonuclear fusion and the development of the transit potential of the Northern Sea Route. AE Likhacheva, CEO of Rosatom, highlighted discussions with India focusing on nuclear technologies, as well as non-energy and non-nuclear areas. The cooperation extends beyond India's borders, with Indian companies involved in Rosatom's projects in Bangladesh. https://opinionexpress.in/haryana-cm-khattar-and-cabinet-submit-resignation Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar resigned Tuesday morning after meeting Governor Bandaru Dattareya. Mr Khattar's resignation - followed immediately by the entire cabinet - comes amid speculation of a split in the ruling alliance over seat-sharing agreements for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Sources have also said the senior BJP leader, in a surprise move, could contest from Karnal. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-reveals-success-of-agni-5-missiles-inaugural-flight Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled "Mission Divyastra," heralding a significant milestone in India's defense capabilities. The mission showcases an indigenous weapons system that promises to reshape the country's geopolitical standing. https://opinionexpress.in/caa-to-become-reality-today The Union Home Ministry is reportedly set to issue a notification tonight to enforce the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a law passed in December 2019 amidst widespread protests and opposition. The CAA introduces religion as a criterion for citizenship for the first time and aims to grant Indian nationality to non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before 2015. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-directs-sbi-to-furnish-details-with-eci-by-tomorrow The Supreme Court turned down the State Bank of India's (SBI) request for more time to disclose details of the electoral bonds scheme, the Supreme Court said the bank must share the details with the Election Commission of India by tomorrow. The poll body has been asked to publish the details on its website by 5 pm on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-pm-modi-helped-avert-a-nuclear-crisis-in-ukraine-report Amidst the intensifying Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, CNN reported that the United States, alarmed by the potential of a nuclear strike by Moscow against Kyiv, embarked on extensive preparations, marking the first such threat since World War II. Senior administration officials highlighted concerns that Russia might resort to using tactical nuclear weapons. To dissuade Russia, the US sought support from non-allied nations like India, leveraging their influence to discourage such actions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach and public statements, along with those from other global leaders, were credited with playing a crucial role in averting the crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/two-election-commissioners-likely-to-be-appointed-on-march-15 Two election commissioners are set to be appointed by March 15 to fill vacancies left by the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the surprise resignation of Arun Goel. Goel's resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu, leaving Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as the sole member of the poll authority. https://opinionexpress.in/pioneers-who-shaped-indias-legal-landscape India's top law ministers, namely Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Ashoke Kumar Sen, and H.R. Bhardwaj, span different periods in Indian history, their contributions to building an equitable society are interconnected by their dedication to justice, legal reforms, and upholding democratic principles. Despite the variations in their approaches and the challenges they faced, these leaders left a lasting impact on India's legal and social landscape. https://opinionexpress.in/lets-showcase-india-to-the-world-pm Recognizing individuals across various categories, including environmental advocacy, storytelling, music, technology, and travel, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of their contributions in shaping global perceptions of India. He emphasized the need for content that resonates with both domestic and international audiences, fostering greater engagement and appreciation for the country. https://opinionexpress.in/cji-advocates-mutual-fraternity-for-societal-equality In his address at a state-level 'Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman' campaign in Bikaner, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud emphasized the importance of mutual fraternity in maintaining equality within the country. He questioned how progress could be achieved if people were engaged in conflict rather than cooperation, emphasizing the need for mutual respect in line with the constitutional principles. https://opinionexpress.in/india-dominates-england-with-4-1-triumph India's dominance in the fifth Test against England at Dharamsala was highlighted by Ravichandran Ashwin's stellar performance, clinching a memorable five-wicket haul in his 100th Test match. This triumph led India to a resounding innings and 64-run victory, marking the end of an action-packed five-match series and handing England their heaviest defeat in the 'Bazball' era. https://opinionexpress.in/worlds-longest-bi-lane-tunnel-in-arunachal-pradesh-inaugurated-by-pm During the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit North East' program in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister dedicated the Sela Tunnel, the world's longest bi-lane tunnel, to the nation. The tunnel, constructed at approximately ?825 crore, is a remarkable engineering feat aimed at providing all-weather connectivity to Tawang across the Sela pass in Arunachal Pradesh. Its strategic significance for the country cannot be overstated, as it enhances accessibility to border areas. https://opinionexpress.in/we-the-people-of-maldives-are-sorry-ex-president-nasheed Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed expressed concerns over the fallout from India's recent boycott call, particularly in the tourism sector. Nasheed, currently in India, issued an apology on behalf of the Maldivian people for the diplomatic strain between the two countries, which intensified after President Mohamed Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, announced plans to expel all Indian military personnel from the Maldives by March 10. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-tdp-alliance-in-ap-settled-for-ls-2024 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has solidified seat-sharing agreements with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, as per sources. This alliance encompasses both the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly polls, with the BJP anticipated to contest six to eight Lok Sabha seats and 10-12 Assembly seats. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-to-contest-from-wayanad-sources The Congress election committee concluded its inaugural meeting late last night, finalizing candidates for six out of ten states under consideration. Senior party leader KC Venugopal announced that formal announcements would follow shortly after the meeting adjourned close to midnight. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-to-grow-at-68-pc-in-2024-moody Moody's, the global rating agency, revised India's growth forecast for 2024 upward to 6.8%, citing stronger-than-expected economic data in 2023 and diminishing global economic challenges. India's real GDP grew by 8.4% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2023, leading to a full-year growth of 7.7%. The government's capital spending and robust manufacturing activity significantly contributed to this growth. With global economic headwinds subsiding, India is expected to sustain a growth rate of 6-7% in real GDP. https://opinionexpress.in/contempt-plea-in-sc-against-sbi-in-electoral-bond-case An NGO filed a contempt plea in the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the State Bank of India's (SBI) application requesting an extension until June 30 to disclose the specifics of each electoral bond cashed by political parties. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-vs-kejriwal-standoff-escalates In the ongoing saga surrounding the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a Delhi court has now directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to appear in court on March 16. This development follows the central agency's pursuit to question Kejriwal regarding the Delhi excise policy case, citing his repeated non-compliance with earlier summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. https://opinionexpress.in/bjd-hints-at-nda-return The political landscape of Odisha is witnessing a potential seismic shift as the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) hints at a possible alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This development comes after a significant departure from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by the BJD 15 years ago. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-biden-march-toward-rematch-for-prez-2024 Donald Trump hailed a triumphant night as he surged ahead in the Republican presidential race with decisive wins in the Super Tuesday primaries, positioning himself for a highly anticipated rematch with President Joe Biden in November. Across fifteen states and a US territory, Trump clinched victories, including key battlegrounds like Texas and California, bolstering his support across various demographics. https://opinionexpress.in/no-indian-military-personnel-will-stay-in-maldives-prez Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has escalated his anti-India stance by declaring that no Indian military personnel, including those in civilian attire, will be allowed in the country after May 10, as reported by media sources. This announcement follows closely after an Indian civilian team arrived in the Maldives to assume control of one of the three aviation platforms, well ahead of the March 10 deadline for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, as agreed upon by both nations. https://opinionexpress.in/amazons-jeff-bezos-surpasses-teslas-elon-musk-as-richest-man Elon Musk's reign as the world's richest person came to an end as Jeff Bezos reclaimed the top spot on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This shift occurred after Tesla Inc. shares plummeted by 7.2% on Monday, reducing Musk's net worth to $197.7 billion, while Bezos' fortune rose to $200.3 billion. It marks Bezos' return to the ranking's pinnacle for the first time since 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-group-is-committed-to-its-legacy-chandrasekaran N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, reaffirmed the conglomerate's dedication to preserving the legacy of its founder, Jamsetji Tata, during an event commemorating Tata's 185th birth anniversary at Postal Park in Bistupur, Jharkhand's Jamshedpur. Accompanied by Tata Steel CEO and MD TV Narendran, Chandrasekaran emphasized Tata's vision of industry as a force for positive change, pledging to uphold the values of integrity, innovation, and social responsibility that have guided the company since its inception. https://opinionexpress.in/no-immunity-to-legislators-for-taking-bribes-sc Lawmakers in parliament and state legislatures are not immune from prosecution in bribery cases, the Supreme Court said today in a landmark verdict by a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The verdict set aside a 1998 judgment in which a five-member Constitution bench had upheld the immunity for lawmakers in cases where MPs or MLAs take bribes for a speech or a vote in the House. https://opinionexpress.in/us-prez-nikki-haley-ends-donald-trumps-undefeated-run Nikki Haley clinched a significant win in the Republican presidential primary held in Washington, D.C., marking a symbolic victory for her campaign amid the ongoing battle against former President Donald Trump. This triumph, although largely symbolic due to the city's predominantly Democratic leanings and a limited number of registered Republicans, serves as a morale boost for Haley as the presidential race intensifies. https://opinionexpress.in/shehbaz-sharifs-inaugural-speech-highlights-kashmir-palestine In his inaugural address, Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized on the Kashmir issue while pledging to bolster international relations, including with neighboring nations. He stressed that Pakistan would not engage in any geopolitical maneuvering, aiming instead to expand its circle of allies. Shehbaz affirmed his commitment to fostering equal relationships with neighboring countries, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect. https://opinionexpress.in/sam-altman-openai-ceo-sees-wealth-surge Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently saw his net worth surpass $2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. Despite leading the prominent AI research firm, his wealth isn't directly tied to OpenAI's financial success. Altman has stated that he doesn't own equity in the company, with much of his wealth stemming from investments in venture capital funds and startups. Furthermore, Altman stands to see his wealth increase with the impending initial public offering of Reddit, where he holds a significant stake. https://opinionexpress.in/the-majestic-shri-ramlalla-temple-signals-a-promising-era On January 22, 2024, in the ancient city of Ayodhya, an unforgettable confluence of unity, reverence, devotion, and harmony was witnessed. People from every corner of the country, from diverse backgrounds and beliefs, gathered together to witness the Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lalla in the grand Ram temple. The arrival of Shri Ram Lalla not only stirred a wave of enthusiasm throughout India but also spread a wave of renewed enthusiasm across the world. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-over-powered-extreme-poverty-brookings The Brookings Institution, a prominent American think tank, has released a groundbreaking report lauding India's remarkable achievement in eradicating extreme poverty, marking a significant milestone in the nation's socio-economic landscape. Authored by economists Surjit Bhalla and Karan Bhasin, the report attributes this feat to the Indian government's robust policy initiatives focused on redistribution, which have fostered inclusive growth over the past decade. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-releases-first-list-for-ge-2024 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a strategic move ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by announcing a preliminary list of 195 candidates, setting a bold target of winning 370 seats. This proactive approach aims to secure a significant advantage before the official poll schedule is even released, showcasing the party's confidence and determination. https://opinionexpress.in/india-clinch-historic-series-win-over-england India's dominance at home stood firm against England's 'Bazball' strategy as Rohit Sharma's squad clinched a hard-fought five-wicket victory in the fourth Test, extending their unbeaten streak to 17 consecutive series wins on home soil. Despite facing some challenges, India chased down a target of 192 runs with resilience and determination in Ranchi, showcasing their adaptability and depth in talent. https://opinionexpress.in/feudal-congress-party-used-to-take-one-family-forward-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a scathing critique of the opposition Congress during his address in Dwarka, Gujarat, emphasizing the party's alleged focus on promoting a single family rather than the nation's progress. Modi accused the Congress of presiding over a period marked by rampant corruption and inefficiency, contrasting it with his government's purported efforts to eradicate malpractice and propel the country forward. https://opinionexpress.in/hindu-prayers-to-continue-in-gyanvapi-cellar-hc The Allahabad High Court today dismissed a petition challenging the Varanasi district court's decision to allow Hindu prayers in a cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque. "Hindu Prayers in the 'Vyas Tehkhana' will continue," Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal said dismissing the mosque committee's petition. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-inaugurates-sudarshan-setu Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's longest cable-stayed bridge, the 'Sudarshan Setu', in Gujarat's Dwarka. Linking Okha and Beyt Dwarka island, the bridge cost ?979 crore and spans 2.3 km. PM Modi laid its foundation stone in October 2017, envisioning it as a link between old and new Dwarka. https://opinionexpress.in/hiranandani-summoned-in-forex-exchange-violation-case The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Niranjan Hiranandani and his son Darshan Hiranandani, the promoters of prominent Mumbai-based real estate developer Hiranandani Group, for questioning in a foreign exchange violation case on February 26, official sources said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/a-fond-farewell-to-dr-janardhan-prasad-singh Dr. Janardhan Singh, a politician, social activist, and selfless individual from Bihar, leaves behind a legacy that resonates with compassion, dedication, and a relentless commitment to serving others. His untimely passing is not only a loss to his family and community but also to the nation as a whole. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-renewable-energy-to-rise-to-170-gw-by-march-2025-icra India is poised for a significant increase in its Renewable Energy (RE) capacity, excluding large hydro plants, according to a statement by rating agency ICRA. The installed RE capacity is projected to rise from 135 GW in December 2023 to an estimated 170 GW by March 2025. This growth is expected to drive the share of RE plus large hydro in the country's electricity generation from 23% in FY24 to approximately 40% in FY30. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-targets-russia-with-fresh-sanctions President Joe Biden's recent announcement of fresh sanctions against Russia underscores his administration's resolve to confront Russian aggression, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, while these sanctions represent a significant escalation, they also reveal a cautious approach aimed at mitigating potential global economic repercussions. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-proposes-complete-control-west-bank-gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has outlined a post-war plan for Gaza, emphasizing Israel's control over territories including the West Bank and Gaza, rejecting unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, and advocating for direct negotiations. Netanyahu's plan includes demilitarization and deradicalization goals for Gaza, with Israel maintaining a presence on the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent smuggling. He suggests working with non-terrorist affiliated local representatives in Gaza and replacing UNRWA with other aid groups. The plan aims to replace Hamas rule in Gaza with a civilian alternative, reflecting broad public consensus. https://opinionexpress.in/maryam-poised-to-become-punjab-provinces-first-female-cm-in-pakistan Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is poised to make history as Pakistan's Punjab province's first female chief minister, following the scheduling of the inaugural session of the provincial legislature. The Punjab Assembly, out of the five assemblies that went to polls on February 8, is convening its opening session first. https://opinionexpress.in/convene-special-parliament-session-on-farmers-issues-congress The Congress intensified its criticism of the BJP-led Centre regarding the ongoing farmers' protest, urging for a special session of Parliament to address farmers' concerns. Additionally, they called for a similar session in the Punjab state assembly. The demand came following clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border, resulting in the death of a farmer and injuries to several police personnel. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-greece-forge-expanded-cooperation-across-diverse-fronts During a two-day visit to India by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, both nations affirmed their intent to finalize a migration and mobility agreement while strengthening cooperation across various fronts, including trade, defense production, and counterterrorism efforts. https://opinionexpress.in/x-twitter-claims-centre-orders-to-withhold-accounts-violates-freedom-of-expression The Indian government has mandated microblogging platform X to take action against specific accounts and posts, according to statements by the global government affairs team of X, formerly Twitter. They emphasize disagreement with these directives, asserting that content should not be restricted on grounds of freedom of expression. Despite their compliance with the orders by withholding the content solely within India, X maintains its stance on extending freedom of expression to the affected posts and accounts. https://opinionexpress.in/a-titan-of-indias-legal-realm-fali-sam-nariman Fali Sam Nariman, the eminent luminary of India's legal sphere, bid farewell to the mortal realm, leaving behind a legacy that enriches the legal landscape beyond measure. Familiarly known as Fali among his peers, he epitomized the illustrious "Bombay club" of the Supreme Court of India, alongside revered figures like M.C Chagala, M.C Setelvad, and Ram Jethmalani, among others. These stalwarts redefined the contours of constitutional law through their brilliance in advocacy and depth of knowledge. https://opinionexpress.in/up-seat-sharing-done-india-alliance Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has announced that the ongoing seat-sharing negotiations with the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh are nearing completion, marking a significant breakthrough after weeks of back-and-forth discussions. Sources suggest that the intervention of senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra played a pivotal role in facilitating these talks. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistans-political-parties-to-form-a-coalition-government In a significant breakthrough, Pakistan's longstanding political parties have reached an agreement to form a coalition government, effectively breaking a nearly two-week deadlock following the country's contentious election. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) disclosed the coalition formation in a joint press conference held with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by the Sharif clan, in Islamabad late Tuesday night. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-and-congress-hail-scs-ruling-on-chandigarh-mayor-election The Congress hailed the Supreme Court's intervention in the contentious Chandigarh mayoral election, labeling it as a crucial step towards safeguarding Indian democracy. Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal condemned the election process as a "complete farce," emphasizing the significance of the court's decision in unveiling the truth behind the flawed electoral procedure. https://opinionexpress.in/legal-luminary-fali-s-nariman-passes-away-at-95 Renowned jurist and senior Supreme Court advocate Fali Nariman passed away today at the age of 95 at his residence in Delhi. Nariman, a distinguished legal figure, was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007 for his exceptional contributions to the field of law. https://opinionexpress.in/abuse-of-power-by-cbi-in-chanda-kochhar-arrest-hc The Bombay High Court has criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the arrest of former ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar in a loan fraud case, stating it was done "without application of mind and due regard to the law," constituting an "abuse of power." Justices Anuja Prabhudessai and N R Borkar termed the arrest illegal and upheld an earlier interim bail order from January 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/smriti-irani-dares-rahul-to-contest-ls-polls-from-amethi Union Minister Smriti Irani challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Amethi alone, alleging his failure to serve the constituency during his tenure. Irani claimed that Gandhi was greeted by deserted streets during his recent visit to Amethi as part of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. She accused Congress workers of shunning the event, necessitating the recruitment of workers from neighboring districts. https://opinionexpress.in/red-tape-replaced-with-red-carpet-for-investors-in-up-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the transformation of Uttar Pradesh (UP) under the "double-engine" government, emphasizing the shift from a bureaucratic "red tape" culture to an investor-friendly "red carpet" environment. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for projects exceeding Rs 10 lakh crore, Modi credited the collaborative efforts of the central and state governments for fostering an atmosphere conducive to trade, development, and trust. https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwal-skips-6th-ed-summons Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is once again set to ignore the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons, marking the sixth instance of his non-appearance in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) reiterated its stance, labeling the summons as "illegal" and arguing that the matter is currently sub judice. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-chinese-counterpart-wang-meet-briefly-in-germany During the Munich Security Conference held in Germany, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had a brief encounter, marking their first meeting in over six months. The interaction occurred amidst the presence of prominent global figures, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, although details of their conversation have not been officially disclosed by either side. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-empower-parliamentary-board-to-take-decision-on-its-president The BJP's recent national convention saw an amendment to the party's constitution, granting authority to its apex body, the Parliamentary Board, to make decisions regarding the party president, including their term and extensions, in "emergency" situations. This proposal, put forward by General Secretary Sunil Bansal, was passed during the convention. https://opinionexpress.in/india-hammers-england-to-lead-2-1-in-test-series India achieved a historic milestone in Test cricket by comprehensively defeating England by a record 434 runs during the third Test match in Rajkot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the victory as a tribute to the BJP's key ideologue, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, urging party members to focus on the country's development and global standing in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-winning-370-seats-in-ls-2024-elections-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) pro-poor initiatives and India's global development in the upcoming Lok Sabha election campaign, stating that winning 370 seats would be a fitting tribute to the party's key ideologue, Syama Prasad Mookerjee. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-is-bjps-biggest-challenger-kejriwal The AAP is the biggest challenger to the BJP and that is why it is under attack from all sides, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday during a discussion on the motion of confidence he moved in the Budget session of the assembly. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-poll-official-accepts-wrongdoing-in-elections-resigns A high-ranking Pakistani bureaucrat resigned from his position, alleging involvement of the chief election commissioner and chief justice in election manipulation, amidst protests by the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party against alleged rigging in the February 8 elections. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-critic-alexei-navalny-has-died-in-jail-russia Alexei Navalny, the prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin known for his staunch stance against corruption and his leadership in organizing significant anti-Kremlin demonstrations, has reportedly passed away at the age of 47 while in prison, according to Russia's prison agency. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-party-alleges-freezing-of-bank-accounts-amid-political-turmoil The Congress party disclosed that the Income Tax department has frozen its bank accounts, including those of the Youth Congress, just weeks before the anticipated announcement of general election dates. Ajay Maken, a spokesperson for the party, characterized this action as a "disturbing blow to the democratic process." According to reports, the freeze is linked to a tax demand of ?210 crore imposed by the Income Tax department. The Congress alleges that this move is politically motivated and strategically timed to impede the party's election preparations. The party perceives the freezing of bank accounts as an attempt to disrupt its financial resources crucial for election campaigns. This development has sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process. https://opinionexpress.in/us-condemns-attacks-against-indian-students In a recent press briefing, the White House addressed the concerning trend of attacks on Indian students in the US, unequivocally condemning violence based on race, gender, religion, or any other factor. John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, emphasized that such acts are unacceptable in the United States. He reassured that President Joe Biden's administration is diligently working to prevent and address these attacks, collaborating closely with state and local authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/the-implications-of-supreme-courts-scrutiny-on-electoral-bonds-in-india In recent years, electoral financing has emerged as a critical issue in democracies worldwide, with concerns over transparency, accountability, and the influence of money in politics. India, as the world's largest democracy, has grappled with these challenges, particularly with the introduction of electoral bonds in 2017. Electoral bonds, a financial instrument aimed at making political funding more transparent, have been a subject of controversy since their inception. However, the recent scrutiny of electoral bonds by the Supreme Court of India has sparked a significant debate about their impact on democracy. The Supreme Court's intervention regarding electoral bonds could potentially strengthen democracy in India. https://opinionexpress.in/nmdcs-stock-soars-as-company-achieves-record-breaking-profit-margin Shares of NMDC surged over 5% following the release of its December quarter financial results, with the state-owned company reporting a notable increase in net profit. The stock price rose by 5.31% to reach Rs 248 per share on the BSE and similarly climbed by 5.29% to the same price on the NSE. During intra-day trading, NMDC's stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 252.65 on the BSE and Rs 252.40 on the NSE. https://opinionexpress.in/ajit-pawars-faction-mlas-cant-be-disqualified-speaker Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar, citing a recent Election Commission ruling recognizing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar as the leader of the 'real Nationalist Congress Party' (NCP), rejected petitions seeking the disqualification of 41 MLAs who rebelled against Sharad Pawar in June last year. These rebels, who aligned with Ajit Pawar and the BJP, triggering a split within the NCP, were spared disqualification as they were deemed to represent the "will of the party." https://opinionexpress.in/russia-close-to-creating-cancer-vaccines-vladimir-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russian scientists are on the verge of developing vaccines for cancer, which could soon be accessible to patients. Speaking at a Moscow forum on future technologies, Putin expressed optimism about the progress, stating that they are nearing the creation of "cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation." https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-arvind-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been issued a sixth summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the liquor excise policy case in the national capital. He has been asked to appear for questioning on Monday. Mr. Kejriwal has previously skipped five summons, prompting a court battle with the probe agency and raising the possibility of him becoming the first sitting chief minister to be arrested. https://opinionexpress.in/hindu-temple-in-middle-east Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple, marking a significant milestone for the Indian community in the Middle East. The BAPS Hindu temple, spread over 27 acres and built at a cost of over ?700 crore, is also the largest in the region and symbolizes the deepening relationship between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-post-election-coalition-brings-back-shehbaz-sharif In the aftermath of the 2024 Pakistani elections, a significant political development unfolded as the two major political entities, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led by Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, announced a coalition to collectively govern the nation. This move came in response to Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), despite securing the most seats as independent candidates, falling short of a majority, thereby prompting the PML-N and PPP to collaborate in forming the government. However, this coalition raised questions regarding leadership, the allocation of key roles, and the feasibility of their partnership. https://opinionexpress.in/new-milestones-india-uae-partnership-soars-to-remarkable-levels Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a two-day visit to the UAE, emphasizing the robust foundation of bilateral relations and economic collaboration between the two nations. This visit marks the culmination of five high-level exchanges between India and the UAE since July 2023, reflecting an upward trajectory in their relationship. https://opinionexpress.in/alexander-stubb-takes-office-as-finlands-president Finland has elected a new president, with former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb narrowly winning the runoff vote against independent candidate Pekka Haavisto. Stubb, of the centre-right National Coalition Party, secured 51.6 per cent of the votes, while Haavisto received 48.4 per cent. Stubb will succeed President Sauli Niinistö, whose term expires next month and who was ineligible for reelection. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-faces-exodus-ashok-chavan-resigns-amid-bjp-rumors Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and ex-MP Ashok Chavan's resignation from the Congress ahead of crucial elections marks a significant setback for the party. Amid speculation of talks with the BJP and a potential Rajya Sabha ticket, Chavan emphasized he's yet to decide on joining another party but expressed frustration over seat-sharing delays within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-kumar-90-bihar-wins-trust-vote The Bihar assembly is poised for a significant test of strength today as the renewed alliance government led by Nitish Kumar and the BJP prepares to undergo a trust vote to kick off the budget session. With 128 members in the 243-seat assembly, the BJP-JD(U) coalition is expected to easily surpass the majority mark of 122. The BJP holds 78 seats, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) has 45, and Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustan Awam Morcha holds four, with one seat held by an Independent MLA. Conversely, the opposition, comprised of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress, holds 114 seats. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-govt-have-destroyed-jawan-kisan-kharge Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government, accusing it of harming both farmers and soldiers during its 10-year tenure. Speaking at a Punjab Congress workers' convention, Kharge expressed solidarity with the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' movement and criticized the government for not formally repealing the three contentious farm laws. https://opinionexpress.in/jailed-navy-veterans-return-from-qatar In a significant development, the Government of India announced the release of eight Indian Navy veterans who were detained in Qatar over alleged spying charges. The veterans, employed by Dahra Global company, endured an arduous 18-month incarceration in the Middle-Eastern nation. However, in a sudden turn of events, seven out of the eight individuals have already returned to India. https://opinionexpress.in/indonesia-to-vote-on-14-feb In the lead-up to Indonesia's presidential election, the three candidates made their final campaign pushes before more than 200 million citizens cast their votes in the world's third-largest democracy. Former special forces general Prabowo Subianto, the frontrunner, and his running mate, Surakarta mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, held their last rally in a Jakarta stadium, emphasizing their commitment to the nation's future and building upon previous administrations' efforts. Despite controversy surrounding Raka's familial ties to the current president, their campaign targeted youth support, utilizing social media and animated depictions to soften Subianto's image amidst past allegations of human rights abuses. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-elections-2024-throws-more-chaos-in-the-country-experts Pakistan, amidst grappling with an economic crisis, faced a new challenge as the election results yielded a hung verdict. This triggered a period of political horse-trading as parties scrambled to gather leaders to demonstrate a majority. https://opinionexpress.in/india-alliance-gets-hammered-in-punjab Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP National Convener, announced the party's intention to contest 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and one in Chandigarh, seeking the public's blessings for their candidates' success. Speaking at an event for the doorstep delivery of ration under Punjab's National Food Security Act, Kejriwal reminisced about the overwhelming support AAP received in Punjab two years ago, winning 92 out of 117 seats. https://opinionexpress.in/haley-called-for-mental-competency-test-of-trump Former US President Donald Trump mocked his Republican rival Nikki Haley over her husband's absence due to his deployment overseas, drawing a strong rebuke from the Indian-American politician. Haley's husband, Major Michael Haley, is serving with the South Carolina National Guard in the Horn of Africa, deployed since June. https://opinionexpress.in/the-current-lok-sabha-was-of-reform-perform-transform-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the achievements of the 17th Lok Sabha during its five-year tenure, labeling it as a period of reform, perform, and transform. He emphasized the significant strides taken towards realizing the vision of a 21st-century India through game-changing reforms, highlighting the removal of Article 370 as a historic accomplishment that fulfilled generations' aspirations for a unified Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-temple-verdict-consolidates-indias-secularism During a discussion in the Lok Sabha regarding the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and its consecration ceremony on January 22, Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inclusive approach to the Ram temple issue, asserting that Modi unified all sections of society. He described the Supreme Court's verdict on the matter as a testament to India's secular character on the global stage. https://opinionexpress.in/rival-camps-declare-victory-in-pak-elections The recent elections in Pakistan, marred by delayed results and militant attacks, have led to conflicting claims of victory from former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan, intensifying the country's political turmoil. Sharif's party secured the most seats among single parties, but supporters of Khan, who contested as independents due to his party's disqualification, collectively won the majority of seats. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-growth-rate-constantly-on-the-rise-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the media house business summit, highlighting India's remarkable economic growth and global confidence in the country's capabilities. He emphasized that India's time has arrived, as evidenced by its rising growth rate and decreasing fiscal deficit, along with positive indicators such as increasing exports, declining poverty, and record-high productive investments. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-ratna-for-narasimha-rao-a-statesman-of-economic-transformation PV Narasimha Rao, the 9th Prime Minister of India, was honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 2014, posthumously. He served as PM from 1991 to 1996, steering India through significant economic reforms and liberalization, paving the way for its integration into the global economy. Rao's tenure saw transformative changes in India's economic policies, including dismantling the License Raj and encouraging foreign investment. His leadership during a period of economic crisis laid the foundation for India's emergence as a major global economic power. The Bharat Ratna recognized his pivotal role in shaping modern India's economic trajectory. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-party-backed-independents-lead-pak-poll In the early tallies from Pakistan's election, independent candidates associated with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan were surpassing expectations on Friday. The delay in announcing official results heightened accusations of poll rigging. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-alleges-us-election-motivated-middle-east-attacks Russia accused the United States of aggression against Iraq and Syria, alleging it aimed to maintain global dominance and bolster the Biden administration's image before US elections. The US countered, asserting its military responses to attacks by Iranian-backed proxies were legal and necessary for self-defense. The accusations were exchanged during a contentious UN Security Council meeting called by Russia, Syria's ally, where concerns were raised about the Israel-Hamas conflict spilling over. https://opinionexpress.in/lic-becomes-fifth-most-valuable-firm-in-india Shares of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) surged over 6% on Thursday, propelling its market valuation to Rs 6.99 lakh crore, positioning it as the fifth most valued company. The stock soared 5.86% to close at Rs 1,106.25 on the BSE, reaching a record high of Rs 1,144.45 during the day. On the NSE, it rose by 6.46% to Rs 1,112 per share. LIC's market capitalization surged by Rs 38,740.62 crore to Rs 6,99,702.87 crore, surpassing ICICI Bank's valuation. https://opinionexpress.in/no-interference-in-canadian-elections-india India vehemently denied allegations of interfering in Canadian elections, labeling them as "baseless" and emphasizing that the core issue was Canada's meddling in India's internal affairs. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the claims and highlighted that India's policy is non-interference in the democratic processes of other nations, contrasting it with Canada's alleged interference in India's internal matters. https://opinionexpress.in/upa-made-economy-non-performing-in-10-years-fm The Centre, in its comparative White Paper analyzing the tenures of the UPA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, launched a scathing attack on the former, labeling it a "lost decade" characterized by economic mismanagement and short-sighted fiscal policies. The White Paper, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in parliament, accused the UPA of squandering the robust economic foundation inherited in 2004, resulting in a structurally weaker economy and widespread despondency by the time they left office in 2014. https://opinionexpress.in/india-skeptical-of-american-leadership-urges-strengthening-us-india-trust-nikki-haley Nikki Haley, a potential Republican presidential candidate, expressed that while India desires partnership with the US, they currently lack trust in American leadership. In an interview with US based media house, Haley stated that India perceives the US as weak and has strategically maintained close ties with Russia, particularly in military cooperation. She emphasized the need for the US to regain strength and leadership, asserting that countries like India, Australia, Japan, and South Korea seek American leadership but have taken steps to reduce dependence on China, indicating a shift in global alliances. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-votes-today Pakistan prepares for an election marked by militant attacks, economic woes, and political divisions, with analysts foreseeing no clear victor. The competition primarily involves candidates aligned with imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) led by thrice-premier Nawaz Sharif, seen as the frontrunner. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, presents a strong challenge. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-has-become-outdated-modi In his address during the debate on the Motion of Thanks in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing critique against the Congress party, asserting that it has become obsolete and has historically opposed reservations of any kind. Modi contended that the Congress has delegated its responsibilities to external entities, expressing a sense of sympathy for its declining influence. https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwal-summoned-by-delhi-court A Delhi court has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear on February 17 to explain his repeated non-attendance at five previous summonses from the Enforcement Directorate. The agency is investigating alleged money laundering related to the liquor excise policy scam in the capital. Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stated they are reviewing the court order and will respond according to the law, asserting they will argue in court that the summons are invalid. https://opinionexpress.in/ibbi-amends-norms-for-insolvency-resolution-process-related-to-personal-guarantors The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has introduced amendments to regulations governing the insolvency resolution process for personal guarantors and the voluntary liquidation process. Key changes have been made to facilitate better coordination between the processes and enhance stakeholder participation. https://opinionexpress.in/ajit-pawars-faction-named-real-ncp Veteran political leader Sharad Pawar, in a contentious battle with his nephew Ajit Pawar over the name and symbol of the party he founded, has faced defeat. The Election Commission has favored Ajit Pawar's faction within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), attributing the decision to the faction's larger numerical strength, holding a majority of the party's 53 MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly. https://opinionexpress.in/us-senate-release-a-us-118-b-package-for-ukraine-and-israel US senators unveiled a USD 118 billion package combining border enforcement measures with vital wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies, aiming to address multiple global challenges. The proposal, a crucial opportunity for President Joe Biden to bolster Ukraine's defense, faces skepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. https://opinionexpress.in/king-charles-diagnosed-with-cancer-palace Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that Britain's King Charles, 75, has been diagnosed with cancer, prompting him to postpone public-facing duties. This revelation follows a recent hospital stay last month, during which he underwent a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate. While undergoing treatment for this issue, doctors identified a separate concern which subsequent tests confirmed as cancer. https://opinionexpress.in/uttarakhand-state-to-take-up-uniform-civil-code The Uttarakhand Assembly is set to introduce legislation on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) today, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spearheading the initiative. Dhami emphasized that the proposed UCC aims to benefit all sections of society and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas' and 'Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat.' https://opinionexpress.in/india-surpasses-china-as-wall-streets-preferred-investment-destination In a historic shift in global markets, investors are diverting billions of dollars away from China's slowing economy towards India, marking a significant departure from the previous two decades when China was viewed as the world's premier growth story. Wall Street titans such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley are championing India as the primary investment destination for the next decade, underscoring a pivotal moment in investment trends. https://opinionexpress.in/india-bounces-back-to-level-test-series-with-convincing-win-over-england In a thrilling encounter, the Indian cricket team clinched victory over England in the second Test match, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. The match, held in Visakhapatnam, witnessed stellar performances from key players, leading to India's ascent to the second position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. https://opinionexpress.in/tamil-actor-vijay-makes-political-entry Renowned Tamil actor Vijay has made a significant announcement, revealing his entry into politics by launching a new political party named "Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam." He declared his intention to contest the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, emphasizing his belief that politics is a sacred form of public service rather than merely a profession. https://opinionexpress.in/maldives-president-says-indian-troops-to-exit-by-may Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu reiterated his country's stance on sovereignty, affirming that no external interference would be tolerated, amidst reports of Indian troops' withdrawal. Muizzu informed parliament that Indian troops stationed on one of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives would depart by March 10, with the remaining two platforms to be vacated by May 10. He emphasized the Maldives' decision not to renew agreements allowing foreign involvement in charting its territory. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-slams-kejriwals-alleged-evasion-of-law-enforcement The BJP criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, labeling him as the "crownless king of corruption" and accusing him of evading law enforcement, following a commotion at his residence when a Delhi Police team arrived to serve him a notice. The notice was related to his claim that the BJP was attempting to lure AAP MLAs. https://opinionexpress.in/british-indians-wooed-by-labour-party-to-counter-pm-sunak The UK's Opposition Labour Party is undergoing a strategic overhaul of its outreach efforts to British Indians, following concerns over a decline in support from the country's largest ethnic minority group, as reported by media outlets. https://opinionexpress.in/ladakh-seeks-statehood-in-freezing-cold Thousands of residents in Ladakh staged a complete shutdown, demanding statehood and constitutional protections under the sixth schedule for the Union Territory. Organized by the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, protestors marched through Leh's main city despite freezing temperatures, calling for Ladakh's statehood, sixth schedule implementation, and separate parliamentary seats for Leh and Kargil districts. https://opinionexpress.in/veteran-bjp-leader-lk-advani-to-be-honoured-with-bharat-ratna Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today that veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani will be honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. Describing it as an "emotional moment," PM Modi hailed Advani as one of the most respected statesmen of contemporary times, emphasizing his monumental contribution to India's development. https://opinionexpress.in/us-air-strikes-hit-iran-linked-targets-in-syria-iraq In response to a deadly drone attack on an American base in Jordan, the US military conducted retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian forces and Tehran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 fighters. Although the United States attributed the Sunday drone attack to Iran-backed forces, it refrained from striking Iranian territory directly. Instead, Washington aimed to deter future attacks while avoiding all-out war with Tehran, a scenario both sides have actively sought to prevent. https://opinionexpress.in/champai-government-floor-test-on-monday Champai Soren, the newly appointed Chief Minister of Jharkhand, faces the crucial task of proving his government's majority in the upcoming assembly session on Monday. To safeguard against potential poaching attempts, approximately 40 MLAs from the coalition government, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), have been sequestered at a resort near Hyderabad, Telangana. https://opinionexpress.in/champai-soren-sworn-in-as-chief-minister-of-jharkhand In Ranchi, Champai Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister of Jharkhand on Friday afternoon, following the dramatic and controversial arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case just two days prior. https://opinionexpress.in/billionaire-sultan-ibrahim-sworn-in-as-17th-king-of-malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, was sworn in as Malaysia's new king under a rotating monarchy system, marking a unique transition in the nation's leadership. The ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Cabinet members, affirmed Sultan Ibrahim's ascension to the throne. A coronation ceremony is scheduled for later. https://opinionexpress.in/us-clears-31-mq-9b-armed-drones-sale-to-india The United States has approved the sale of MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones to India in a deal valued at nearly $4 billion. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency has provided the necessary certification and notified the US Congress of the potential sale. This approval marks a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two countries. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-2024-spotlight-on-income-tax-reforms-and-job-creation In her sixth consecutive Budget presentation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman articulated the BJP-led government's commitment to a development ethos characterized as "all-round, all-inclusive, and all-pervasive" ('sarvangin', 'sarvasparshi', and 'sarvasamaveshi'). Sitharaman underscored her government's vision of fostering a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) by 2047, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to development encompassing all strata of society. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-2024-underway Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is currently presenting the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament. This is an interim budget as it comes just ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections. This is Nirmala Sitharaman's sixth Union Budget. The full-fledged budget will be presented by the new government that comes to power after the elections.  https://opinionexpress.in/hemant-soren-arrested-by-ed Following Hemant Soren's resignation as Chief Minister of Jharkhand, an investigation into an alleged "huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia" has implicated him, as reported by the probe agency. Subsequently, Jharkhand minister Champai Soren, who is also the nominee for Chief Minister within the ruling coalition, submitted a claim to the Governor to establish a new government. https://opinionexpress.in/presidents-address-highlights-modi-governments-developmental-track-record The Budget Session of Parliament, marking the final session of the current Lok Sabha, commenced with an address by President Droupadi Murmu to a joint sitting. The Prime Minister's remarks highlighted India's dedication to progress and urged for constructive engagement in parliamentary proceedings for the nation's benefit. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-enhanced-capacity-and-self-interest-drive-assistance-in-crisis-jaishankar Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized India's responsibility to assist in challenging situations due to its enhanced capabilities, vested interests, and reputation during an interaction at the Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai. Against the backdrop of attacks on merchant navy vessels in the Red Sea, Jaishankar highlighted India's proactive role by deploying 10 naval ships in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-wife-get-14-years-jail-in-corruption-case Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife were sentenced to 14 years in jail on Wednesday for corruption involving gifts received during his premiership, just a week before national elections. This verdict followed Khan receiving a 10-year prison sentence the day before for leaking state secrets. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-is-willing-to-discuss-every-issue-ahead-of-budget-session In preparation for the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, the government held an all-party meeting where they assured readiness to address all issues. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi characterized the meeting as "very cordial" and affirmed the government's willingness to engage in discussions on various matters during the brief session, which marks the final one before parliamentary elections. https://opinionexpress.in/maldives-opposition-leader-tells-president-muizzu-to-seek-apology-from-india Qasim Ibrahim, a leader of the Maldives Jumhooree Party (JP), has called upon Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to issue a formal apology to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India. This request follows escalating tensions in the Maldivian Parliament, where clashes erupted between pro-government MPs and opposition lawmakers over the approval of four cabinet members. The main opposition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which holds a parliamentary majority, has announced its intention to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muizzu in response to these developments. https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-industries-mcap-climbs-to-near-rs-20-lakh-crore-mark Reliance Industries witnessed significant demand for its shares, surging over 7 percent in late afternoon trading on Monday, pushing its market valuation beyond the Rs 19.56 lakh crore mark. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-imran-khan-gets-10-year-jail-for-violating-official-secrets Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan faced a significant blow as he was sentenced to 10 years in prison just days before the upcoming elections, where his party's participation has been hindered. The verdict was delivered while Khan remained confined in Adiala jail, where he has spent a considerable amount of time since his arrest in August. He has claimed that numerous court cases have been orchestrated to thwart his political comeback. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-wins-chandigarh-mayor-against-india-bloc In the Chandigarh mayoral elections, Manoj Sonkar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious, defeating Kuldeep Kumar of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This contest marked the first showdown between the newly formed Opposition coalition, comprising the Congress and AAP, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), following Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's switch to the latter. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khans-pti-could-be-banned-in-pak-reports Media reports suggest that Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party faces potential dissolution if Khan, its founder and former prime minister, along with other top members, are convicted in cases related to the violent incidents on May 9 and violation of the Secrets Act. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) determined after years of investigation that PTI had received prohibited funding in August 2003, leading to Khan's disqualification from Parliament. The cipher case involves Khan's presentation of a purported diplomatic cable at a rally, alleging an international conspiracy. Violent protests erupted on May 9, 2023, following Khan's arrest, causing damage to military installations and state buildings. https://opinionexpress.in/china-extends-red-carpet-to-macron Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended a proactive gesture to invigorate the relationship between China and France following French President Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to India. This visit, which coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France, underscored the significance of enhancing bilateral cooperation. https://opinionexpress.in/englands-pope-hartley-teams-up-to-beat-india England secured a commanding victory over India by 28 runs in the first Test, claiming a 1-0 lead in the five-match series held in Hyderabad. Chasing a target of 231, India's batting lineup faltered, with the team getting dismissed for 202 in 69.2 overs on the fourth day of the match. Despite a promising start, India found themselves at 95 for three at tea. https://opinionexpress.in/chief-justice-unveils-supreme-courts-digital-future-on-75th-anniversary In a significant development, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud announced the Supreme Court's imminent transition to a cloud-based digital infrastructure during the commemoration of its 75th anniversary. Addressing a gathering comprising judges and legal luminaries, Justice Chandrachud emphasized the necessity for the Supreme Court to evolve continually by acknowledging challenges and initiating crucial dialogues. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-kumar-returns-as-bihar-cm-in-renewed-bjp-partnership Nitish Kumar took oath today as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record ninth time, at the head of a fresh government formed in partnership with the BJP.  BJP leaders Samrat Chowdhury, Vijay Sinha and several others also took oath along with him at the Raj Bhavan. https://opinionexpress.in/rohan-bopanna-becomes-oldest-ever-man-to-win-grand-slam Rohan Bopanna of India etched his name into tennis history at the Australian Open 2024, showcasing both age-defying skill and determination. Teaming up with Matthew Ebden, Bopanna, who is on the cusp of turning 44 in March, secured the men's doubles title, making him the oldest man to achieve such a feat in a Grand Slam. Their victory, achieved on Rod Laver Arena, saw them triumph over the unseeded Italian duo Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori with a scoreline of 7-6 (7/0), 7-5. https://opinionexpress.in/bihar-to-witness-new-government-by-sunday Nitish Kumar is poised to assume the role of Bihar Chief Minister for an unprecedented ninth time, supported once again by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), echoing the dynamics seen in the 2020 elections. This development has sparked a flurry of activities within the political landscape, with widespread transfers of officials heightening the atmosphere of anticipation. Speculation regarding an impending change in government looms large, overshadowing the current ruling coalition, the 'Mahagathbandhan'. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-accuses-bjp-of-destabilizing-delhi-government In a long social media post, the Delhi Chief Minister alleged, "Recently, they [BJP] has contacted 7 of our MLAs of Delhi and said - 'We will arrest Kejriwal after a few days. After that, we will break the MLAs. Talks have been held with 21 MLAs. Talking to others also. After that, we will topple the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. You can also come. Will give ? 25 crore and contest the elections on BJP ticket.'" https://opinionexpress.in/the-legacy-of-dr-hansraj-bharadwaj Dr. Hansraj Bharadwaj, a stalwart in Indian politics and law, left an indelible mark on the country's legal landscape during his tenure as the Law Minister of India. His visionary leadership, profound understanding of legal intricacies, and unwavering commitment to justice have had a transformative impact on the Indian legal system. This essay delves into the legacy of Dr. Hansraj Bharadwaj, exploring his contributions to shaping and reforming the legal framework of India. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-leadership-under-modi-ensures-reliability-for-russia-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during an interaction with university students in the Kaliningrad Region on 'Russian Student Day', as reported by Russia-based media network Russia Today (RT). Putin commended India for pursuing an 'independent' foreign policy, citing the country's impressive economic development under Modi's leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-kumars-move-marks-end-of-indi-alliance Nitish Kumar is poised to take office as Bihar's Chief Minister for the seventh time, backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his intermittent ally, according to sources cited by NDTV. The BJP's support will be reciprocated with two Deputy Chief Minister positions, echoing their arrangement following the 2020 elections. https://opinionexpress.in/india-celebrates-75th-republic-day President Droupadi Murmu led the nation in celebrating the 75th Republic Day from Kartavya Path in Delhi today. French President Emmanuel Macron is the Chief Guest as India showcases its cultural diversity and military prowess. https://opinionexpress.in/macrons-republic-day-gift-for-indian-students French President Emmanuel Macron, the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade, unveiled plans to boost the number of Indian students studying in France, aiming for over 30,000 by 2030. Macron expressed determination to achieve this ambitious target, emphasizing the measures France will undertake to support Indian students. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-govt-actively-engaged-on-digital-currency-fm Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently emphasized the collaborative efforts of the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in enhancing the central bank digital currency (CBDC) for cross-border transactions. The RBI initiated a pilot project for wholesale CBDC involving nine banks: State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, YES Bank, IDFC First Bank, and HSBC. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-kejriwal-and-nitish-abandons-indi-alliance The INDIA bloc faces potential unraveling as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is poised to align with the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, following Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal's decisions to break ties with the bloc. Kumar is expected to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally on February 4 and has called all his MLAs to Patna, signaling his intent to resign and form a government with BJP's support. Despite skepticism from state BJP leaders, the party's top brass has reportedly endorsed Kumar's return and instructed the state unit to refrain from criticizing him. https://opinionexpress.in/a-tribute-to-jan-nayak-karpoori-thakur Jan Nayak wanted to create an egalitarian society where resources were distributed fairly and everyone, regardless of their social standing, had access to opportunities https://opinionexpress.in/maldives-presidents-anti-india-pivot-could-spell-trouble-warn-opposition The Maldives government's recent decision to allow a Chinese ship to dock at their port has sparked concerns from the two main opposition parties, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats. They cautioned against what they perceive as an "anti-India stance," warning that it could impede the island nation's development. This move comes amid strained relations between India and the Maldives and the Maldives' growing closeness to China, indicating a potential significant shift in the geopolitical and military dynamics of the Indian Ocean Region. https://opinionexpress.in/india-unity-takes-a-hit-from-bengal-punjab The opposition bloc in India faced consecutive setbacks as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declared its intention to contest all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, following Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee's rejection of any alliance with Congress in West Bengal. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann revealed that the AAP had shortlisted 40 candidates for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state, with a survey underway to finalize the selections. https://opinionexpress.in/work-for-netajis-dream-of-building-a-strong-nation-mohan-bhagwat RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, speaking at a rally in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on the 127th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, called on the public to embody the qualities and teachings of the iconic freedom fighter. Bhagwat stressed the importance of collective responsibility in realizing Bose's vision of a robust and united nation. https://opinionexpress.in/big-win-for-donald-trump-in-presidential-run-up In a pivotal turn of events, Donald Trump clinched a significant victory in the crucial New Hampshire primary, a triumph that bolstered his path toward securing the Republican presidential nomination. The win positioned him for a highly anticipated rematch with Joe Biden in what promises to be an extraordinary White House showdown. https://opinionexpress.in/efficiency-in-adversity-the-indian-judiciarys-resolve-for-justice The Indian Judiciary, often referred to as the guardian of justice, operates within a complex and diverse legal landscape. Despite facing tremendous workload and performance pressure, it continues to function with a sense of duty and commitment to uphold the principles of justice. This resilience can be attributed to several factors, including the dedication of the judiciary, technological advancements, and ongoing reforms. https://opinionexpress.in/india-surpasses-hong-kong-ranks-fourth-globally-in-stock-market-size In a remarkable achievement, India's stock market has surpassed Hong Kong's for the first time, marking another milestone for the South Asian nation, acclaimed for its growth prospects and policy reforms that have made it an attractive destination for investors. According to Bloomberg data, the combined value of shares listed on Indian exchanges reached $4.33 trillion as of Monday's close, outpacing Hong Kong's $4.29 trillion. This elevates India to the position of the fourth-largest equity market globally, with its stock market capitalization exceeding $4 trillion for the first time on December 5. https://opinionexpress.in/strong-72-earthquake-hits-china Late yesterday evening, strong tremors rattled Delhi and the National Capital Region, stemming from a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake in southern China's Xinjiang. The National Center of Seismology, in a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter), noted that the quake occurred at a depth of 80 kilometers. https://opinionexpress.in/the-best-baseball-drills-for-fun-practices-in-2024 Baseball is not just a sport; it's a passion that brings people together, fostering teamwork, skill development, and, most importantly, fun. In 2024, coaches are continually seeking innovative ways to keep their players engaged and motivated during practices. Fun and effective drills are essential to achieving this goal, creating an environment where players can enjoy the game while honing their skills. Let's explore some of the best baseball drills for fun practices in 2024 that strike the perfect balance between enjoyment and skill development. https://opinionexpress.in/return-of-lord-rama-top-three-speeches On Monday, the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol at the Ayodhya temple marked a historic event witnessed by millions across the country. Army helicopters adorned the newly constructed Janmabhoomi temple with flower petals during the ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat were present for the 'pran pratishtha' rituals. https://opinionexpress.in/lord-shree-ram-is-back-at-his-birth-place-ayodhya Today, the Ayodhya temple unveiled the 51-inch Ram Lalla idol, adorned with gold and flowers, just ahead of the grand 'pran pratistha' ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading the consecration, offered prayers in the sanctum sanctorum, accompanied by saints and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The idol, sculpted from black stone by Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj, had been veiled in anticipation of the ceremony. https://opinionexpress.in/ayodhya-reset-clock-to-welcome-sri-ram-bhagwan On Monday morning, invitees flocked to the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, creating a fervent atmosphere despite the biting cold. Locals and devotees, waving saffron flags, lined the roads, dancing to songs dedicated to Lord Ram. The historic event, set to welcome Lord Ram, will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with prominent figures such as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Anupam Kher, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan, and others. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-car-light-show-organised-ahead-of-ram-temple-opening In anticipation of the grand inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, enthusiastic devotees in Houston organized an extraordinary Tesla car light show dedicated to Lord Ram. Over 100 Tesla car owners, identifying as the "Ramji ki Gilahariyan of Greater Houston," gathered at the Shri Guruvayurappan Krishna Temple for the captivating light display. https://opinionexpress.in/aiims-to-stay-shut-till-230-pm-for-ram-temple-event In response to widespread criticism and concerns over patient care, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has reversed its decision to close non-critical services during the grand consecration event at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The premier healthcare facility initially declared a half-day break for staff in non-critical services, raising apprehensions about the availability of outpatient department (OPD) services. https://opinionexpress.in/creating-an-ascii-resume-a-guide-to-crafting-a-plain-text-resume Creating a plain-text resume is a smart move. You never know when you might need it for a job application. Follow our step-by-step guide to create a basic resume from the beginning. We've also included examples of plain-text resumes for you to use as inspiration. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-strike-syria In a recent Israeli strike on Damascus, five people were killed in a building where leaders aligned with Iran were reportedly meeting, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor. The targeted neighborhood is known for its high-security status and is home to leaders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and pro-Iran Palestinian factions. The Observatory director, Rami Abdel Rahman, indicated that the strike was aimed at senior members of these groups. https://opinionexpress.in/czech-court-rules-for-extradition-of-indian-accused-in-us-murder-plot A Czech court has greenlit the extradition of Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian man, accused by the United States of participating in a purported conspiracy to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, according to a Reuters report. The Czech Justice Ministry announced the decision, placing the final decision in the hands of Justice Minister Pavel Blazek once the ruling is communicated to all relevant parties. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-rss-favour-ruling-country-from-centre-rahul-gandhi During the second day of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam's Lakhimpur district, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP and RSS, alleging their full support for the idea of centralizing governance in Delhi. Gandhi asserted that his party disagrees with such a system and believes that each state should govern itself. Specifically addressing Assam, he stated, "Assam will not be governed from Delhi; it will be governed from Assam." https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-soldiers-enter-india-to-infiltrate-in-mizoram In the midst of intensifying clashes between rebel forces and the military junta in Myanmar, a significant development has unfolded as hundreds of Myanmar Army personnel have sought refuge in India. The Mizoram government has raised the alarm, urging the central government to promptly address the situation and ensure the repatriation of these soldiers to their home country. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-oppose-one-nation-one-election-kharge On Friday, the Congress vehemently opposed the notion of conducting simultaneous elections in India, deeming it "undemocratic" and asserting that it contradicts the principles of federalism and the fundamental structure of the Constitution. Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress chief, expressed his strong dissent, urging the abandonment of the idea and dissolution of the high-powered committee assigned to study it. https://opinionexpress.in/lord-rams-idol-inside-ayodhya-temples-sanctum-sanctorum The new idol of Lord Ram was ceremoniously placed inside the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, setting the stage for the upcoming grand consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22. Crafted from black stone by Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj, the 51-inch idol portrays Lord Ram as a five-year-old child in a standing posture, with the face veiled during the placement ceremony earlier in the day. https://opinionexpress.in/tcs-to-train-entire-staff-with-gen-ai-skills Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the largest IT services exporter in the country, is set to provide training in Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) to its extensive workforce of over 5 lakh software engineers, according to a senior official. Gen AI is currently in its early stages as a business opportunity, with smaller use cases being explored. TCS, having revealed its involvement in 250 Gen AI-powered projects, is utilizing the insights gained to enhance the efficiency of its ongoing client projects. https://opinionexpress.in/red-sea-security-situation-is-a-matter-of-concern-india India expressed concern over the security situation in the Red Sea, closely monitoring developments in vital sea lanes. The External Affairs Ministry underscored the significance of freedom of navigation and commerce in the region, especially with Houthi militants targeting commercial vessels amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/political-heat-rahul-gandhis-claims-of-corruption-spark-controversy-in-assam On the inaugural day of the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Assam, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched scathing criticisms against the state government, asserting that it may harbor the "most corrupt government" with the "most corrupt Chief Minister" in the entire nation. Speaking at Haloating in Sivasagar district, where the yatra commenced from Nagaland, Gandhi accused the ruling BJP and RSS of propagating hatred and embezzling public funds. https://opinionexpress.in/google-likely-to-go-for-more-job-cuts-this-year Google CEO Sundar Pichai has informed employees to anticipate additional job cuts at the Alphabet-owned company this year, as reported by The Verge on Wednesday, referencing an internal memo. According to the memo, Pichai emphasized that the layoffs in the upcoming year aim to streamline operations by removing layers and fostering agility in certain areas. The strategic focus is on simplifying execution processes and enhancing efficiency. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-downtrend-continues The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 sustained a third consecutive day of declines, primarily attributed to HDFC Bank shares plunging over 3% following disappointing results for the December quarter. Investor dissatisfaction with the bank's performance contributed to the overall negative sentiment. The global market conditions, characterized by a subdued environment, coupled with a surge in US treasury yields to a 5-week high, further intensified investors' concerns on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-air-strikes-on-iran-escalates-violence-in-middle-east Pakistan has officially confirmed conducting precise airstrikes against militant targets in Iran as a response to recent attacks on Pakistani territory by Tehran. The strikes, carried out in the Siestan-o-Baluchistan province, targeted terrorist hideouts and were part of an operation named 'Marg Bar Sarmachar,' resulting in the elimination of several terrorists. Tragically, Iranian media reported casualties, including four children and three women. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-expels-iran-ambassador On Wednesday, Pakistan took diplomatic measures in response to the recent Iranian air strikes in the Balochistan province, escalating tensions between the two nations. Pakistan recalled its top diplomat from Iran shortly after expelling the Iranian representative from its territory. In addition, Islamabad announced the suspension of all high-level visits, whether ongoing or planned. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-hit-hard-by-indian-reverse-migration-of-students The issuance of study permits to Indian students in Canada witnessed a significant decline in the latter part of the previous year, primarily attributed to diplomatic strains between the two nations. According to a top Canadian official, the reduction in permits was a consequence of India expelling Canadian diplomats responsible for processing these permits. Additionally, fewer Indian students applied for study permits due to an ongoing diplomatic dispute related to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. https://opinionexpress.in/lord-ram-lallas-idol-makes-its-way-to-ayodhyas-grand-temple In anticipation of the consecration ceremony, the idol of Lord Ram Lalla is scheduled to be transported to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya today. This marks a significant step in the week-long Pran Pratishtha ceremony taking place at the grand temple. Crafted from black stone by Mysuru sculptor Arun Yogiraj, the idol of infant Ram will make its way to the temple in a procession, known as "parisar pravesh" or "entry," on the second day of the ceremony. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-attacks-pakistan-targeting-militant-group Missiles targeted two bases of the Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan, as reported by Iranian state media on Tuesday. The strike came a day after Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched missiles at targets in Iraq and Syria. Jaish al Adl has previously carried out attacks on Iranian security forces along the border with Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/success-of-independent-candidates-changing-political-winds-in-bangladesh The 12th Bangladeshi general election was held recently. The ruling Awami League party achieved an overwhelming victory, securing 223 of 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. This enables them to form a government for the fourth consecutive term. However, the notable success of independent candidates, who collectively won 61 seats, may signify evolving voter preferences with implications for political parties. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-strikes-israeli-spy-headquarters-in-iraq-sources In a significant development, Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched missile attacks targeting multiple "terrorist" sites in both Syria and Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, as reported by state media on Tuesday. According to the official IRNA news agency, the attacks resulted in the destruction of a "spy headquarters" and a "gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups" in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement confirming the strikes. https://opinionexpress.in/vivek-ramaswamy-endorses-donald-trump-quits-us-presidential-race Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-American businessman who entered the 2024 US presidential race in February 2023, has officially withdrawn from the competition following a lackluster performance in the Iowa Republican caucuses. Initially a relatively unknown figure in political circles, Ramaswamy gained attention and support among Republican voters by espousing strong opinions on immigration and advocating for an America-first approach. Mirroring former President Donald Trump's campaign strategy both in tone and policy, Ramaswamy aimed to tap into the conservative base that had previously propelled Trump to success in elections. https://opinionexpress.in/us-presidential-race-donald-trump-wins-1st-republican-contest Donald Trump achieved a resounding victory in Iowa's caucuses, marking a significant milestone in the US presidential race and solidifying his position as the presumptive Republican candidate poised to challenge President Joe Biden in the upcoming November election. Despite maintaining a consistent lead in polls for over a year, the Iowa contest served as a crucial litmus test to determine whether Trump could effectively translate his advantage into a remarkable return to the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/ensuring-participatory-and-acceptable-elections-a-major-challenge-for-the-government-in-bangladesh The recent commencement of the 12th national parliament election in Bangladesh has sparked a significant upheaval. According to the announcement of the Election Commission, the 12th National Parliament Election is going to be held on January 7, 2024.Undeniably, elections hold a crucial role in democratic governance. In accordance with the Constitution of Bangladesh, citizens have the privilege to exercise their voting rights every five years, electing representatives who will work towards the welfare of the people and enact laws for their betterment. Ideally, one would expect a festive atmosphere surrounding an election. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Instead, there is a palpable sense of fear and apprehension among the people regarding the upcoming elections. This fear encompasses concerns about the possibility of violence, potential loss of life and property, and large-scale social disruption that could affect people's freedom of movement. The question remains: why does this fear persist? https://opinionexpress.in/what-ghana-can-learn-from-indias-odop In October 2022, Ghana sought the IMF (International Monetary Fund) bailout for the record 17th time. Actually, very few people anticipated that Ghana, which until recently was considered Africa's brightest star, would experience this level of financial catastrophe in such a short time. Even in 2019, Ghana's Economy was expanding at the fastest rate in the world. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were optimistic about the steady rise of the nation. Although Ghana's Economy is primarily driven by oil, non-oil industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and services were also expanding quickly. Everything was going well until the outbreak of the pandemic.  https://opinionexpress.in/the-tomato-botchup-can-we-afford-it In a typical market economy, the demand and supply determine prices, with limited or no government interventions. Therefore, going by the first principles of microeconomic theory, if the demand is more than supply, prices would rise and vice-versa.  The sudden spikes in demand and supply shortages are especially felt when there are natural disasters or calamities like wars, or earthquakes. India, though less strictly a market economy and more of a mixed economy, has had its share of woes with unprecedented price hikes due to demand and supply shocks. https://opinionexpress.in/overseas-indians-to-hold-music-show-in-washington-dc A week prior to the highly anticipated consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, fervent Ram Bhaktas in the United States orchestrated car rallies across 21 cities. Notably, in the national capital, enthusiasts organized a distinctive Tesla Car musical show dedicated to Lord Ram. In Frederick City, Maryland, over 100 Ram Bhakts, each owning a Tesla Car, congregated at the Shri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple on Saturday night. Leveraging a unique feature of Tesla cars introduced in 2022, the participants synchronized the headlights and speakers of their vehicles with a popular song dedicated to Lord Ram. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-crosses-73k-nifty-opens-above-22k Today, India's benchmark indices, Nifty and Sensex, achieved record highs propelled by robust performances and optimistic outlooks from IT services companies, mitigating concerns about subdued demand. As of 9:31 am, the NSE Nifty 50 surged by 0.81% to reach 22,072.90 points, while the S&P BSE Sensex rose by 0.92% to 73,235.60 points. https://opinionexpress.in/india-must-withdraw-military-personnel-by-march-15-maldives Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has issued a deadline for India to withdraw its troops from the island nation, setting March 15 as the date for their departure. This ultimatum follows Muizzu's recent state visit to China, where he met with President Xi Jinping, signaling a shift in diplomatic ties. The strained relationship between India and Maldives escalated when Maldivian ministers made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his visit to the Lakshadweep islands, leading to the sacking of the ministers. https://opinionexpress.in/no-business-as-usual-jaishankars-message-to-china-amidst-border-strain India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, addressed the ongoing border standoff with China, stating that normalizing relations cannot be expected until a resolution is reached. Speaking on 'Bharat's Rise in Geopolitics,' Jaishankar highlighted the lack of mutually agreed borders between India and China and accused China of violating an agreement by deploying troops to the Line of Actual Control in 2020, leading to the Galwan incident. He conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that normalizing relations is contingent on resolving the border issue. https://opinionexpress.in/milind-deora-quits-congress Former Union Minister Milind Deora resigned from the Congress party and is expected to join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later today."I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). https://opinionexpress.in/taiwan-voters-give-ruling-party-third-presidential-term In a decisive move by Taiwanese voters, Vice President Lai Ching-te, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, secured victory on Saturday, marking a clear rejection of China's warnings against supporting him. The election, framed by Beijing as a choice between war and peace, defied China's insistence not to vote for Lai, whose DPP advocates for Taiwan's distinct identity and rejects China's territorial claims. This election marked an unprecedented attempt by the DPP, seeking a third term within Taiwan's existing electoral framework. https://opinionexpress.in/discover-the-venice-collection-nasher-miles-designed-for-the-stylish-explorer Welcome to the world of travel in style with Nasher Miles' Venice Collection! This exquisite collection is designed to cater to the needs of the modern explorer who seeks both functionality and sophistication. Let's dive into the details and unravel the essence of this remarkable travel companion. https://opinionexpress.in/mallikarjun-kharge-to-lead-opposition-bloc-india After intense deliberations, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has emerged as the chosen chairperson for the opposition bloc INDIA, according to sources. Although an official announcement from INDIA bloc is pending, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, another contender for the top post, deferred to a Congress representative during the meeting, advocating for Kharge's appointment. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-issues-4th-summons-to-arvind-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been called for the fourth time by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, scheduled to appear on January 18. This development follows Kejriwal's non-compliance with the January 3 summons, where he contested the legality of the ED's summons, alleging their sole motive was his arrest. https://opinionexpress.in/the-2024-global-electionsthe-greatest-test-of-democracy At least 64 nations (including the EU) are scheduled to hold national elections, drawing a total of more than 49% of the world's population. The outcomes of these elections will have far-reaching consequences for many, and more people than ever before are expected to cast their ballots. https://opinionexpress.in/the-chosen-monarch-ram-bhagwaans-birth-forecasts-a-majestic-rule Narada, often is described as the “Bull amongst all Sages” in the Bibek Debroy version of the Valmiki Ramayana which I cling to in times of extreme despair, which is quite often. Perhaps, it be fate that I write this opinion piece on a Sunday the day in the Hindu and Gregorian Calendar as the day of the Sun, Surya, and who was the king descended from the line of Kings of the Suryavanshi’s, was Bhagwaan Shri Ram. This day of rest is dedicated to Lord Rama. However, Did Ram get much rest before He was consecrated? the answer is No. he was fated to kill Ravana, to kill the soul of evil, to do good, to establish Dharma, to be King and to establish a Ram Rajya…. a Kingdom of peace and prosperity.  https://opinionexpress.in/infra-jewel-indias-longest-sea-bridge-mumbai-trans-harbour-link-is-open Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, adding a significant 21.8-km feather to India's infrastructure cap. The bridge connects Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Raigad district and stands as the country's longest sea bridge, aiming to slash travel time between the two points from an hour and a half to a mere 20 minutes. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-offers-prayers-performs-pooja-roadshow-in-nashik Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a vibrant roadshow in Nashik, Maharashtra, as part of his daylong visit. The roadshow commenced from Hotel Mirchi Chowk and covered over 2 kilometers, with the PM accompanied by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, and several BJP leaders. Thousands of enthusiastic people lined the route, welcoming Modi, and various artists, including those with the renowned 'Nashik Dhol' and tribal performers, added cultural flair to the event. https://opinionexpress.in/lashkar-founder-abdul-salam-bhuttavi-dead Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, a founding member of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) and deputy to Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks, passed away due to cardiac arrest while in the custody of the Pakistani government, as confirmed by the United Nations Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. This event occurred on May 29 last year in Muridke, Punjab province, Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/china-assures-maldives-of-support-amidst-rising-tensions-with-india China has committed to safeguarding the "sovereignty" of the Maldives and enhancing diplomatic ties following the signing of crucial infrastructure agreements, as announced by both parties. In the midst of geopolitical competition between Beijing and Delhi for influence, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, elected in September, expressed his intent to nurture "strong ties" with China while removing Indian troops. https://opinionexpress.in/shinde-faction-is-the-real-sena-political-party-maharashtra-speaker On Wednesday, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declared that the Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena was deemed the "authentic political entity" during the emergence of rival groups on June 21, 2022. Addressing the disqualification petitions lodged by both the Shinde-led Sena and the opposing faction led by Uddhav Thackeray against each other's MLAs, Narwekar pronounced that Sunil Prabhu of the Sena (UBT) lost his position as the whip starting from June 21, 2022, with Bharat Gogawale of the Shinde group assuming the role of the authorized whip. https://opinionexpress.in/indians-can-visit-visa-free-as-indias-passport-gets-stronger In recent years, the prospect of international travel for Indian passport holders has significantly improved, reflecting India's growing global influence. The Henley Passport Index, released on Tuesday, highlights India's passport ranking at 80th globally, granting its citizens the privilege of visa-free travel to an impressive 62 countries. This convenience is a testament to India's diplomatic efforts and enhanced global standing. https://opinionexpress.in/google-is-pushing-cost-cutting AI affect or rejing, Alphabet Inc.'s Google is laying off hundreds of staff working on its digital assistant, hardware and engineering teams, the company said as it continues its drive to cut costs. Among the affected workers are those working on the voice-based Google Assistant and the augmented reality hardware team. Workers in the company's central engineering organization were also hit by the cuts, the company said. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-director-in-kolkata-to-monitor-pds-scam ED Director Rahul Navin, overseeing the inquiry into an alleged public distribution and paddy procurement scam, arrived to review the case amid security concerns for the local ED establishment. The move follows attacks on central probe agency teams in West Bengal. During a search operation in North 24 Parganas, three ED officials were injured, and their belongings were allegedly stolen. TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, the target of the search, is currently on the run, prompting the issuance of a look-out circular. Another ED team faced an attack during the arrest of TMC leader Shankar Adhya on the same day. https://opinionexpress.in/oust-the-maldives-president-muizzu-opposition The political turmoil in the Maldives has deepened as Member of Parliament Ali Azim, affiliated with The Democrats, called for the removal of President Mohamed Muizzu amid a growing dispute over critical comments directed at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Azim urged the largest opposition party, the MDP, to initiate a vote of no-confidence, while another MP, Meekail Naseem, requested Parliament to question Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer over perceived inaction on derogatory remarks against PM Modi. https://opinionexpress.in/wb-state-pds-scam-of-enormous-magnitude-ed The conflict surrounding the attacks on Enforcement Directorate (ED) teams in West Bengal has intensified, as the agency declared on Monday that the state police had filed a First Information Report (FIR) for the incident in Sandeshkhali, registering only bailable and non-scheduled offences. Furthermore, the ED alleged that they have not received a copy of the complaint. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-approves-two-candidates-against-putin-in-march-election Russia's national elections commission has officially registered the first two candidates to challenge President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming March election. Leonid Slutsky of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party and Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party have been approved to appear on the ballot for the March 15-17 vote. However, neither candidate poses a significant threat to Putin's dominance in Russian politics. Both candidates and their respective parties generally support legislation backed by Putin's United Russia party. https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-brookfield-to-open-data-centre-next-week-ambani Billionaire Mukesh Ambani announced on Sunday that Reliance Industries, in collaboration with Canada's Brookfield, will inaugurate a data center in Chennai next week, marking its entry into the rapidly expanding market. Reliance had invested approximately Rs 378 crore in July the previous year to join an existing joint venture with Brookfield Infrastructure and US-based real estate investment trust Digital Realty, each holding a 33 percent stake. Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Ltd, revealed at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet that the group is venturing into renewable energy, green hydrogen, and establishing a data center in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/india-summons-maldives-envoy-over-remarks-against-pm-modi India has lodged a formal complaint with the Maldives envoy following derogatory remarks made by three Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The criticism stemmed from PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, with one Maldivian lawmaker suggesting that India is promoting the Union Territory as a competing tourist destination to the Maldives. Two other Maldivian ministers joined in with derogatory comments and shared photos of PM Modi from Lakshadweep. The statements sparked widespread outrage within the Maldives, with prominent leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed, condemning the remarks and urging the government to distance itself from them. https://opinionexpress.in/social-media-post-triggers-strain-in-india-maldives-relationship The Maldivian government has taken swift action by suspending three ministers, Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid, following their controversial social media posts against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The posts, deemed insulting to India, triggered widespread outrage, prompting Indians to reportedly cancel their planned vacations to the Maldives. https://opinionexpress.in/the-global-conversation-has-shifted-towards-india-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar remarked that the global conversation has shifted towards India, emphasizing the significant changes the country has undergone over the past decade. Speaking at the Viksit Sankalp Bharat Yatra, Jaishankar highlighted that the world is now discussing India's transformation and questioning how such changes have been achieved. https://opinionexpress.in/one-nation-one-election-panel-seeks-public-inputs The committee spearheading the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has actively sought public participation in shaping the discourse on simultaneous elections in India. Through a public notice, the high-level committee has called for suggestions from the citizens to propose "appropriate changes in the existing legal administrative framework" to facilitate synchronized elections across the nation. Acknowledging the importance of public input, the committee has set a deadline of January 15 for the submission of suggestions, emphasizing their commitment to considering all received recommendations. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-economic-outlook-anticipated-growth-exceeds-7-in-2023-24 The National Statistical Office (NSO) has released the first advance estimates of the Indian economy for the fiscal year 2023-24, projecting a growth rate of 7.3 percent. This marks a slight improvement from the previous fiscal year's growth rate of 7.2 percent. The real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at constant prices for 2023-24 is estimated to reach Rs 171.79 lakh crore, compared to the provisional GDP estimate of Rs 160.06 lakh crore for 2022-23. https://opinionexpress.in/bumrah-siraj-blows-south-africa-to-win-test-match-in-sa In a historic and brief Test match at Newlands, Jasprit Bumrah showcased his prowess, spearheading India to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory against South Africa. The match, the shortest ever in terms of overs bowled, saw Bumrah's masterful spell of 6/61 in 13.5 overs, crippling South Africa's middle-order. Aiden Markram's resilient century (106 off 103 balls) provided a lone resistance, guiding South Africa to 176 in 36.5 overs. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-completes-a-3-0-sweep-over-pakistan In his final test match, Australian opener David Warner played a crucial role in guiding Australia to an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan on Saturday. Warner, scoring 57 runs, bid farewell to his illustrious 112-test career as a winner on his home ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground. Needing only 11 runs for a series-clinching triumph, Warner was dismissed lbw by Sajid Khan, receiving a heartfelt applause from the crowd as he left the field. https://opinionexpress.in/shiv-sena-es-donates-11-crore-for-ayodhya-ram-temple Led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena, on Saturday, demonstrated its support for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya by donating a substantial ?11 crore. The delegation conveying this contribution included prominent party members such as MP Shrikant Shinde, Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant, party spokespersons Naresh Mhaske and Ashish Kulkarni, along with party secretary Bhau Chowdhary. https://opinionexpress.in/solar-mission-success-insights-offered-by-isro-chief In a recent update on the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Solar Mission, Aditya-L1, ISRO Chairman S Somanath provided insights into the spacecraft's successful entry into the precise Halo orbit. While addressing the media, Somanath mentioned that the mission had smoothly transitioned toward a high orbit, albeit requiring some minor corrections. He explained that the spacecraft is currently positioned correctly according to calculations, but ISRO will closely monitor it over the next few hours to ensure its stability. https://opinionexpress.in/twin-blasts-kills-over-75-people-in-iran Two devastating explosions, attributed to "terrorist attacks," unfolded during a commemorative ceremony in Iran, claiming the lives of over 70 individuals and leaving scores wounded. The incident occurred at a ceremony in the southeastern city of Kerman, held to honor the memory of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-skips-3-ed-summon-what-next Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided not to appear for questioning today in the Delhi liquor policy case, following the announcement by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party contends that the Enforcement Directorate's summons were unlawful and solely intended to arrest Mr. Kejriwal. This marks the third notice issued to the AAP's national convenor, following his refusal to comply with earlier summons on November 2 and December 21. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-strike-in-lebanon-kills-hamas-deputy-head-saleh On Tuesday, Israel extended its conflict with Palestinian operatives to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where an Israeli strike resulted in the death of Saleh al-Aruri, Hamas's deputy leader, along with his bodyguards, according to statements from the group and Lebanese security officials. The strike, part of Israel's vow to dismantle Hamas following unprecedented attacks on October 7, targeted a Hamas office in Beirut's southern suburbs, known as a stronghold for Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-clean-chit-to-adani-group-in-hindenburg-case In a significant triumph for the Adani Group, the Supreme Court pronounced a landmark decision on Wednesday, asserting that the report from the George Soros-led OCCRP cannot serve as the foundation for casting doubt on the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)'s examination into the Hindenburg case. The judgment, delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphatically stated that there exist no justifiable reasons to shift the investigation to a special investigation team. https://opinionexpress.in/reflecting-on-15-years-of-lehman-brothers-collapse According to Reuters, Richard Fuld, the former chief executive, declared, "Lehman Brothers in 2008 was not a bankrupt company," in front of 1,300 people at a micro-cap stock convention in Manhattan, seven years after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. https://opinionexpress.in/green-energy-can-the-private-sector-be-the-cure-for-indias-energy-appetite India's energy landscape has undergone a significant change in the past decade, to tackle the impending climate crisis. India will need an additional $300 billion to reach the goal of 500 GW of clean energy by 2030 (ADL report). As the transition to clean energy is capital-intensive, the cooperation of the private sector becomes increasingly important. Beyond tackling climate change, harnessing private capital for clean energy can unlock economic growth, generate green jobs, and enhance energy security. https://opinionexpress.in/japan-planes-suffers-collision-at-airport-5-dead A tragic incident unfolded at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday, resulting in the death of five individuals when a Japan Airlines plane erupted in flames after a suspected collision with a Coast Guard aircraft, according to media reports. Disturbing images broadcasted by NHK depicted the aircraft progressing along the runway before a massive explosion of fiery orange flames erupted from beneath and behind it. All 367 passengers and 12 crew members on the Airbus were successfully evacuated, including eight children, as reported by NHK and Kyodo News. Regrettably, the fatalities occurred among those aboard the Coast Guard aircraft. https://opinionexpress.in/ys-sharmila-to-lead-inc-andhra-revival-plan YS Sharmila, the founder president of YSR Telangana Party and sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, is reportedly set to join the Congress this week. This development comes in the wake of the Congress's success in the Telangana Assembly polls, ending the dominance of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-collegiums-responsiveness-seen-in-judges-transfer-case Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading the Supreme Court collegium, has proposed the transfer of Justice Shree Chandrashekhar from Jharkhand High Court to Rajasthan High Court. The decision, made during a meeting on December 29 and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, Surya Kant, and Aniruddha Bose, follows Justice Chandrashekhar's request for a transfer from the High Court of Jharkhand, as communicated on the same date. https://opinionexpress.in/several-dead-many-feared-trapped-as-earthquakes-hit-japan Rescue efforts in Japan are in a race against time following a 7.5-magnitude earthquake on New Year's Day in Ishikawa prefecture. The quake triggered tsunami waves, toppled buildings, ignited fires, and severed roads. The Noto Peninsula, particularly the port of Wajima, bore the brunt, with smoldering structures, flattened houses, and sunken fishing boats. Initial reports suggest six deaths, but the toll is expected to rise, with Kyodo news agency indicating 24 casualties. https://opinionexpress.in/major-75-earth-quake-with-tsunami-waves-hit-japan A formidable seismic event struck central Japan on Monday, registering a magnitude of 7.5, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter of the quake was identified in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT). The aftermath of this powerful quake prompted the issuance of tsunami warnings, compelling authorities to urgently advise residents in the vicinity to seek higher ground immediately. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-youth-politics-is-the-youth-of-today-just-the-leader-of-tomorrow The youngest country in the world, India, is often criticized for not having enough young parliamentarians. On one end dignitaries proudly state that when the world turns old, India will stay young, but on the other hand, only 6% of the Indian parliament comprises people below the age of 30. Thus, though the majority of the Indian population is young, it has near to no participation in the apex body that deals with policymaking. However, India does not fare very poorly in this regard in comparison to the world, as the youngest parliament in the world, Norway, has only 13.61% parliamentarians under the age of 30. Yet, this is not something to be satisfied with. 13% need not be the benchmark for a country like India, we must aim higher. It is a fair argument that parliamentarians and policy makers must be mature and experienced individuals but such an argument is not entirely satisfactory. The reason is that experience cannot be considered as an argument to negate the opinions and participation of nearly two-thirds population of our country. https://opinionexpress.in/canadians-are-paying-the-price-for-trudeaus-overspending Starting on January 1, 2024, Canada will implement substantial changes to its study permit program for international students. These changes include a reduction in the number of study permits issued, limitations on working hours, and an increase in the financial requirement for study permit applicants. The cost-of-living financial requirement will be raised from the current amount of $10,000 to $20,635. Additionally, applicants will need to demonstrate sufficient funds to cover their first year of tuition fees and travel expenses. These adjustments aim to enhance the preparedness of international students for their lives in Canada. The minister asserts that the current situation has reached a point where further action is necessary. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-temples-significance-as-a-cultural-anchor-for-bharat The construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya holds immense significance for Hindus in independent India, encompassing profound religious, cultural, political, global, and commercial dimensions. This monumental project has been a focal point of contention and aspirations, with its impact rippling through various spheres of life. https://opinionexpress.in/elections-2023-game-set-and-match-to-brand-modi The recently concluded state assembly elections in India witnessed a political landscape where the formidable combination of a strong Modi brand, a well-organized Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and abundant resources proved to be a decisive force. The opposition, characterized by weak leadership, organizational deficiencies, and a lack of coherent strategy, found itself overwhelmed in the face of the BJP juggernaut. https://opinionexpress.in/denmarks-queen-has-announced-her-abdication-on-the-throne Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, has announced her abdication after 52 years on the throne. The 83-year-old queen, who ascended to the throne in 1972, surprised the nation of 5.9 million people with this revelation during her traditional New Year's Eve speech, broadcast live on television. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-new-mission-to-study-black-holes-successfully-launched Today, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite, XPoSat, as part of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle's (PSLV) C58 mission. The launch represents a crucial advancement in the exploration of celestial objects, particularly black holes. https://opinionexpress.in/us-sinks-iran-backed-houthi-boats-after-red-sea-attack In a recent incident, US helicopters successfully thwarted an attack by Iran-backed Houthi militants on the Maersk container vessel, Maersk Hangzhou, in the Red Sea. The naval confrontation took place around 0330 GMT on Sunday as the attackers attempted to board the Singapore-flagged vessel. In response to a distress call, helicopters from the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, along with the ship's security team, repelled the assailants, sinking three boats and resulting in the death of 10 militants. https://opinionexpress.in/isros-pioneering-mission-takes-flight-with-xposat-2024-launch The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for its first space mission of 2024 with the launch of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on January 1.Following the achievements of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L-1, this mission is India's another significant step in space exploration. https://opinionexpress.in/stakes-rise-as-taiwan-polls-elicit-diverse-opinions-for-mainland-china In the lead-up to Taiwan's presidential elections on January 13, 2023, candidates have expressed a desire for peaceful relations with Beijing, despite increased tensions and provocations from the Chinese government. The frontrunner, William Lai, who is currently Taiwan's vice president from the ruling Democratic People's Party, stated during a televised debate that he is open to communication with the government in Beijing. However, Beijing has refused to engage in dialogue with Lai and President Tsai Ing-wen, accusing them of separatism and attempting to provoke a Chinese attack on Taiwan. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-top-poll-body-rejects-iman-khans-nomination-papers Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faces a significant setback in the lead-up to the February 8 general elections, as Pakistan's top electoral body, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), rejected the nomination papers of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with several key party members. The decision was based on what the ECP deemed as "flimsy grounds." https://opinionexpress.in/new-covid-version-records-large-cases-in-india India witnessed a resurgence in COVID-19 cases as it reported 841 new infections in a span of 24 hours, marking the highest daily count in 227 days, according to data from the health ministry released on Sunday. Concurrently, the number of active cases climbed to 4,309. Over the same period, the country recorded three new fatalities, with one each reported in Kerala, Karnataka, and Bihar. https://opinionexpress.in/new-airport-revamped-railway-station-infra-projects-gifted-by-pm-to-ajodhya Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Ayodhya marked a significant moment as he inaugurated the city's new airport, just ahead of the highly anticipated consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple scheduled for January 22. The Prime Minister's arrival was met with enthusiasm, as he embarked on a vibrant roadshow, acknowledging the crowds that had gathered along the route from the airport to the railway station. The city itself was adorned with flowers, and welcoming posters featuring the PM adorned various locations, all under the watchful eye of a robust security setup. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-troops-killed-hostages An Israeli military investigation revealed that soldiers ignored cries for help from three hostages in a Gaza building just days before mistakenly killing them. On December 10, the soldiers entered the building in the Shejaiya district of Gaza City, where they heard shouts of "hostages" in Hebrew. They interpreted this as a deceptive tactic by Hamas operatives and believed the building was rigged with explosives. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gandhi-robert-vadra-to-be-probed-for-land-transactions-ed The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge-sheet in a money laundering case, shedding light on the probe into the purchase of three plots of land in Haryana in 2005-06 by Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The investigation also encompasses a land deal made by Vadra's wife, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. While Vadra and Priyanka have not been named as accused in the charge-sheet, this marks the first time their names have been mentioned together in the complaint. https://opinionexpress.in/retired-justice-kaul-speaks-out-on-the-unanimous-article-370-verdict Justice (Retd) SK Kaul, a member of the constitution bench that delivered the unanimous judgment on Kashmir, addressed the aftermath of the verdict in an interview with NDTV. The five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, had ruled earlier in December that Article 370 of the Constitution, providing special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was temporary and its removal adhered to the correct legal procedure. The decision disappointed many in the Kashmir Valley, sparking ongoing political discussions. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-navy-veterans-on-death-row-in-qatar-get-relief In a significant development, the fate of eight former Navy personnel, who were sentenced to death by a Qatar court in October, has taken a new turn. The Indian government has revealed that the condemned individuals will now face commuted punishments, though the exact nature of these reduced terms, speculated to involve heavy jail time, remains unclear. The charges against them, which have not been disclosed, have added an air of mystery to the case. https://opinionexpress.in/actor-politician-humble-man-vijayakanth-dies-at-71 Renowned Tamil actor and founder-leader of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), Vijayakanth, passed away at the age of 71 in Chennai after battling an illness. Earlier in the day, the DMDK had announced his hospitalization and placement on ventilator support due to respiratory issues. The actor-politician, affectionately called 'Captain,' had previously faced health challenges and was hospitalized in November for cough and throat pain, undergoing a 14-day observation at MIOT Hospital in Chennai. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-friendship-is-eternal-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his well-wishes for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India next year, emphasizing the enduring "traditional conventional friendly ties" between Moscow and New Delhi, regardless of the political landscape. During a meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/strategic-shift-india-and-oman-on-the-verge-of-a-game-changing-free-trade-pact Negotiations for the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Oman are advancing rapidly, with expectations of signing the pact in the upcoming month, according to a senior government official. The FTA is anticipated to significantly benefit various export sectors, including motor gasoline, iron and steel products, electronics, machinery, textiles, plastics, boneless meat, essential oils, and motor cars. A recent report by the think-tank GTRI indicates that these goods currently face a 5% import duty in Oman. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhis-bharat-nyay-yatra-to-start-from-jan-14 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is gearing up for a significant political journey with the 'Bharat Nyay Yatra,' strategically timed in anticipation of the upcoming national elections next year. Commencing on January 14, this extensive 6,200-km expedition will traverse from Manipur to Mumbai, connecting the northeastern and western regions of India. Scheduled to conclude on March 20, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, this yatra is perceived as a follow-up to his previous north-south 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' conducted last year, which the party attributed to its success in securing electoral victories in two southern states. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-in-2024-ls-polls-will-secure-unprecedented-mandate-fadnavis Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis conveyed the unwavering determination of the people to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Responding to a question about a survey suggesting potential seat losses for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a strong performance by the opposition, Fadnavis dismissed such predictions. https://opinionexpress.in/saveena-parkash-files-nomination-for-pakistan-national-elections In a groundbreaking move, Saveera Parkash, a Hindu woman from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Buner district in Pakistan, has officially submitted her nomination papers for a general seat in the upcoming national elections scheduled for February 8, 2024. The elections aim to elect members of the 16th National Assembly in Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-navy-deploys-warships-to-counter-attacks-in-arabian-sea The Indian Navy's explosive ordnance disposal team conducted a thorough inspection of the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto at Mumbai harbor, following a drone attack off India's west coast in the Arabian Sea. The attack occurred as the ship was en route to New Mangalore port. In response to heightened concerns about attacks on commercial vessels in the Arabian Sea, the Navy deployed P-8I long-range patrol aircraft and warships INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata for surveillance and to maintain a deterrent presence. https://opinionexpress.in/obc-dominated-cabinet-expansion-takes-place-in-mp A long-awaited cabinet expansion in Madhya Pradesh is rolled out today with 28 MLAs, including former Union Minister Prahlad Patel and BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, sworn in as part of the Madhya Pradesh cabinet. Among them, 18 will hold cabinet berths, while the remaining 10 will serve as junior ministers or Ministers of State. Despite the BJP's electoral emphasis on women's empowerment and the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' scheme by ex-Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the new cabinet comprises only five women. https://opinionexpress.in/atal-ji-is-an-inspiration-during-the-amrit-kaal-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in commemorating the 99th birth anniversary of the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday. Alongside President Droupadi Murmu, former President Ram Nath Kovind, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and a host of ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, Modi paid his respects at Vajpayee's memorial, 'Sadaiv Atal.' https://opinionexpress.in/birthplace-of-jesus-christ-in-bethlehem-is-having-no-christmas-tree In a stark departure from its usual bustling atmosphere during the Christmas season, Bethlehem is grappling with an unusual quietude this year as conflict-related fears have dissuaded tourists and pilgrims from visiting the Palestinian town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Traditionally a vibrant hub during the Christmas festivities, hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops are now eerily deserted. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-extends-christmas-greeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended his greetings to the people of the country on the occasion of Christmas while wishing for peace and prosperity for all. He also recalled the noble teachings of Jesus Christ. https://opinionexpress.in/prashant-tewari Prashant Tewari is a well-known personality with a diverse background in journalism, entrepreneurship, and advisory roles in the public and private sectors. His academic achievements include a B.Com, MPA, and MBA from prestigious universities He is the founder of the Opinion Express Group, a member of The Pioneer's editorial team, a Managing Partner at Trans-Globe Advisors LLP and  a founding partner of GovNext India Foundation. https://opinionexpress.in/anshuman-dogra https://opinionexpress.in/candidates-finalize-nomination-papers-for-pakistan-2024-elections Aspiring candidates for the upcoming February 8 general elections in Pakistan are scrambling to submit their nomination papers, with the deadline for candidature set to expire this Sunday. Commencing on December 20, the nomination process was initially slated to conclude on Friday; however, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) acceded to the requests of several political parties and extended the deadline by an additional two days. https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-plans-special-souvenirs-for-ram-mandir Nepal will send special souvenirs consisting of various types of jewellery, utensils, clothes and sweets for the Ram Mandir's inauguration ceremony in Ayodhya next month, according to a media report on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/newly-elected-body-of-wfi-suspended The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) faced suspension by the government a day after wrestler Sakshi Malik raised concerns about the hastily announced junior national competitions. The Sports Ministry cited the new WFI panel's apparent control by former office bearers in complete disregard of the Sports Code. They highlighted that the WFI's operations were conducted from premises controlled by former office bearers, where allegations of sexual harassment against players were being heard in court. https://opinionexpress.in/houthi-rebels-deploy-drone-attack-on-indian-bound-oil-tanker-in-red-sea A Gabon-flagged crude oil tanker, the M/V Saibaba, en route to India, fell victim to a drone attack launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, according to the US military. The incident, transpiring around 10:30 pm (IST) the previous day, saw the tanker sustain damage, prompting the crew to issue a distress call to a nearby US ship. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the Indian crew aboard. https://opinionexpress.in/no-country-should-offer-operation-base-to-extremist-separatist-forces-jaishankar On Saturday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern over the defacement of a Hindu temple in the US with anti-India graffiti, emphasizing that extremists and separatist forces outside India should not find space for such actions. Speaking at the Rashtriya Raksha University's third convocation, Jaishankar stated that the Indian consulate had filed a complaint with the US government and police regarding the incident. The vandalism occurred at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Newark, California, where the word 'Khalistan' was spray-painted alongside other objectionable graffiti. https://opinionexpress.in/finance-ministry-says-india-still-below-2002-debt-level The Centre responded to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) cautionary statements regarding alleged vulnerabilities in India's government debt, asserting that certain assumptions made by the IMF do not accurately reflect the factual position. The finance ministry emphasized key points, particularly highlighting that a majority of India's general government debt, encompassing both the Centre and states, is denominated in rupees, with external borrowings constituting only a small portion. This, the ministry argued, results in a low rollover risk for domestic debt. https://opinionexpress.in/walls-of-hindu-temple-pasted-with-pro-khalistan-slogans-in-us A Hindu temple in California, specifically Newark's Swaminarayan Mandir Vasana Sanstha, fell victim to defacement as pro-Khalistan and anti-India slogans were discovered on its walls. The Hindu-American Foundation, having formerly shared images of the incident on X, emphasized the potential psychological impact on visitors and the creation of a "fear of violence." The slogans targeted India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A case has been filed with both the Newark Police Department and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, with the Foundation urging an investigation into this as a hate crime. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-arvind-kejriwal-for-third-time-in-delhi-liquor-policy-case A day after Arvind Kejriwal snubbed the Enforcement Directorate's second summons in the liquor policy case, the agency has asked the Delhi chief minister to appear on January 3. Mr Kejriwal had been summoned by the agency on Thursday, but had left for a 10-day pre-scheduled vipassana (meditation) retreat a day earlier. https://opinionexpress.in/colonial-criminal-laws-redraft-is-opportunity-wasted-p-chidambaram Former Home Minister of India & Congress leader P Chidambaram criticized the three bills brought by the government that seek to overhaul the criminal justice system, saying the opportunity to replace and redraft the colonial laws has been "wasted." The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed three key bills -- the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill. https://opinionexpress.in/french-president-invited-to-be-the-2024-republic-day-chief-guest France's President, Emmanuel Macron, has received an invitation to attend India's Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2024, as per sources. This follows the leaders' previous meeting in July, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France to participate in the Bastille Day Parade, where he served as the Guest of Honour. The visit was part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-offering-space-to-separatists-anti-india-elements-mea India has reiterated its concern over Canada's stance on providing space to separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements within the country. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, responded to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent comments about a potential shift in India-Canada ties. https://opinionexpress.in/cisf-replaces-delhi-police-to-guard-the-parliament In response to the recent security breach at the Parliament, the Home Ministry announced a significant overhaul in security measures by appointing the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as the new custodian of access control. The directive, issued on Wednesday, specifies that the CISF will replace the Delhi Police in safeguarding the Parliament, assuming all responsibilities, including the thorough frisking of entrants. This move aims to streamline security protocols and eliminate potential conflicts between different agencies. https://opinionexpress.in/bill-to-appoint-top-ec-officers-passed-is-cleared-by-the-parliament The Lok Sabha today passed a Bill to establish a new mechanism for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners.Earlier, the Rajya Sabha had approved the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. Therefore, the legislation has now cleared parliament. It will now go to the President for her assent. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-burden-to-increase-hospitalisation-expert Health experts in India have issued a warning regarding the surge in Covid-19 cases attributed to the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant of Omicron in the country, more than a year and a half after the initial Omicron wave. Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, expressed concern about the escalating cases, revealing that 30% of individuals with influenza-like symptoms tested positive for Covid in the Kochi region within a 24-hour period. He noted the spread of Covid within the community, highlighting that even his neighbor had tested positive. https://opinionexpress.in/new-criminal-laws-seek-to-put-in-place-human-centric-justice-system-amit-shah On Wednesday, Home Minister Amit Shah defended three proposed bills aimed at replacing colonial-era criminal laws in the Lok Sabha. Shah emphasized that the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill intend to revolutionize the criminal justice system by adopting a human-centric approach and prioritizing justice over penalties. Notably, the bills redefine terrorism, eliminate sedition as a crime, and introduce a new category called "offenses against the state." https://opinionexpress.in/criminal-code-bills-passed-in-lok-sabha The Lok Sabha passed three significant bills today, marking a pivotal shift from colonial-era criminal laws. The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 were approved, slated to replace the archaic Indian Penal Code of 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973, and Indian Evidence Act of 1872. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-rebukes-claim-on-us-sikh-murder-plot Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the recent allegations surrounding an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, accused of conspiring to murder American-Canadian citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist. In his first public remarks since the US federal prosecutors announced murder-for-hire charges against Gupta, Modi emphasized that these isolated incidents should not undermine the strong ties between India and the United States. https://opinionexpress.in/amcham-india-committees-catalysts-for-business-excellence In the vibrant tapestry of international trade, collaboration is the key to unlocking unprecedented opportunities. At the forefront of fostering synergy between American and Indian businesses, the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AmCham India) stands tall. Within this dynamic organization, the Committees emerge as powerful catalysts, driving innovation, dialogue, and business excellence. https://opinionexpress.in/colorado-court-rules-trump-ineligible-to-hold-us-presidents-office In a historic decision, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state's presidential election ballot in 2024, marking the first instance in U.S. history where a presidential candidate has been deemed ineligible under the constitutional provision barring individuals engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" from holding office. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-puts-forth-9-resolutions-for-indias-prosperity In a significant address during the inauguration of the Swarved Mahamandir in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented nine resolutions and an equal number of requests to the public, urging collective efforts to realize these goals. Speaking passionately, the Prime Minister outlined his vision for a progressive and responsible India. https://opinionexpress.in/massive-earthquake-leaves-trail-of-devastation-in-china A devastating earthquake struck northwest China, resulting in a reported death toll of at least 116 people, according to state media on Tuesday. The quake, which occurred around midnight, caused widespread destruction in Gansu province, claiming the lives of 105 individuals and leaving nearly 400 others injured, as reported by local officials. Additionally, in the neighboring province of Qinghai, 11 people were killed and 100 were injured in the city of Haidong. https://opinionexpress.in/india-needs-several-vehicle-scrapping-centres-fitness-test-points-gadkari India needs 1,000 vehicle scrapping centers and 400 automated fitness test centers, according to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. During the launch of 'DigiELV,' a platform for trading End of Life Vehicle Certificate of Deposit, Gadkari announced the approval of 85 vehicle scrapping facilities across the country. Emphasizing the significance of the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy, Gadkari stated that it is a mutually beneficial initiative for all stakeholders, positioning India as a scrapping hub in South Asia. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-wants-to-bulldoze-key-bills-in-parliament-without-opposition-kharge The Congress party strongly condemned the suspension of 33 Opposition MPs in Parliament, accusing the government of displaying dictatorial tendencies and suppressing dissent to push through crucial legislation without debate. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government for abandoning democratic norms and exhibiting zero accountability to Parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/archaeological-body-submits-gyanvapi-mosque-survey-report-in-court The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has submitted a "scientific survey" report on the Gyanvapi mosque to a district court in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This report, submitted as a sealed document on Monday, awaits clarity on whether it will be made public or shared with the concerned parties—the Hindu side or the petitioners. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-become-third-largest-economy-in-my-third-term-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inaugurating the expansive Surat Diamond Bourse, declared his vision for India to rank among the world's top three economies during his third term. The Surat Diamond Bourse, situated in Khajod village near Surat, is the largest office complex globally, spanning over 67 lakh square feet and symbolizing the strength and determination of a "new India." https://opinionexpress.in/europe-and-islam-have-a-compatibility-problem-italy-pm Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking at an event organized by her right-wing Brothers of Italy party, asserted a "compatibility problem" between Islamic culture and the values of European civilization. She highlighted concerns over the funding of Islamic cultural centers in Italy by Saudi Arabia, emphasizing a perceived incongruence with European values. Meloni criticized Saudi Arabia's strict Sharia law, citing punishments such as stoning for adultery and the death penalty for apostasy and homosexuality. While acknowledging the need to address specific issues within Islamic culture, she stressed the importance of avoiding generalizations. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-variant-jn1-detected-in-kerala Concerns are mounting globally as scientists observe the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant named JN.1 in Kerala, India. Discovered in a 79-year-old woman with mild Influenza Like Illness (ILI) symptoms in Thiruvananthapuram on December 8, the variant has caused a surge in infections, sparking alarm among health authorities. JN.1 is believed to be linked to the Omicron subvariant BA.2.86, also known as Pirola, initially identified in the US in September and subsequently found in seven cases in China on December 15. https://opinionexpress.in/corruption-unemployment-rising-prices-behind-parliament-security-breach-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attributed the December 13 Parliament security breach to the surging prices and unemployment plaguing the nation. Following a poll preparedness meeting with Congress' Gujarat unit leaders in New Delhi, Gandhi linked the breach to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, stating that the significant issue in the country revolves around widespread unemployment caused by Modi's approaches. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-inaugurates-worlds-largest-surat-diamond-exchange Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Surat Diamond Exchange today, marking its distinction as the world's largest office complex, surpassing even the iconic Pentagon. The sprawling establishment spans an impressive 6.7 million square feet and was finalized in July at a staggering cost of ?32 billion, outshining the 6.5 million square feet expanse of the renowned Pentagon, which has stood since 1943. https://opinionexpress.in/omans-sultan-haitham-bin-tarik-receives-tremendous-welcome-on-maiden-state-visit-to-india The Sultanate of Oman's Head of State, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, embarked on a historic three-day state visit to India, underscoring the profound historical, cultural, and economic ties that bind the two nations. The relationship between India and Oman is deeply rooted in a friendship that spans millennia, with evidence of people-to-people contact dating back 5,000 years. https://opinionexpress.in/investors-richer-by-inr-2-lakh-cr-as-sensex-cross-71k-mark In the current week's trade, equity investors in India witnessed a surge in wealth, with gains amounting to Rs 2 lakh crore, as the benchmark BSE Sensex breached the 71,000 mark for the first time. This rally was driven by optimistic global market trends following the decision of the US Federal Reserve to maintain its key interest rate and indicate potential rate cuts in the coming year. Continuous inflows of foreign funds have further fueled the upward momentum in stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-forex-reserves-stands-at-606859-bn India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $2.816 billion to $606.859 billion in the week ending December 8, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In the prior week, reserves had increased by $6.107 billion to $604.042 billion. Despite reaching an all-time high of $645 billion in October 2021, reserves were impacted as the RBI used them to defend the rupee amid global pressures. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-kills-3-hostages-mistakenly-netanyahu In a tragic turn of events, the Israeli army has acknowledged mistakenly killing three hostages, believing them to be a threat during the ongoing conflict. This incident occurred as Jerusalem faced rocket attacks from Gaza, marking the first such attack since late October. Israel, amidst its all-out offensive against Hamas, reopened an aid crossing into Gaza on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/nikhil-gupta-accused-in-us-murder-plot-claimed-his-rights-are-violated-in-jail Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian national, has moved the Supreme Court seeking intervention in his extradition to the United States on murder-for-hire charges related to an alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist and American-Canadian citizen. The events surrounding Gupta's apprehension at Prague's Vaclav Havel Airport on June 30 have raised concerns about potential violations of fundamental rights. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-received-highest-national-awards-of-dozen-countries-govt Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred with the highest national awards of 14 countries since 2014 in recognition of his leadership at bilateral, regional, and global levels, the government said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-breaches-71000-nifty-crosses-21300-for-first-time Stock Market Live: Sensex Breaches 71,000, Nifty Crosses 21,300 For First Time https://opinionexpress.in/allahabad-high-court-gives-nod-for-survey-of-mathura-mosque The Allahabad High Court on Thursday allowed a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah premises adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. The court agreed to the appointment of an advocate commissioner to oversee the survey of the mosque, which the petitioners claim holds signs suggesting that it was a Hindu temple once. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-is-emerging-triumph-in-ukraine-war-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual televised question and answer session, combining it with his year-end press conference, marking the first direct interaction with the public since the launch of the war in Ukraine. During the carefully orchestrated event, Putin stated that peace in Ukraine would only be achieved when Russia's goals are met, emphasizing the unchanged objectives of denazification, demilitarization, and neutral status for Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/cutting-edge-smart-luggage-sets-for-tech-savvy-travelers In the fast-paced world of modern travel, staying connected and in control of your journey is paramount. Enter the era of Smart Luggage Sets – the game-changer for tech-savvy travelers seeking an elevated and seamless travel experience. These intelligently designed travel companions are not just bags; they are your personal travel assistants, effortlessly blending style with innovation. https://opinionexpress.in/major-security-breach-in-parliament There was a major security breach during Zero Hour in Parliament at 1.02 pm today after two men, both carrying smoke canisters emitting an as yet unidentified yellow smoke, jumped from the visitors' gallery and ran into the Lok Sabha chamber. https://opinionexpress.in/mahadev-app-promoter-detained-in-dubai In a significant development concerning the Mahadev betting app case, Ravi Uppal, one of the primary promoters, has been apprehended by Dubai police based on a red corner notice issued by Interpol at the request of the Enforcement Directorate. Uppal, detained last week, is expected to be deported to India soon. The Mahadev app, allegedly yielding a daily profit of ?200 crore, had stirred political controversy ahead of the Chhattisgarh elections in November. https://opinionexpress.in/bhajanlal-sharma-rss-nominee-to-be-the-rajasthan-cm In a strategic move by the BJP, which has chosen to introduce fresh faces for key leadership roles in the states it secured in the heartland, Rajasthan stands out with the surprise appointment of Bhajanlal Sharma as Chief Minister. Sharma, a political novice, represents the constituency of Sanganer and serves as the state general secretary of the party. This decision marks a departure from the political landscape, particularly considering the alternative contender for the top position, Diya Kumari, who now assumes the role of deputy Chief Minister alongside Prem Chand Bairwa. https://opinionexpress.in/vit-thrusts-indias-intellectual-prowess-onto-the-global-stage VIT University, popularly known as Vellore Institute of Technology, has undoubtedly played a transformative role in shaping the educational landscape of India and contributing significantly to the nation's growth story. The institution's journey to becoming a global leading intellectual hub is closely intertwined with the vision and leadership of its founder, Dr. G. Viswanathan. His visionary approach, commitment to excellence, and entrepreneurial spirit have not only propelled VIT to great heights but also positioned him as a role model for the next generation of entrepreneurs. https://opinionexpress.in/drugs-medical-devices-cosmetics-bill-2023-in-house In the ongoing parliamentary session, the Central Government is poised to introduce the Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023, signaling the intent to replace the decades-old Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940. This legislative initiative aims to comprehensively amend and consolidate regulatory requirements governing the import, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics within India. https://opinionexpress.in/mastering-the-basics-essential-baseball-drills-for-beginners Baseball, known as America's favorite pastime, is a sport that combines skill, strategy, and teamwork. For beginners stepping onto the diamond for the first time, mastering the basics is the key to building a strong foundation. In this article, we'll explore essential baseball drills designed to help beginners hone their skills and embark on a successful journey in the world of baseball. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-breaches-70k-threshold Equity benchmark Sensex breached a new milestone of 70,000 points before closing 102 points higher, while Nifty settled just shy of the 21,000 mark on Monday, driven by gains in banking, IT and metal shares. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-tightens-visa-rules-for-overseas-students Australia announced on Monday its plans to tighten visa regulations for international students and low-skilled workers, aiming to reduce its migrant intake by half over the next two years. The government, citing a "broken" migration system, intends to overhaul existing policies following an anticipated peak in net immigration at 510,000 in 2022-23. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-picks-mohan-yadav-as-chief-minister Mohan Yadav has emerged as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, following the BJP's decisive victory over the Congress in the recent elections. The 58-year-old leader, who previously served as the Higher Education Minister in the outgoing government, clinched victory from the Ujjain Dakshin constituency, marking his third consecutive term as an MLA from the Ujjain district. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-backs-scrapping-of-article-370-for-jk The Supreme Court, in a significant ruling, endorsed the Central Government's decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution, paving the way for elections in the region next year. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, delivering a majority judgment, asserted that Article 370, initially a temporary provision facilitating Jammu and Kashmir's integration into India, no longer held relevance. https://opinionexpress.in/kashi-vishwanath-dham-religious-tourism-is-at-all-time-high The Yogi government's steadfast commitment to improving accessibility and amenities at Kashi Vishwanath Dham has yielded remarkable results, with a significant increase in visitor numbers. Over the past two years, more than 13 crore devotees, including 16,000 international visitors, have flocked to the sacred site. Sunil Verma, the Chief Executive Officer of Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Special Area Development Authority, reported that between December 13, 2021, and December 6, 2023, an impressive 15,930 foreign devotees have booked for a seamless darshan at the revered Vishwanath Temple. https://opinionexpress.in/report-on-secret-memo-naming-hardeep-nijjar-is-fabricated-india India has vehemently dismissed as "fake" and "completely fabricated" a media report alleging the issuance of a "secret memo" by New Delhi in April, outlining "concrete" measures against Sikh separatists, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, denounced the report as part of a "sustained disinformation campaign" against India, asserting that the outlet responsible, https://opinionexpress.in/tribal-power-to-drive-bjp-in-chhattisgarh Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal leader and former Union Minister, has been designated as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nominee for the Chief Minister position in Chhattisgarh ahead of the 2024 general elections. Following a week of contemplation, Sai was elected as the leader of the BJP's legislature party during a meeting that included the 54 newly-elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). https://opinionexpress.in/animal-film-has-achieved-significant-rs-600-crore-landmark The action drama film "Animal" has achieved significant success at the worldwide box office, grossing an impressive Rs 600.67 crore, as announced by the production house T-Series on Thursday. Starring Ranbir Kapoor and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the movie premiered on December 1 in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. https://opinionexpress.in/india-showed-capability-of-getting-world-to-agree-on-important-issues-eam-jaishankar India has not only shown an ability to progress at home but also displayed during its G20 presidency that it has the capability of getting the world to agree on something of common interest at a very difficult and very divisive moment, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/i-opposed-kargil-plan-hence-ousted-by-army-nawaz-sharif Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asserted on Saturday that he was removed from office in 1999 by the late General Pervez Musharraf due to his opposition to the Kargil misadventure. Sharif, a three-time prime minister, emphasized the significance of maintaining positive relations with India and other neighboring countries. https://opinionexpress.in/transformative-reforms-of-last-decade-are-paying-now-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's robust economic performance, citing a GDP growth of 7.7% in the first half of the current fiscal year. Speaking at the 'Infinity Forum 2.0' conference through video link at the GIFT City, Modi attributed this growth to the country's strengthening economy and the transformative reforms implemented over the past decade. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-key-lending-rate-unchanged-at-65 RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced key lending rate was held steady at 6.5 per cent,  The monetary policy committee decided that inflation control remained a major focus amid expectations of a spike in food prices in coming months and better than-expected economic growth. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-bullish-on-lvm3-six-pslv-three-gslv-launches-in-2024 In a recent update to the Rajya Sabha, the Indian government disclosed the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) ambitious launch schedule for 2024. ISRO has charted six Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) missions, three Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launches, and a commercial mission employing the Launch Vehicle Mark-3. Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, outlined that among these missions, ISRO plans to launch a technology demonstration satellite during the third development flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). https://opinionexpress.in/israel-stern-warning-to-hezbollah Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issuing a threat of widespread devastation in Beirut and southern Lebanon if Hezbollah opens a second front in Israel's conflict with Hamas. Netanyahu delivered this warning during a visit to the Israel Defense Forces' northern command, commending military reservists' readiness for battle. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-congratulates-isro-for-chandrayaan-3-experiment Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended congratulations to the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) for a notable achievement in space exploration. The Chandrayaan-3 mission witnessed a groundbreaking development as its Propulsion Module successfully navigated from a lunar orbit to Earth's orbit, showcasing a unique experiment in space technology. https://opinionexpress.in/vivek-ramaswamy-leads-4th-republican-presidential-debate The fourth Republican Presidential Debate recently concluded, featuring a spirited face-off among four prominent candidates vying for the party's presidential nomination: Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. As the contenders engaged in a stringent selection process, the debate showcased distinct dynamics and strategic moves. https://opinionexpress.in/jk-reorganization-bill-passed-in-lok-sabha The recently passed amended Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, as highlighted by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is poised to address a longstanding issue of representation for individuals who have been voiceless for over seven decades. Shah emphasized during the parliamentary debate that the legislation aims to provide justice to those who were compelled to abandon their homes and exist as refugees across different parts of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/one-flag-one-pm-one-constitution-is-our-mission-amit-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the BJP's commitment to "one flag, one prime minister, one constitution" is not a mere political slogan but a principle they firmly believe in, highlighting its implementation in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah responded to TMC's Saugata Roy, who dismissed the concept as a political slogan. Shah questioned the feasibility of a country having two prime ministers, two constitutions, and two flags, deeming Roy's remarks objectionable. https://opinionexpress.in/telangana-new-chief-minister-is-revanth-reddy Anumula Revanth Reddy, the 54-year-old leader and Telangana Congress chief, has emerged as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate following the resounding success in the Assembly polls held on November 30. Rahul Gandhi, a key figure in the Congress leadership, unequivocally confirmed the decision, attributing the victory to Revanth Reddy's leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-be-third-largest-economy-by-2030-sp The US-based rating agency S&P Global expects India to be the fastest-growing major economy in the next three years, with GDP growth reaching 7 percent by 2026, from 6.4 percent projected expansion in the current fiscal. S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday said India will be the world's third-largest economy by 2030, but a major test for the country would be to unlock the 'immense opportunity' and become the next big global manufacturing hub. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-michaung-leaves-trail-of-destruction-in-andhra-tn Cyclone Michaung, currently swirling over the Bay of Bengal, is poised to make landfall near Bapatla on the Andhra Pradesh coast, following its impact on Tamil Nadu, where at least eight people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Chennai. Anticipated to hit as a severe cyclonic storm, the cyclone is expected to bring a storm surge of 1-1.5 meters, particularly affecting the low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, with the peak surge over Bapatla and Krishna districts. The Andhra Pradesh government has issued alerts for eight districts, urging preparedness in the face of the cyclone's potential impact. https://opinionexpress.in/tunnels-to-be-flooded-by-water-to-force-hamas-fighters-out-in-open-idf Israel has reportedly deployed a significant system of pumps aimed at potentially flooding tunnels used by Hamas beneath the Gaza Strip, as disclosed by US officials to the Wall Street Journal on Monday. The construction of at least five pumps, capable of moving thousands of cubic meters of water per hour, was said to be completed by the Israeli army around mid-November, located approximately a mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp. The intention behind this move is to render the tunnels inoperable and dislodge Hamas fighters. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rain-hits-chennai-amid-cyclone-michaung Cyclone Michaung, currently intensifying over the Bay of Bengal, is on a trajectory towards the Andhra coast, triggering relentless rainfall in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The northern coastal regions, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore districts, are grappling with torrential downpours, exacerbating the situation in low-lying areas of Thiruvallur district. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-stock-market-at-all-time-high Indian stock markets reached new record highs on Monday, driven by a surge in financial and energy stocks following favorable state election results. The NSE Nifty 50 index rose by 1.65%, reaching a new high of 20,602.50 points for the second consecutive session. The S&P BSE Sensex also climbed by 1.64% to an all-time high of 68,587.82. https://opinionexpress.in/decoding-bjps-triumph-in-the-state-elections-2023 This success is a combination of Organizational Prowess, Modi Magic, Ideological Foundation, and RSS Influence.  https://opinionexpress.in/big-win-for-bjp-across-states BJP Ahead In 2 States, Congress In 1, Thriller In Chhattisgarh https://opinionexpress.in/after-75-magnitude-earthquake-tsunami-expected-in-philippines-japan An earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck Mindanao, Philippines, today, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said, at a depth of 63 km (39 miles), and tsunamis were expected to hit the Philippines and Japan shortly. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-working-on-a-plan-to-destroy-hamas-leadership Reports suggest that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a strategy reminiscent of "Operation Wrath of God" to target enemies across countries once the Gaza campaign concludes. Netanyahu has allegedly tasked the Mossad with devising a plan to eliminate high-value targets in Turkey, Lebanon, and Qatar, where a Hamas office is located. Qatar's hosting of Hamas's political office was reportedly coordinated with the United States in 2012. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-hegemony-can-be-contained-by-india-bolton Former US National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton has commended India's growing significance to the United States, advocating for strengthened bilateral cooperation and acknowledging New Delhi's expanding global role. Writing for the Washington Examiner, Bolton highlighted the joint US-India effort to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as evidence of India's determination to assert influence globally. The BRI, a massive infrastructure project by China, has raised concerns about its potential to enhance Beijing's economic and political influence across Asia and beyond. https://opinionexpress.in/ai-precision-israels-advanced-technology-reshapes-conflict-in-gaza Following the termination of the truce between Israel and Hamas, hostilities resumed in Gaza, with casualties reported shortly after. Israel, vowing to uproot Hamas after a deadly attack on October 7, intensified its efforts with an all-out ground and air assault. Notably, Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in Israel's military strategy. Systems like "Gospel," "Alchemist," and "Depth of Wisdom," previously used in the 2021 conflict, are employed for target selection and precision airstrikes. https://opinionexpress.in/nse-hits-all-time-high-after-upbeat-growth-data-exit-poll-results On Friday, the NSE Nifty 50 index achieved a historic milestone, surging by 0.52% to reach a record high of 20,238.45, reflecting the buoyant sentiment stemming from the unexpectedly robust economic growth in the September quarter. Concurrently, the S&P BSE Sensex also climbed 0.44% to reach 67,286.16 by 9:35 am. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-in-dubai-for-cop28-historic-climate-meet At the onset of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates, a landmark decision unfolded as nearly 200 nations united to establish a dedicated fund, marking a pivotal moment in the global fight against climate change. The accord aims to provide crucial assistance to nations grappling with the profound impacts of global warming. https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-us-alleging-officials-role-in-murder-plot-is-under-probe-mea The External Affairs Ministry of India has expressed concern and confirmed a high-level probe into allegations of a plot to murder US-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, involving an Indian government official. Responding to media inquiries, ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that the case filed in a US court, linking an individual to an Indian official, goes against government policy and is a matter of serious concern. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-edge-in-rajasthan-close-fight-in-madhya-pradesh-congress-up-in-telangana-chhattisgarh As the anticipation builds in the heartland states of India, exit polls are painting a dynamic political landscape ahead of the election results. The predictions suggest a two out of three victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the heartland, with Congress securing one state. In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is poised for a second term, with exit polls indicating Congress winning 40-50 seats out of 90. Jan Ki Baat predicts 34-45 seats for the BJP, while the majority mark stands at 46. https://opinionexpress.in/asi-seeks-more-days-to-submit-gyanvapi-mosque-survey-report The Archaeological Survey of India has sought three more weeks to submit the scientific survey report of the Gyanvapi mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. The survey had concluded almost a month ago and the ASI had sought extra time to file its report. https://opinionexpress.in/iphone-maker-foxconn-plans-major-expansion-in-india iPhone manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn, is set to expand its presence in India with a substantial investment of $1.6 billion for construction projects, according to a filing on the Taiwan stock exchange. While details about the new facilities or their locations remain undisclosed, the investment is earmarked for "operational needs." Foxconn, alongside other Taiwanese electronics manufacturers, is diversifying outside China amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing. https://opinionexpress.in/sungrow-pioneering-role-in-indias-renewable-energy-landscape In the quest for a greener more sustainable future, Sungrow has emerged as a prominent player in India's rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape. As a leading global supplier of PV inverters and energy storage systems, the company has been unwavering in its commitment to the Indian market since its entry in 2014. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-looking-at-finalising-mq-9b-predator-drone-deal-with-us India is reportedly on the verge of finalizing a significant deal to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the United States through a government-to-government arrangement. According to sources familiar with the matter, the U.S. Congress is anticipated to approve the supplies in the coming weeks. The final round of negotiations between American and Indian government officials will take place after the U.S. responds to India's Letter of Request (LoR) for the procurement of drones from General Atomics (GA), a prominent U.S. defense company. https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-backs-extending-gaza-ceasefire In the third phase of a truce, Hamas released a group of hostages, including a four-year-old American girl, as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The truce, initiated on Friday, marked the first relief for families since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which led to severe Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistani-heckle-indian-envoy-visiting-us-gurdwara Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, faced a tumultuous encounter with Khalistani protesters during his visit to a New York gurdwara on Gurpurab. The protesters accused him of orchestrating the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and plotting to murder another terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. A video of the incident went viral, capturing the heated exchange between Sandhu and the protesters. https://opinionexpress.in/senior-army-commanders-of-hamas-killed-in-gaza Hamas' military wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed on Sunday that Ahmed Al-Ghandour, the commander of its northern brigade, along with three other senior leaders, were killed during Israel's offensive against the Islamist movement. The statement identified Ayman Siyyam, reportedly the head of the Brigades' rocket-firing units, among the casualties. https://opinionexpress.in/mystery-disease-in-china-sets-the-world-on-alert China's Health Commission addressed concerns about a surge in acute respiratory infections, asserting that a combination of pathogens is responsible for the increase, attempting to allay fears of a novel virus origin. National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng emphasized that influenza is a primary contributor to the spike in cases. Additionally, circulating pathogens include rhinovirus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, and respiratory syncytial virus. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-vows-unyielding-fight-against-terrorism-to-affirms-indias-strength Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated the anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack during his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, acknowledging India's resilience in the face of the "most heinous attack" on this day. Modi paid homage to the lives lost in the 2008 Mumbai attack carried out by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, emphasizing India's capability to recover and its ongoing commitment to "crushing terrorism with full courage." https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-frees-hostages-held-captive-in-gaza Thirteen Israeli and four Thai nationals, who had been held captive by Hamas, safely arrived in Israel on Sunday as part of a crucial hostage deal. The release almost faced disruption over a dispute concerning aid supplies, but mediation by Qatar and Egypt resolved the issue, highlighting the delicate nature of the agreement. The deal involves the exchange of 50 Israeli hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners over a four-day period. https://opinionexpress.in/dr-mihir-commits-millions-for-hindu-advocacy-in-usa Mihir Meghani, a prominent Indian-American physician and founder of the Hindu America Foundation, asserts that Hinduism transcends mere religious boundaries, characterizing it as a holistic way of life. Meghani, an emergency care physician, has recently pledged an additional USD 1.5 million to support Hindu advocacy and awareness causes in the United States. This commitment, made at the annual Silicon Valley gala of the Hindu America Foundation, brings his total contributions to an impressive USD 4 million over two decades. https://opinionexpress.in/ibc-recoveries-declining-resolution-timelines-getting-prolonged-crisil The introduction of a focused bankruptcy law has helped improve the credit culture in India, but the last few years have seen a decline in recoveries and the resolution timelines getting prolonged, Crisil Ratings on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/in-high-stakes-bjp-vs-congress-battle-in-rajasthan Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a member of the Congress party, is vying for a second term in a state known for its political fluidity, while the BJP relies on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity to secure a majority. Polling for 199 out of the 200 seats in Rajasthan commenced at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with the election in Sriganganagar's Karanpur seat suspended due to the unfortunate demise of Congress candidate and incumbent MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. https://opinionexpress.in/internal-pressure-made-israel-push-harder-for-return-of-hostages The release of the first group of Israeli women and children held hostage by Hamas can be attributed, in part, to a vigorous campaign led by their families. Initially, the Israeli government, focused on the destruction of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, did not prioritize the hostages. It took two weeks for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to explicitly state the goal of bringing the hostages home. https://opinionexpress.in/navy-veterans-case-qatar-accepts-indias-appeal-against-death-penalty A court in Qatar has accepted India's appeal against the death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were handed the sentence last month in an alleged case of espionage. Sources said that the Qatari court will set a hearing date after examining the appeal. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-connect-with-middle-east-leaders-after-israel-hamas-hostage-deal US President Joe Biden engaged in diplomatic calls with leaders in the Middle East, discussing the recent agreement between Israel and Hamas on the release of hostages. The deal entails a temporary four-day ceasefire to facilitate the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, exchanged for 150 Palestinian detainees and the entry of humanitarian aid. In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden welcomed the agreement and emphasized the importance of continued efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages. Discussions also touched upon maintaining calm along the Lebanese border and in the West Bank. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-raps-punjab-governor-for-keeping-the-bills-pending-indefinitely In a landmark decision on November 10, the Supreme Court provided a definitive stance on the role of Governors regarding Bills passed by state legislatures. The ruling emphasized that Governors are not permitted to unduly delay or withhold assent to Bills, asserting that such actions undermine the legislative process and the authority of elected representatives. The judgment, stemming from a petition by the AAP government in Punjab, addressed the contention that Governor Banwarilal Purohit was unreasonably withholding approval for four Bills passed by the state assembly. https://opinionexpress.in/central-agencies-will-be-after-bjp-post-2024-polls-mamata West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted on Thursday that the central agencies, presently focusing on opposition leaders, would turn their attention to the BJP after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, predicting that the current government at the Centre would endure for only three more months. Speaking at the Netaji Indoor Stadium to TMC workers, Banerjee disclosed that, in the wake of her party leaders' arrests, there were purported plans to expel MP Mahua Moitra. However, she believed this move would ultimately work in Moitra's favor ahead of the elections. https://opinionexpress.in/coca-cola-enters-tea-market-with-new-launch Coca-Cola India announced its entry into the ready-to-drink tea market with the introduction of 'Honest Tea' on Wednesday. The brand is under the umbrella of Honest, a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company. The key ingredient for this venture, organic green tea, will be supplied by Luxmi Tea Co Private Ltd's Makaibari Tea Estate in Kolkata. This strategic move aligns with the growing consumer demand for diverse and health-conscious beverage options. https://opinionexpress.in/army-officers-killed-in-action-in-jammu-and-kashmir Two Army officers and three soldiers have been killed in action in the ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists that broke out in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri on Wednesday morning. In a social media post paying tribute on Thursday, https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-signals-imminent-truce-agreement-with-israel Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh announced on Tuesday that the movement is on the brink of a truce agreement with Israel, as conveyed in a statement on Telegram. Haniyeh stated, "We are close to reaching a deal on a truce," indicating progress in negotiations aimed at securing the release of approximately 240 hostages, primarily Israeli, who were seized on October 7 during a significant assault on Israel. The attack resulted in the death of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, prompting Israel to launch a comprehensive bombing campaign and ground offensive in retaliation, with the objective of dismantling Hamas and ensuring the hostages' release. https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-case-filed-by-nia-against-sfj-promoter-pannun Designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is facing legal action for issuing threats against individuals flying on Air India and the airline itself, prompting the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to register a case under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA revealed on Monday that Pannun, claiming the title of general counsel for the banned organization "Sikhs for Justice" (SFJ), had released video messages on November 4 urging Sikhs to abstain from flying on Air India planes starting November 19, alleging a potential threat to their lives. https://opinionexpress.in/sam-altman-to-join-microsoft-after-openai-sacking Microsoft has announced the recruitment of former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former president Greg Brockman to lead a new advanced research team in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The move follows Altman's recent dismissal from OpenAI, a company he co-founded, and comes after Microsoft's commitment to its ongoing partnership with OpenAI. Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, expressed confidence in their product roadmap and commitment to innovation. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-slams-gov-on-tamil-nadu-bills On Monday, the Supreme Court resumed hearing the Tamil Nadu government's plea against delays in clearing bills and directed tough questions at Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. The court, also handling similar pleas from Punjab and Kerala, questioned whether a Governor can withhold assent on a bill without sending it back to the Assembly. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-wins-odi-wc-2023 Australia beats India y 7 wickets to lift 6th ICCODI World Cup  https://opinionexpress.in/miss-nicaragua-crowned-miss-universe-2023 Nicaragua's Sheynnis Palacios made history by clinching the title of Miss Universe for 2023, marking a significant milestone as the first victory for her country in the prestigious international beauty pageant. The 72nd edition of the Miss Universe pageant unfolded on Saturday night at the Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador. https://opinionexpress.in/australian-deputy-pm-marles-to-watch-india-australia-wc-final Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles is set to travel to Ahmedabad to attend the cricket World Cup final between India and Australia on Sunday. This visit is part of his two-day trip to India from November 19-20, primarily for the "2+2" ministerial dialogue. Alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Marles will co-chair the second edition of the "2+2" dialogue with their Indian counterparts, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. https://opinionexpress.in/openai-co-founder-quits-after-ceo-sam-altman-is-sacked OpenAI co-founder and President Greg Brockman has announced his departure from the organization just hours after the board ousted Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman. Brockman, expressing pride in the collaborative achievements over the past 8 years, cited the recent developments as the reason for his resignation, stating, "But based on today's news, I quit." https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musks-anti-semitic-tweet-creates-uproar-in-usa Alarming concerns regarding unchecked antisemitic content on social media platform X, exacerbated by the platform's owner Elon Musk's apparent endorsement of such content, triggered a significant backlash. Major advertisers, including Apple Inc., severed ties, reacting to a tipping point that saw Musk engaging with antisemitic users and expressing agreement with a post asserting a divisive view on Jewish people. https://opinionexpress.in/tomorrows-living-today-how-ai-is-rewriting-the-rules-of-existence Dr. Subramanian has been at the forefront of driving revolutionary advancements in Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence that resonate with businesses and researchers alike. With a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University, Dr. Subramanian currently serves as a Principal Data Scientist at Amazon, a position held by less than 30 people worldwide. His prolific research record includes 26 academic papers and 4 patents, with 84 citations to date. With a rich and extensive career, he has championed the development and application of ML models while carving a distinct leadership path within AWS. His achievements span from ML use cases in core verticals including manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, financial services and healthcare, to core artificial intelligence research. Particularly noteworthy is his role as the creator of an open-source ML package ezsmdeploy, which has garnered over 50,000 downloads so far. The two books he has authored in the field of AI have 1000s of copies sold, with the latest book on “Applied Machine Learning and High-Performance Computing” being one of the top 50 books on artificial intelligence sold on Amazon to date. Most recently, Dr. Subramanian is involved in helping train Generative Large Language Models like ChatGPT for customers of Amazon Web Services in a cost-efficient way. This speaks volumes about his influence in democratizing ML and fostering a community of practitioners. https://opinionexpress.in/sahara-matter-to-continue-after-roys-death-sebi Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch emphasized that the Sahara case remains a priority for the capital markets regulator, despite the recent passing of the group's founder, Subrata Roy. Speaking at a Ficci event, Buch stated that Sebi's focus is on the conduct of the entity itself, asserting that the matter will persist irrespective of the absence of any individual. https://opinionexpress.in/india-condemned-death-of-civilians-pm-modi During the second edition of the India-hosted virtual Voice of Global South Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the emerging challenges in West Asia, particularly in the context of the Hamas-Israel conflict. Emphasizing the need for unity among Global South countries, Modi highlighted India's stance on promoting dialogue, diplomacy, and restraint to address the situation. He condemned the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel while expressing strong disapproval of civilian casualties in the conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-semiconductor-sector-offers-massive-opportunities-goyal Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently engaged in a significant meeting with Micron Technology's CEO and President, Sanjay Mehrotra, during his visit to San Francisco for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) meeting. The focus of their discussion centered around exploring and maximizing business opportunities within India's burgeoning semiconductor sector. https://opinionexpress.in/limited-progress-reported-in-biden-xi-meet In a significant diplomatic development, US President Joe Biden reported progress in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, aiming to mend strained bilateral ties. Following a summit, Biden highlighted constructive discussions, emphasizing key agreements to restore high-level military communications, address the fentanyl issue, and initiate a dialogue on artificial intelligence. https://opinionexpress.in/superlative-india-ramp-home-in-wc-odi-final-2023 In a spectacular display of batting prowess, India secured a spot in the World Cup final with a resounding 70-run victory over New Zealand in the semi-final clash at the Wankhede Stadium. Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, etched his name in cricket history by notching up his 50th ODI century, a feat never achieved before. His brilliant innings of 117 runs off 113 balls, coupled with Shreyas Iyer's scintillating century of 105 runs off 70 balls and Rohit Sharma's explosive 47 off 29 balls, propelled India to an imposing total of 397 for four after winning the toss. https://opinionexpress.in/gaza-hospital-raided-by-israel Israeli forces, some masked and firing guns into the air, conducted an early Wednesday raid on part of Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which houses patients and displaced individuals. The soldiers, engaged in urban combat with Hamas operatives, demanded that all men aged 16 and above raise their hands and exit the building to surrender. The operation, labeled "precise and targeted" by the Israeli army, aimed to combat Hamas, accused of running a command center beneath the clinic. https://opinionexpress.in/king-virat-touches-50-odi-century-mark Virat Kohli, the former Indian cricket team captain, has eclipsed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as the international batsman with the most ODI centuries, notching up his 50th ton against New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Displaying impeccable form, Kohli reached the milestone in 106 balls, featuring 8 fours and a six. Prior to the match, he shared the record with Sachin at 49 centuries. Kohli's flawless innings not only secured his place in history but also marked his eighth fifty-plus score in the 2023 World Cup, setting a new record for the highest in a single edition. https://opinionexpress.in/managing-the-tightrope-us-china-summit-aims-to-steer-clear-of-conflict US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has issued a warning, stating that the United States and China could potentially escalate into conflict if their intricate and competitive relationship is not adeptly managed. The caution comes ahead of the anticipated summit between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leadership meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/wholesale-inflation-in-negative-territory-for-7th-month-running In October, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation continued its negative trend for the seventh consecutive month, registering a decline of 0.52 percent. This downward trajectory, initiated in April, persisted with a marginal improvement from September's rate of -0.26 percent. In stark contrast to the 8.67 percent WPI recorded in October of the previous year, the current figures indicate a significant decrease. https://opinionexpress.in/olympic-sports-body-in-talk-with-icc-to-include-cricket-from-2026 Olympic sports governing bodies are seeking urgent discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding potential cuts to their revenue shares and medal events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The IOC recently added cricket and other sports to the program for 2028, raising concerns among existing Summer Games sports organizations, represented by the umbrella group ASOIF. The decision to include cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash for 2028 has sparked questions among ASOIF members, who collectively received $540 million of IOC-allocated funds at each of the past two Olympics. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-hospitality-giant-prs-oberois-demise-marks-the-end-of-an-epoch Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, the revered 94-year-old corporate hotelier known as 'Biki,' passed away on Tuesday, marking the end of an era in India's hospitality industry. As the Chairman Emeritus of The Oberoi Group, he played a pivotal role in reshaping the sector and expanding the renowned chain to encompass 32 hotels, including the Oberoi and Trident brands. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-sold-weapons-worth-364-million-to-ukraine-reports Pakistan reportedly garnered USD 364 million in a purported arms deal with two private US firms last year, aimed at supplying ammunition to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, as per a BBC Urdu report. The transactions involved contracts with "Global Military" and "Northrop Grumman" for the sale of 155mm shells, with a British military cargo plane making five trips from Pakistan to deliver arms to Ukraine via Cyprus and Romania. Despite evidence from the American Federal Procurement Data System, Pakistan's Foreign Office denies involvement, asserting a policy of "strict neutrality" in the Ukraine-Russia dispute. https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-bulletproof-doors-tunnel-leads-to-gaza-hospital-idf Israeli security forces announced the discovery of a Hamas-operated tunnel, claiming it leads to a Gaza hospital. This revelation comes amid criticism of Israeli ground operations impacting medical facilities in the blockaded region. The tunnel, reportedly electrified by solar panels, is situated near the residence of a Hamas naval operations leader responsible for October 7 raids on Israel, according to a military spokesperson. https://opinionexpress.in/rains-eases-aqi-index-in-ncr Overnight showers in New Delhi and its surrounding areas provided a welcome respite for residents as the toxic haze dissipated, leading to a marginal improvement in air quality. The relief follows a week of severe pollution, with harmful particle concentrations reaching levels up to 100 times higher than World Health Organization recommendations. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-forges-ahead-towards-victory-netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has categorically ruled out a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing that the military operation against Hamas is ongoing and describing the Israeli army's performance as "exceptionally well." Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu asserted that a ceasefire with Hamas would equate to surrender, and there is no specified timetable for concluding the military offensive. https://opinionexpress.in/india-files-appeal-against-qatar-court-verdict-in-former-navy-personnel-case India has officially lodged an appeal with Qatar in response to the recent death penalty verdict handed to eight former Navy personnel. The individuals were arrested in August of the previous year under mysterious circumstances, and the Indian government expressed profound shock at the unexpected judgment delivered last month. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, revealed on Thursday that Delhi has already initiated the appeal process, emphasizing the confidential nature of the case details, which have only been disclosed to the legal team. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-orders-tax-refund-of-rs-1128-crore-to-vodafone-idea The Bombay High Court has directed the Income Tax department to refund Rs 1,128 crore to Vodafone Idea Limited, citing the department's "time-barred" assessment order for the assessment year 2016-2017. In its judgment, the court criticized the assessing officer for "laxity and lethargy" in not issuing the final order within the mandated 30-day period, causing a significant loss to the exchequer. https://opinionexpress.in/set-up-special-bench-to-monitor-criminal-trials-against-lawmakers-sc In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has directed all high courts to establish a special bench and initiate a suo motu case to oversee the prompt resolution of criminal matters involving Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs). The Chief Justice, D Y Chandrachud, led the bench that issued various directives to high courts and trial courts based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ashwini Upadhyay, advocating for the swift disposal of pending criminal cases against lawmakers. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-forces-achieve-strategic-advance-in-gaza-conflict Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the death of a prominent Hamas weapons manufacturer and multiple fighters, according to the Israeli military. These attacks are part of Israel's ongoing air and ground offensive targeting Hamas's extensive tunnel network beneath the besieged Palestinian enclave. The city of Gaza, which serves as the main stronghold for the Hamas group in the region, is currently surrounded by Israeli forces. The Israeli military claims that their troops have advanced into the heart of this densely populated city, while Hamas has reported that its fighters have inflicted significant losses on Israeli forces. https://opinionexpress.in/ai-will-replace-need-for-all-jobs-elon-musk During the UK's AI Safety Summit, Tesla CEO Elon Musk conveyed his belief that artificial intelligence (AI) would eventually render all jobs obsolete, introducing what he called a "universal high income." Musk suggested that there would come a point in the future where no employment would be necessary, and AI would be capable of performing all tasks. He acknowledged that individuals could still choose to work for personal satisfaction, but AI would have the capacity to handle all responsibilities. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-seeks-free-trade-resumption-with-china Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for the "full resumption of free and unimpeded trade" with China during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang. This meeting marked the return of talks after a four-year hiatus and signaled an improvement in diplomatic relations. The joint statement issued following the meeting revealed that both countries agreed to resume their annual leaders meeting, which had been halted due to a sharp deterioration in their relations. This deterioration had seen China impose tariffs and other restrictions on imports from Australia, leading to significant economic losses for Australian exporters, particularly in industries like coal, wine, beef, barley, and lobsters. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-is-fighting-against-ed-cbi-it-gehlot Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asserted that in the forthcoming Rajasthan assembly elections, the Congress is not against the BJP but rather against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Gehlot accused the BJP of resorting to false allegations against the Congress because it cannot compete on the merits of its performance. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-port-in-sri-lanka-gets-us-investment-to-curb-chinas-influence The United States has committed to providing $553 million in financing for the development of a port terminal in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. This initiative is in collaboration with billionaire entrepreneur Gautam Adani, and it reflects a broader strategy by both the United States and India to counter China's growing influence in South Asia. The funding comes from the International Development Finance Corp (DFC) and represents a significant investment in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-will-have-overall-security-responsibility-in-gaza-after-war-netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with ABC News, has stated that Israel intends to maintain "overall security responsibility" in Gaza for an indefinite period following the conflict with Hamas. This marks a clear indication of Israel's intention to retain control over the territory, which is home to approximately 2.3 million Palestinians. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-seeks-indias-help-to-end-israels-assault-on-gaza During a recent conversation between Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raisi called upon India to leverage its full potential in putting an end to the Israeli actions in Gaza, amidst the ongoing conflict in the region. The Iranian account of their discussion highlighted India's historical struggle against Western colonialism and its significant role as one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement. https://opinionexpress.in/ruthless-india-stamps-authority-in-cricket-world-cup In a cricket match, South Africa faced a crushing defeat at the hands of India. After India set an imposing target of 327, South Africa struggled to mount a meaningful challenge, collapsing for a mere 83 runs in 27.1 overs. India's formidable bowling attack, including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami, put South Africa on the back foot from the start. Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja played a pivotal role, taking five wickets for just 33 runs. The Proteas lost key wickets early on, with Quinton de Kock and skipper Temba Bavuma departing quickly. Rassie van der Dussen's dismissal added to their woes, and Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller also fell to Jadeja's spin. India sealed a comprehensive victory when Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Lungi Ngidi, ending the match in South Africa's 28th over. https://opinionexpress.in/war-escalates-as-netanyahu-vows-to-continue-until-victory Israel Defence Force said that it has pounding Gaza with "significant" strikes after cutting it in two, as America's top diplomat pressed a Middle East tour focused on humanitarian aid for the Palestinians. Israeli forces "have encircled Gaza City... Now there exists a south Gaza and a north Gaza," army spokesman Daniel Hagari said. He spoke after US Secretary of State visited the occupied West Bank, Iraq and Cyprus Sunday on a whirlwind tour with the focus on aid for beleaguered civilians in Gaza and preventing attacks by Iran-backed groups on American troops in response to Israel's Gaza war. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-govts-fight-against-corruption-is-a-nautanki-kejriwal Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), criticized the Narendra Modi government's anti-corruption efforts as a 'nautanki' (a theatrical performance) during a party event in Rohtak, Haryana. Kejriwal pointed out that individuals accused of wrongdoing by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are often rewarded with ministerial positions when they join the party. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-aqi-in-the-severe-category New Delhi was wrapped in a thick layer of toxic haze as air quality continued to remain in the "severe category". The Indian capital, along with Kolkata and Mumbai, is among the world's most polluted cities today, according to data by Swiss Group IQAir. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistani-terrorist-pannu-on-a-free-roll-in-canada-threatens-to-blow-ai-flights Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has released a video urging Sikhs not to fly with Air India after November 19, claiming their lives could be at risk. Pannun alleges that on that day, there will be a global blockade preventing Air India from operating. He also suggests that Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport will be closed on November 19 and renamed as Shahid Beant Singh, Shahid Satwant Singh Khalistan airport once Punjab gains independence. https://opinionexpress.in/50k-crore-fdi-in-food-processing-sector-in-last-9-years-pm-modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the second edition of World Food India, celebrated the significant progress made by India's food processing sector, which he described as a "sunrise" industry. The event, held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, spanned three days and was set to conclude on November 5. https://opinionexpress.in/central-agencies-are-the-frontline-warriors-of-bjp-congress The Congress party has made allegations against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax Department, claiming that they are acting as "campaigners" and "frontline warriors" for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to the Congress, these government agencies are assigned specific "targets" to intimidate opposition leaders and potentially coerce them into joining the BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-relationship-is-the-most-defining-relationship-of-this-century-garcetti US Ambassador to New Delhi Eric Garcetti said that India is the most important country for the US and their relationship is the most defining relationship of the century. As ties between the two countries are becoming more robust, the two countries are getting closer than ever in recent times.  https://opinionexpress.in/israel-hamas-war-stands-at-a-critical-stage-idf The Israeli military has claimed that its ground forces have surrounded the Hamas-controlled Gaza City in the densely populated besieged Palestinian enclave, furthering their assault against the group."Israeli soldiers have completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza, the centre of the Hamas terror organisation,"  Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said. "The concept of a ceasefire is not currently on the table at all." https://opinionexpress.in/congress-promotes-dynastic-politics-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a rally held in Kanker, Chhattisgarh, launched a scathing attack on the Congress party. He asserted that the Congress and development cannot coexist and accused the party of perpetuating "parivarvaad" (dynastic politics), nepotism, and corruption. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-skips-ed-summons Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not go to the Enforcement Directorate's office today for giving his statement on the Delhi liquor policy case, sources said. Mr Kejriwal was scheduled to appear before the central probe agency's Delhi office at 11 am, but he wrote a letter to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) asking to take back the summons to him, calling it "illegal and politically motivated". https://opinionexpress.in/cert-in-has-started-probe-in-allegation-of-iphone-hacking CERT-In, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, has initiated an investigation into the Apple threat notification issue raised by opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), with a notice sent to the company, according to IT Secretary S. Krishnan. He hoped Apple would cooperate with CERT-In's investigation into the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/the-ground-offence-will-be-extremely-violent-hamas The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that they had conducted over 11,000 strikes on targets associated with terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the conflict on October 7th. This amounted to an average of more than 440 strikes per day during the first 25 days of the war. The IDF emphasized that they were not targeting civilians and were responding to an attack by Hamas on October 7th that resulted in the death of 1,400 people. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-accuses-central-government-of-targeting-party-leadership The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made strong allegations against the Modi government, claiming that it is attempting to eliminate the party by imprisoning its top leaders. The AAP expressed concerns that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would arrest Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on November 2 after summoning him for questioning in a money laundering case related to an alleged excise policy scam. Kejriwal has been issued summons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and the ED is set to record his statement when he appears at the agency's Delhi office on November 2. This marks the first time that Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED, as he was previously questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April regarding the same case. https://opinionexpress.in/drinks-to-improve-digestive-health As majority of the people aged over 40 years face a critical digestive disorder, improving digestion is a key factor in maintaining overall health and well-being, and what you consume before bed can play a significant role in promoting a healthy digestive system. There are various natural beverages you can enjoy before bedtime that may help enhance digestion and reduce discomfort. Here are ten drinks that can support better digestion: https://opinionexpress.in/ai-blockchain-cyber-security-talent-in-india-is-amazing India's technology industry is currently undergoing a significant transformation, driven by a growing demand for automation and technical skills such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning, and cybersecurity, according to a report from global recruitment firm Michael Page India. The report highlights a substantial increase in demand for talent with expertise in these areas during the third quarter of 2023, with growth rates ranging from 28-30% compared to the previous two quarters. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-a-developed-country-in-next-25-years-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the significance of the next 25 years in the 21st century for India, asserting that it is a crucial period during which the country must strive to become prosperous and developed. He urged the nation to draw inspiration from the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose birth anniversary was being commemorated. Modi paid his respects to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat, situated in the Narmada district. Sardar Patel, born in Gujarat in 1875, was not only a lawyer but also a prominent Congress leader closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi during the struggle for India's independence. https://opinionexpress.in/swamy-dwarkeshlalji-stresses-the-role-of-ultimate-devotion-in-attaining-salvation Dwarkeshlalji, a revered philosopher of Dvaita Vedanta, is a luminary whose teachings have transcended boundaries and impacted the lives of millions around the world. Rooted in the rich philosophical tradition of India, Dwarkeshlalji's profound wisdom and knowledge have not only served as a guiding light for spiritual seekers but have also contributed to a deeper understanding of the human experience. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-military-operation-will-wipe-out-hamas-netanyahu Israel continues its military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting calls for a ceasefire. The ongoing conflict is in response to the October 7 terror attack. Netanyahu firmly stated that a ceasefire would be seen as surrendering to Hamas and terrorism. The U.S., Israel's ally, has also expressed objections to a ceasefire. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-indias-revenue-skyrockets-reflecting-strong-market-growth In the financial year ending March 2023, Apple India experienced a remarkable surge in revenue, marking a 48 percent year-on-year increase, as disclosed by business intelligence firm Tofler. The company's total revenue for FY'2023 reached an impressive Rs 49,322 crore, a substantial rise from the previous fiscal year, where it reported revenue of Rs 33,381 crore in FY'2022. https://opinionexpress.in/liquor-scam-engulfs-aap-arvind-kejriwal-summoned-by-ed AAP leader & Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned for questioning in the alleged liquor scam by the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the money laundering angle. He has been asked to present himself at the Delhi office of the Central agency on November 2. In April, the Central Bureau of Investigation summoned Mr Kejriwal for questioning on the same issue. https://opinionexpress.in/inc-opposed-to-indias-abstention-on-un-resolution-gaza-conflict-sonia-gandhi The Congress party is "strongly opposed" to India's abstention on the recent UN resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict, former party chief Sonia Gandhi said on Monday, asserting that while her party had unequivocally condemned Hamas' attacks, the tragedy is compounded by the Israeli state now focused on exacting revenge from a population that is largely as helpless as it is blameless. She also said her party's longstanding position has been to support direct negotiations for a sovereign independent, viable and secure state of Palestine coexisting in peace with Israel. In an article in The Hindu, https://opinionexpress.in/government-is-sensitive-to-families-of-indians-on-death-row-in-qatar Today, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar held a significant meeting with the families of eight former Indian Navy personnel who are facing the grave threat of execution in Qatar. Mr. Jaishankar expressed India's unwavering commitment to securing the release of these individuals, emphasizing that the government places the highest importance on their case. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-says-existential-test-for-israel-to-finish-hamas In a matter of growing concern, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the war against Hamas in Gaza will be "extremely long and difficult" while describing the situation as an "existential test" for Israel. "This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear: destroying the military and leadership capabilities of Hamas, and bringing the hostages back home," Netanyahu said. "The war in the Gaza Strip will be long and difficult and we are prepared for it." https://opinionexpress.in/actor-matthew-perry-dies-at-54 Matthew Perry, the iconic actor famous for his role as Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom "Friends," tragically passed away at the age of 54 at his Los Angeles home. The news sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. First responders discovered Perry unresponsive in a hot tub at his residence, but their efforts to revive him were in vain. While law enforcement sources informed the Los Angeles Times of this incident, the Los Angeles Police Department refrained from officially confirming the victim's identity. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-forces-launch-intensive-operations-in-gaza Israeli forces remain in the northern Gaza Strip following a night of intense attacks against Hamas, which included airstrikes and artillery strikes. Israel had been escalating toward a potential ground invasion since October 7 when Hamas operatives crossed the border, leading to casualties and hostages. The Israeli military concentrated its strikes in the northern part of Gaza, where they believed Hamas leadership and infrastructure were concentrated. They urged civilians to relocate to the south to minimize harm. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-warns-usa-to-stop-unequivocal-support-for-israel Iran's foreign minister warned that new fronts would open against the US if it keeps up unequivocal support for Israel, escalating a rhetorical back-and-forth that has stoked fears the Israeli conflict with Hamas will spread into a wider regional war. https://opinionexpress.in/india-abstains-from-un-vote-on-israel In a recent UN General Assembly vote on a resolution concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict, India, among other nations like Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Ukraine, and the UK, abstained from voting. The resolution, titled "Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations," was put forward by Jordan and co-sponsored by more than 40 countries, including Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, and South Africa. https://opinionexpress.in/londons-indian-festive-season-takes-off-with-spectacular-colors The Bhavan, India’s center of culture in Kensington, London opened the Indian festive season with a spellbinding talk on better understanding India’s Gods, Goddesses, and festivals by Dr. Priya Virmani. It was a sell-out event where Priya, a renowned proponent of Vedic philosophy, looked beyond the stories of the Gods and Goddesses we are familiar with including Brahma, Krishna, Shiva, Durga, and Rama to understand their significance and how we can apply this learning to our everyday lives. Renowned Odissi dancer Katrina Rute, flautist Gaurav Uniyal and tabla player Soumyaraj Das gave dimension to Priya’s voice and verse with their captivating renditions which enthralled the audience. The evening opened with the serenity of mantra chants and lamp lighting by Lord Karan Bilimoria. In his opening speech, he spoke about festivals conjuring memories of his parents and shared anecdotes from his meetings with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the mystic Sadhguru. Together with MP Virendra Sharma, Lord Bilimoria was welcomed by Dr. Priya Virmani and felicitated by Dr. Nanda, the Director of the Bhavan. They were also joined on stage by two inspirational, world record-making Indian cyclists – the mother-son duo - Gouri Mishra and Rian Kumar.  https://opinionexpress.in/embrace-a-70-hour-workweek-to-propel-india-to-global-prominence-narayan-murthy Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy's call for a 70-hour workweek has stirred a global debate on work hours. He argued that India's work productivity is relatively low and urged the younger generation to contribute to building a culture that can enhance India's competitiveness on the global stage, drawing parallels with countries like Japan and Germany that extended working hours post-World War II. This isn't the first time such suggestions have been made by corporate leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/former-chinese-premier-li-keqiang-has-passed-away Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has passed away at the age of 68 due to a heart attack, according to state media reports. Li, known for his reform-minded approach, once seemed poised to become China's future leader but was overshadowed by President Xi Jinping during his ten-year tenure as premier. https://opinionexpress.in/us-strikes-facilities-used-by-iranian-forces The U.S. military conducted precision self-defense strikes in eastern Syria, targeting facilities used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced these actions in response to a series of ongoing, mostly unsuccessful attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militia groups that started on October 17. https://opinionexpress.in/the-geopolitical-shifts-of-our-time In 2020, the European Union's External Affairs Minister, Josep Borrell, expressed the idea that COVID-19 would reshape the world order and it will bring about significant changes. As we now stand in 2023, the global geopolitical landscape has indeed transformed, influenced by a variety of factors. https://opinionexpress.in/how-to-transform-ravans-10-sins-into-virtues-swami-advaitananda-giri Indo-Canadians came together in remarkable numbers to joyously celebrate Dussehra. Festive commemorations took place in numerous temples across the region, with Brampton's Hindu Sabha temple being a focal point of the grandeur. A staggering crowd of over ten thousand individuals graced this auspicious occasion. The Indian diaspora converged in Brampton, where they relished the vibrant re-enactment of Ram Leela and the symbolic burning of Ravan's effigy, all set against the backdrop of a spectacular fireworks display. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-lunches-limited-ground-attack-on-gaza-idf The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an overnight raid into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, targeting multiple sites before withdrawing back into Israeli territory. This incursion came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced preparations for a potential ground war. The IDF described the operation as a "targeted raid" aimed at hitting terrorist cells, infrastructure, and anti-tank missile launch sites. https://opinionexpress.in/hezbollah-convenes-discussions-with-senior-hamas-and-plo-leadership The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, engaged in talks on Wednesday with senior members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This meeting brought together three prominent anti-Israel militant organizations amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The discussions aimed to coordinate their actions during what was described as a "sensitive stage." https://opinionexpress.in/indias-economic-evolution-on-track-to-be-the-third-largest-global-economy India, currently the world's fifth-largest economy, is poised for a remarkable ascent in the coming decade. According to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, India is expected to surpass Japan and become the world's third-largest economy by 2030, with a GDP projected to reach USD 7.3 trillion. This significant growth trajectory is underpinned by several key factors, including sustained economic expansion, a burgeoning middle class, a digital transformation, and robust foreign direct investment (FDI). https://opinionexpress.in/us-warns-iran-of-massive-retaliation US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a stern warning, emphasizing that the United States does not seek conflict with Iran but will respond decisively if Iran or its proxies target American personnel. This strong stance comes as the Biden administration strives to prevent Iran from becoming involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Blinken delivered this message during a UN Security Council meeting, where he urged all members, including Russia and China, to press Iran not to open a new front against Israel or attack its partners. He further urged the international community to hold Iran accountable should it choose to escalate the situation. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-missing-defence-minister-is-removed-report China made headlines with the abrupt removal of its defense minister, General Li Shangfu, marking the second high-level leadership change in just three months. These developments have sparked questions about the stability of the leadership team under Chinese President Xi Jinping. The official announcement came through state media, disclosing that Li Shangfu had been relieved of his duties as both defense minister and state councillor. https://opinionexpress.in/vladimir-putin-is-well-and-healthy-kremlin The Kremlin has firmly rebuffed any conjecture surrounding the health of President Vladimir Putin, asserting that he is in good health. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, addressed these concerns during a routine press briefing and dismissed claims of the president employing body doubles as an "absurd hoax." https://opinionexpress.in/uae-ruler-appoints-son-crown-prince-of-abu-dhabi The ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has made a significant move by appointing his son, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. This strategic decision places Sheikh Khaled as the second-in-line to the leadership of the major OPEC oil-exporting nation, bypassing older and more experienced royals in the process. The Al Nahyan ruling family, among the world's wealthiest, has a net worth of at least $300 billion, with complex holdings analyzed by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The UAE holds about 6% of the world's proven oil reserves and boasts substantial sovereign wealth funds. https://opinionexpress.in/china-says-israel-has-right-to-self-defence China acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas, marking a significant shift in its stance. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made this statement in a telephone call with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, just ahead of his high-profile visit to Washington. Wang emphasized that every country has the right to self-defense but should adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians. https://opinionexpress.in/sebi-empanels-specialized-entities-to-provide-digital-forensic-services Capital markets regulator Sebi has empanelled 12 entities, including Ernst & Young LLP and KPMG Assurance and Consulting Services LLP, to provide assistance to its search team for onsite data acquisition during search and seizure operations. https://opinionexpress.in/s-korea-us-and-japan-conduct-first-ever-trilateral-aerial-exercise In response to evolving North Korean nuclear threats, South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted their inaugural trilateral aerial exercise near the Korean Peninsula, marking a significant step in their commitment to bolstering defense cooperation and joint response capabilities. The exercise involved a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber from the United States, along with fighter jets from South Korea and Japan, both vital U.S. allies in the Asian region. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-all-about-inclusivity-rss-chief Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has asserted that Hinduism promotes respect for all sects and faiths, and that India's diverse culture has historically avoided conflicts on the scale seen in other parts of the world. He made these remarks during a program commemorating the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-starts-preparations-for-the-ground-assault-idf In response to escalating tensions between Israel and Gaza, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have announced their intention to intensify aerial strikes as a precursor to a ground offensive in Gaza. The operation aims to change the "security regime" in Gaza, effectively implying the removal of Hamas, the ruling militant group in the region. The operation is divided into three phases, with the IDF currently in the first phase of carrying out aerial strikes. This is expected to be followed by a ground incursion and ultimately the change in the security regime within Gaza. https://opinionexpress.in/nawaz-sharif-returns-to-pakistan Nawaz Sharif, a three-time former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has returned to his home country after spending four years in self-imposed exile. The 73-year-old leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) arrived in Islamabad from Dubai on a chartered flight named "Umeed-e-Pakistan." Accompanying him were family members, senior party figures, and close friends. https://opinionexpress.in/gaganyaan-human-space-flight-mission-on-track-isro The inaugural test for India's ambitious Gaganyaan human space flight mission has triumphed following a minor anomaly that briefly delayed the scheduled liftoff. The Test Vehicle D1 mission was slated to take off from the first launch pad at 8 am, but the launch time was subsequently revised to 8.45 am. However, just 5 seconds before the planned liftoff, the countdown came to a halt. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) promptly identified the issue, and the launch was rescheduled for 10 am, when the test was executed successfully. https://opinionexpress.in/china-ready-to-boost-pakistan-ties-xi-jinping China has expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation and promote solidarity with Pakistan while emphasizing the need for ensuring the safety of Chinese organizations and personnel operating in Pakistan. This message was relayed by China's President Xi Jinping, who is a staunch advocate of the China-Pakistan partnership. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-discusses-better-trade-cooperation-with-singapores-minister India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, embarked on a significant two-nation tour across Southeast Asia, strengthening diplomatic ties and discussing opportunities for cooperation. During his visit to Singapore, Jaishankar engaged in crucial discussions with Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister, Gan Kim Yong, to explore new areas of bilateral collaboration with lasting implications. The talks centered on fostering long-term partnerships. https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-putin-represent-similar-threats-joe-biden In a prime-time address from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden passionately conveyed the shared threat posed by Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing their intentions to "completely annihilate a neighboring democracy." He stressed the need for the United States to support Ukraine and Israel as a vital national interest, and he made a compelling case for financial assistance to both nations. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-withdraws-diplomats-from-india-amidst-diplomatic-tensions Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India following a diplomatic dispute stemming from the killing of a Khalistani terrorist on Canadian soil. India had planned to revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and their families, prompting Canada to withdraw the remaining personnel. https://opinionexpress.in/hemanta-sharma-blasts-sharad-pawar-over-his-remarks-on-israel-palestine-conflict A political controversy has erupted following Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting Israel during its conflict with the terrorist organization Hamas. https://opinionexpress.in/sebi-must-conclude-adani-investigations-in-timely-manner-congress The Indian Congress party has called on the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to complete its investigation into the Adani Group promptly. Congress reiterated its stance that only a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe could fully address the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/us-prez-extends-full-support-to-israel-in-its-war-against-terror US President Joe Biden has lent support to Israel's assertion that the attack on a Gaza hospital, resulting in hundreds of casualties and escalating tensions in the Middle East, was the work of militants. Speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival in Tel Aviv, President Biden expressed his deep sorrow and outrage over the hospital explosion. He stated, "I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday. And based on what I've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team." https://opinionexpress.in/gaza-hospital-strike-leads-to-escalation-of-middle-east-conflict A massive explosion has disrupted the United States' diplomatic efforts to garner support for Israel's right to self-defense. The explosion occurred at a Gaza hospital, resulting in the cancellation of a summit meeting in Amman, Jordan, where American President Joe Biden was scheduled to meet with other regional leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-space-station-by-2035-indian-on-moon-by-2040-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set ambitious goals for India's space exploration endeavors, as outlined during a meeting to review the preparedness of the Gaganyaan mission and the first demonstration flight of the crew escape system test vehicle scheduled for October 21. The prime minister directed Indian scientists to work towards sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040 and establishing an Indian space station, known as the 'Bharatiya Antariksha Station,' by 2035. https://opinionexpress.in/no-recognition-to-same-sex-marriage-supreme-court In a significant development, the Supreme Court refrained from officially legalizing marriage equality in a recent ruling, but emphatically underscored that an individual's right to enter into a union must not be constrained based on their sexual orientation. The five-judge bench issued four separate judgments, primarily diverging on the issue of adoption rights for LGBTQ+ couples. https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-to-visit-israel In response to the recent Hamas attacks, US President Joe Biden is set to visit Israel as an act of solidarity. This announcement was made by Secretary of State Antony Blinken following an extensive meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the defense ministry. This visit is part of Biden's ongoing commitment to Israel's security, and it underscores the importance of the US-Israel relationship. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-ready-for-a-war-against-hamas-and-hezbullah-idf In recent developments, Israel conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, marking an escalation of tensions in the region. The Israeli army's statement confirmed these strikes, focusing on military targets belonging to the Hezbollah organization within Lebanese territory. This has raised concerns about a potential escalation between Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group in Lebanon, and Israel. To safeguard its residents, Israel initiated the evacuation of thousands of people from approximately 28 locations along the Israel-Lebanon border following clashes. https://opinionexpress.in/nikki-haley-slams-arab-countries-in-ongoing-israel-hamas-war Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized Islamic countries for not offering refuge to Gaza's civilians who are facing the threat of an Israeli ground invasion. She also took aim at former US President Barack Obama and the incumbent President Joe Biden for their role in the Iranian nuclear deal and accused Tehran of bolstering groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-warns-israel-to-stop-escalation-of-war Amidst growing tensions in the Israel-Gaza conflict, Iran has issued a stern warning, demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities against Palestinians and singling out the United States for its unwavering support of Israel following a devastating Hamas attack that claimed the lives of over 1,400 Israelis. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-releases-list-for-the-upcoming-assembly-elections The Congress party has unveiled its initial list of candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. This strategic move signifies the party's intent to secure crucial seats in these states. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-ready-for-an-all-out-attack-on-hamas-idf In response to the deadliest attack in Israel's history, Israeli forces are gearing up for a major ground assault on Gaza. Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht has encouraged civilians in northern Gaza, where Hamas's leadership is concentrated, to evacuate promptly. Israel's military is poised to launch a comprehensive assault on Gaza, utilizing air, sea, and ground forces. https://opinionexpress.in/women-need-reservation-with-immediate-effect-priyanka During a Women's Rights Conference organized by the DMK, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi passionately advocated for the immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill, a crucial legislation designed to provide women with reserved seats in legislative bodies. She emphasized that women can no longer afford to wait and that it is their right to be included in the political process. https://opinionexpress.in/india-crushed-pakistan-by-seven-wicket In a highly anticipated World Cup clash, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma led his team to a resounding victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, winning by seven wickets. Sharma's exceptional performance, scoring 86 runs from just 63 balls, spearheaded India's successful chase of Pakistan's target of 191 runs. With this triumph, India maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament, securing their third consecutive victory, while Pakistan suffered their first defeat after winning two previous matches. This victory also marked India's eighth consecutive win over Pakistan in World Cup encounters, dating back to 1992. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-has-a-right-to-defend-against-terror-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for Israel's right to self-defense in response to the recent attacks by Hamas, while also underlining the importance of creating an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital to resolve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit, Putin reiterated his commitment to a negotiated solution as the only viable path forward. https://opinionexpress.in/green-card-get-a-push-from-us-administration The United States has unveiled a significant policy change, set to benefit a large number of Indians residing in the country. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revealed that it will extend the validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) to five years for specific non-immigrant categories, including those awaiting green cards. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-launches-ground-assault-on-hamas-in-gaza Israel issued warnings for Palestinians to evacuate as they planned a ground offensive against Hamas. Thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza seeking refuge. The Israeli army initiated localized raids in Gaza to eliminate terrorists, weaponry, and locate missing individuals, particularly Israeli, foreign, and dual-national hostages taken by Hamas during previous attacks. https://opinionexpress.in/gaza-city-clears-out-as-residents-rush-to-evacuate Israel's military directed the evacuation on Friday of all of the hundreds of thousands of civilians living in Gaza City ahead of a feared Israel ground offensive. The directive came on the heels of what the United Nations said was a warning they received from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in the north of Gaza within 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-military-plans-offensive-operation-in-gaza-city Israel has directed the evacuation of civilians in Gaza City, amidst fears of an impending ground offensive, following a week of intense conflict with Hamas. Israel's military issued an order for residents of Gaza City to move further south into the Gaza Strip, citing concerns that Hamas militants were hiding in tunnels under the city. The United Nations received a warning from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in the north of Gaza within 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/prime-minister-modi-urges-world-leaders-to-unite-against-terrorism During the ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and emphasized the need for global peace and unity. He denounced terrorism in all its forms, emphasizing that it goes against humanity and hinders progress. Modi acknowledged that conflicts anywhere in the world have a widespread impact and are detrimental to all parties involved. He stressed the importance of fostering global trust and called for consensus on the definition of terrorism, as the lack of agreement allows the enemies of humanity to exploit the situation. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-has-been-a-secular-nation-rss-chief RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat spoke at an event where he emphasized the secular nature of India for the past 5,000 years and urged unity and exemplary human behavior. This event marked the launch of a book titled 'Prithvi Sookta - An Ode To Mother Earth,' authored by senior RSS functionary Ranga Hari. Bhagwat stressed the importance of devotion, love, and dedication to the motherland, asserting that the nation is an essential component of national unity. https://opinionexpress.in/gaza-razed-to-dust-by-idf The Gaza Strip finds itself in a dire humanitarian crisis as Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate the region. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, hospitals are running dangerously low on essential supplies, and a looming power blackout threatens to plunge the territory into darkness. The conflict was triggered by a deadly mass incursion of Hamas militants into Israel, leading to a brutal response from the Israeli military. https://opinionexpress.in/us-is-overlooking-palestine-interest-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the recent surge of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, asserting that it exemplified the failure of US policy in the Middle East and a disregard for the Palestinians' needs. During talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Putin used the opportunity to lay blame on years of US policy in the region for the sharp escalation. https://opinionexpress.in/a-major-pollical-realignment-in-west-bengal-soon Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is reportedly eyeing a greater role for her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, who serves as the Trinamool Congress general secretary. Sources close to Banerjee's residence in Kalighat suggest that she is contemplating elevating Abhishek Banerjee's political status, with the possibility of him assuming the role of Deputy Chief Minister after the upcoming elections in November. This move would involve asking Abdul Khaliq Molla, the MLA from Metiabruz in south-western Kolkata, to vacate his seat for Abhishek Banerjee, with Molla potentially being sent to Parliament from Diamond Harbour. https://opinionexpress.in/over-2-billion-people-are-at-risk-from-the-extreme-climate-change A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns that climate change could expose a staggering 2.2 billion people living in India's Indus Valley and Pakistan to dangerously high levels of heat by the end of the century. The research, conducted by experts from Penn State College of Health and Human Development, Purdue University College of Sciences, and Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future in the United States, underscores the severe consequences of global warming. https://opinionexpress.in/hamas-will-face-unprecedented-consequences-for-aggression-netanyahu In a stern and resolute message directed towards Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a clear warning on Tuesday, stating that while Israel did not initiate the conflict, they were fully prepared to see it through to its conclusion. This statement comes in the wake of a significant escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, with Israel responding to a surprise attack launched by the Palestinian group. The Israeli response, including the mobilization of an unprecedented 300,000 troops, marks the largest military deployment since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists. https://opinionexpress.in/unlocking-potential-through-amcham-india-and-collaborative-endeavors India's ambition to emerge as a global economic powerhouse is no secret. With a burgeoning population, a rapidly expanding middle class, and a diverse range of industries, the country has the potential to achieve remarkable economic growth. However, realizing this potential requires more than just government policies and initiatives https://opinionexpress.in/poll-dates-announced-for-the-semi-final-elections-ec The 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly election will be held in a single phase on November 17, followed by voting in Rajasthan on November 23 and in Telangana on November 30.The final round of polls this year will begin with Mizoram voting on November 7. https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-ordered-the-deployment-of-us-ships-and-warplanes-to-israel In a surprising land-sea-air attack launched by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel, several American citizens have been confirmed killed, according to a US official on Sunday. Details regarding the exact number of Americans killed or their identities have not been disclosed. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-palestine-conflict-enters-its-bloodiest-phase The Israel-Palestine conflict has entered its bloodiest phase in decades, with Hamas launching a massive rocket barrage and Israel responding with airstrikes. Over 700 people have lost their lives in Israel, while more than 400 have died in Gaza, including children. Additionally, over 100,000 people in Gaza have been displaced, and Hamas claims to be holding more than a hundred Israelis hostage. https://opinionexpress.in/afghanistan-jolted-by-powe4rful-earthquake The death toll from a series of earthquakes in the remote western region of Afghanistan surged on Sunday, reaching "more than 1,000" according to government spokesman Bilal Karimi. These casualties were a result of Saturday's magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Herat province, followed by a sequence of potent aftershocks. https://opinionexpress.in/major-escalation-of-tensions-in-middle-east Ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and the Palestinian group Hamas escalated on Sunday, resulting in a devastating toll of more than 500 casualties on both sides. The conflict was sparked by an attack on Israel, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue a grim warning, stating that they were entering a protracted and challenging war. https://opinionexpress.in/isreal-declared-war-against-palestine-hamas-netanyahu Israel declared war against Palestine's Hamas, vowing to avenge a fierce rocket attack that has killed 22 Israelis and which the militants claimed was their "first strike". Israel has launched air strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip. https://opinionexpress.in/left-wing-extremism-will-be-completely-eliminated-in-the-next-two-years-hm Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement regarding the goal of completely eliminating Left Wing Extremism (LWE) from the country in two years reflects the government's determination to address this issue. The key points highlighted in the statement and the accompanying information are as follows: https://opinionexpress.in/india-at-over-100-mark-in-asian-games The Indian contingent's remarkable performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games solidified their commitment to achieving the ambitious 'Is Baar Sau Paar' (This Time, Hundred Plus) target, as the nation celebrated the official attainment of 100 medals on a thrilling Saturday. India had already been on the verge of reaching this milestone as Friday's tally closed with a remarkable 95 medals secured across various sporting disciplines. With more medals guaranteed in compound archery (3), kabaddi (2), badminton (1), and men's cricket (1), the century was all but confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/india-wins-hockey-gold-in-asian-games The Indian men’s hockey team defeated Japan 5-1 in the Asian Games final to seal India’s 22nd gold medal (India’s 95th medal) at Hangzhou 2023. The gold also ensures that the Indian team qualifies for the Paris Olympics.  https://opinionexpress.in/pil-against-freebies-in-sc-before-state-elections The Supreme Court on Friday sought response of the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments on a PIL alleging distribution of freebies to voters ahead of assembly polls in both states. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-keeps-the-same-key-lending-rate The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opted to maintain its key lending rate at 6.5% for the fourth consecutive time, as announced by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das following a unanimous decision at the central bank's bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. This decision implies that loan interest rates are expected to remain stable as well. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-a-growing-superpower-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his support for India's independent decision-making and emphasized the futility of Western attempts to create a rift between Moscow and New Delhi. Speaking at a keynote address in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin highlighted India's autonomy in pursuing its national interests. https://opinionexpress.in/hal-delivers-first-lca-tejas-to-iaf Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), headquartered in Bengaluru, marked a significant milestone by delivering the first LCA Tejas twin-seater aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF). This twin-seater variant is designed to meet the training needs of the IAF while also serving as a fighter aircraft when required. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-party-likely-to-be-made-an-accused-in-the-liquor-scam The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently seeking legal opinion on whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) can be implicated under money laundering charges related to the now-defunct Delhi liquor policy. This development comes in the wake of a recent hearing concerning bail requests by senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia. During the hearing, the Supreme Court inquired why the AAP had not been named as an accused party, given that the ED's case alleges that the party derived benefits from the contentious liquor policy. https://opinionexpress.in/neeraj-chopra-wins-gold-in-the-javelin-throw-event-at-asian-games It raining gold at the Asian Games. India's star javelin throw Neeraj Chopra defended his Asian Games gold medal with a best throw of 88.88m in the final at Hangzhou on Wednesday. Neeraj Chopra beat his compatriot Kishore Jena for the top honour. Jena overtook Neeraj at one point in the final with his personal best throw of 86.77m but he ended with a silver medal as Neeraj registered his season best throw. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-economy-to-grow-at-63-percent-world-bank The Indian economy is set to experience a growth rate of 6.3 percent in the current financial year, with investment and domestic demand playing pivotal roles, as stated in a recent World Bank report. Despite a global environment fraught with challenges, India's resilience shines through. https://opinionexpress.in/private-channels-are-open-to-defuse-the-crisis-joly In an attempt to defuse the tensions, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that the country wants "private talks with India to resolve a diplomatic dispute" over the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.  https://opinionexpress.in/5g-tech-on-the-roll-in-india As many as 31 million users in India are expected to upgrade to 5G phones in the coming year, amid an accelerated adoption of the ultra-high-speed services in the country, according to a report by Ericsson. https://opinionexpress.in/newsclick-portal-associates-raided-by-delhi-police The homes of several journalists associated with NewsClick were searched today in connection with a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case. According to sources, Delhi Police had registered the case under the anti-terror law on August 17, days after a New York Times investigation alleged that the news portal had received funding from a network pushing Chinese propaganda. https://opinionexpress.in/nobel-in-medicine-for-mrna-vaccines-work-against-covid-19 Two distinguished scientists, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday for their groundbreaking discoveries that paved the way for the development of highly effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Their contributions have played a pivotal role in the rapid development of vaccines during the global pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/in-desperation-opposition-is-dividing-the-country-on-the-caste-basis-pm Soon after the developments in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the opposition of "trying to divide the country in the name of caste", in a sharp comment that came hours after the Bihar government released details of its controversial state-wide caste-based survey. The Prime Minister did not refer to the survey or any specific party but, in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, he lashed out at the opposition for having failed to secure development while in power and attacked them for "playing with the feelings of the poor". https://opinionexpress.in/mahatma-gandhi-was-an-ambassador-of-global-peace-pm-modi On the 154th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects at Delhi's Rajghat, the final resting place of the revered leader. In a poignant tribute, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the enduring global significance of Mahatma Gandhi's principles and the inspiration they continue to provide to people worldwide, emphasizing unity and compassion as pivotal values. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-thrashes-trudeau-for-online-censorship Twitter X owner Elon Musk slammed the Justin Trudeau government in Canada for "crushing free speech" in the country. His remark came in the wake of a recent order of the Canadian government which makes it compulsory for online streaming services to formally register with the government for 'regulatory controls'. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-relationship-is-at-its-peak-jaishankar Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said today it is difficult to put a limit on the India-US relationship, and that the two countries now see each other as "desirable, optimal, and comfortable partners." https://opinionexpress.in/uk-gurdwara-association-condemns-glasgow-incident The Glasgow Gurdwara, where Khalistani extremists prevented an Indian envoy from entering, has strongly denounced the incident and emphasized its commitment to welcoming people from all backgrounds. https://opinionexpress.in/caste-based-census-is-the-need-of-the-hour-rahul-gandhi In an effort to remodel the party ideology, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said if his party comes to power at the Centre, it would conduct a caste-based census to know the exact number of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) people in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-beats-pak-in-asian-games-squash-to-win-gold In a significant victory and celebration of the Gold Medal at the Asian Games, Abhay Singh won the battle of attrition against Noor Zaman for the biggest prize of his career as top seeds India regained the Asian Games squash gold with an epic 2-1 win over Pakistan in Hangzhou on Saturday. Before the tournament began, the Indian men's team was expected to step on the top of the podium after eight years with its main challenge coming from Malaysia and Pakistan, the sport's powerhouse in the yesteryears. The Saurav Ghosal-led side managed to see off both the opponents on their way to glory. https://opinionexpress.in/new-york-city-faces-unprecedented-flooding-crisis The global warming effect is visible across the world. Heavy overnight rains have partially paralysed New York. A state of emergency has been declared in the city that witnessed one of its wettest days in decades. Airports and subways are not fully operational due to waterlogging in parts of the US financial capital. https://opinionexpress.in/russias-pledge-to-foster-south-sudans-growth South Sudan's President Salva Kiir recently met with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to bolster their relationship in various sectors, with a particular emphasis on energy and oil. This meeting comes as global powers seek support from African nations amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/womens-reservation-bill-is-officially-a-law-in-india Women's Reservation Bill is officially a law now. President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Women's Reservation Bill, days after a historic vote. The new law provides 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. https://opinionexpress.in/indi-alliance-hits-the-road-block-in-punjab The internal divisions between the Punjab units of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have escalated to the national stage, potentially fracturing the INDIA alliance's aim of presenting a unified opposition against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The trigger for this conflict was the arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a vocal opponent of any alliance with the AAP, in a 2015 case related to drug smuggling and money laundering. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-an-important-global-player-trudeau Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed Canada's commitment to strengthening its relationship with India, despite acknowledging "credible allegations" regarding the Indian government's involvement in killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The statement, reported by the Canada-based National Post, underscores the importance of maintaining diplomatic ties with India in light of its expanding global influence. https://opinionexpress.in/legendary-agricultural-scientist-m-s-swaminathan-passes-away Legendary renowned agricultural scientist and the driving force behind the nation's 'Green Revolution M S Swaminathan, passed away here on Thursday. He was 98 and is survived by three daughters including Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the former chief scientist of the World Health Organisation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-the-next-economic-power-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, articulated his vision of India becoming a global economic powerhouse. He conveyed that India's trajectory is set to transform it into a key player on the world stage, and he expressed confidence that India would soon rank among the top three economies globally. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-crackdown-anti-terror-modules-across-the-country On Wednesday, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) carried out extensive raids at 51 locations spread across six states in India in connection with a crackdown on a terror-gangster network with alleged links to Canada. The operations targeted three distinct cases involving associates of notorious figures: Lawrence Bishnoi, Bambiha, and Arsh Dalla gangs, as stated by an NIA official. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-reached-new-heights-in-diplomacy-and-technology Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India's diplomacy touched new heights in the last 30 days and some decisions taken during the G20 Summit have the potential to change the direction the 21st-century world takes. https://opinionexpress.in/s-jaishankars-sharp-targets-canada-on-organized-crime-extremism-terror In the midst of the ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has drawn attention to what he describes as "organized crime related to secessionist forces, violence, and extremism" within Canada, expressing concerns about the country's permissiveness towards these issues due to political reasons. Speaking at the 'Discussion at Council on Foreign Relations' in New York, Jaishankar emphasized the intricate intertwining of organized crime, violence, and extremism in Canada in recent years, raising specific concerns about their connection to secessionist movements. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-to-offer-collective-leadership-formula-in-the-upcoming-state-elections The Bharatiya Janata Party, known for its strategic political moves, has taken an unexpected turn in the run-up to the upcoming state elections in India. In an intriguing move, the BJP has decided not to project a chief ministerial candidate in any of the five states slated for elections later this year. This includes the key Hindi-speaking states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, as well as Telangana and Mizoram. Instead, the party plans to rely on what they term "collective leadership" to secure victory. https://opinionexpress.in/amazon-to-invest-heavily-in-ai Amazon has announced a substantial investment of up to USD 4 billion in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence startup, marking a significant move in the ongoing race among Big Tech companies to harness the potential of advanced AI technology. This partnership extends beyond financial support, aiming to foster collaboration in the development of foundation models, the core components of generative AI systems that have garnered global attention. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-thrashes-trudeau-for-interference-in-internal-affairs-of-sovereign-country The music is reaching to Justin Trudeau's ear from various places across the globe, the sound is laud and clear. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Monday, reacting to the India-Canada diplomatic row, said terrorists have found safe haven in Canada and their Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came out with the outrageous allegations without any proof. Mr Sabry said he is "not surprised" by his remarks since Trudeau keeps making "outrageous and substantiated allegations." https://opinionexpress.in/congress-is-rusted-iron-feudal-and-family-centric-party-pm-modi In a fresh attack on the Congress party with an eye on the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tore into Congress equating the party with "rusted iron" which he said would push MP back into the BIMARU category if given an opportunity again. https://opinionexpress.in/naveen-patnaik-gives-modi-government-high-marks-for-clean-governance-and-diplomacy Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an interactive session at the Odisha Literary Festival in Bhubaneswar, organized by the New Indian Express Group. Patnaik commended Modi's foreign policy efforts and lauded his government's commitment to eradicating corruption in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-gets-its-first-gold-medal-in-asian-games Finally, the Indian contingent has sent great news of bagging the Gold Medal in the ongoing Asian Games. India Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar bagged away the bronze medal in India's 10m men's rifle final individual event. Earlier in the day, India's 10m men's rifle team clinched the gold medal and broke the world record by scoring 1893.7 points. The team of world champion Rudrankksh Patil, Olympian Divyansh Panwar and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar aggregated 1893.7 in the qualification round to better the world record of 1893.3 set by China.  https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-spring-surprise-in-coming-elections-rahul-gandhi Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in his party's prospects in the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. He also hinted at a potential "surprise" for the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi acknowledged a valuable lesson learned from the Congress's victory in Karnataka earlier in the year, which has shaped their strategy. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-to-stay-away-from-india-canada-tensions The Biden administration is expected to exercise caution and avoid direct involvement in the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, as it seeks to maintain the progress it has made in its relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Charles Myers, the founder of the political strategy firm Signum Global Advisors and a prominent Democratic Party donor, emphasized the administration's focus on engaging with India to enhance its competitiveness vis-à-vis China. He asserted that the United States is unlikely to meddle extensively in the ongoing dispute. https://opinionexpress.in/asian-games-2023-kick-starts-with-glittering-ceremony The grand commencement of the 2023 Asian Games embarked with a dazzling and artistic spectacle, graced by the esteemed presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping alongside other distinguished guests. The honor of leading the Indian contingent in the athletes' parade was bestowed upon Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the men's hockey team, and the celebrated boxing sensation, Lovlina Borgohain. In a striking display of unity and national pride, the athletes were adorned in a uniform that reflected India's rich heritage—a khaki textured saree for the women and a khaki kurta for their male counterparts. https://opinionexpress.in/big-crackdown-on-khalistani-elements-in-india In a significant move against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of the banned separatist organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India has taken action to seize his properties in Punjab and Chandigarh. Pannun, who is facing a multitude of criminal charges, including sedition, is considered a key figure in the pro-Khalistan movement. This latest development represents a significant step in India's efforts to crack down on terrorist and secessionist networks operating from various countries, including Canada. https://opinionexpress.in/team-india-is-no1-in-all-three-formats India's cricketing prowess reached new heights as they secured the number one ranking in all three formats of the game following their remarkable victory over Australia in the series opener. India's triumph in the One Day International (ODI) against Australia propelled them to the coveted top spot in the ODI rankings, with a rating of 116 points, edging past arch-rivals Pakistan, who had held the position with 115 points. https://opinionexpress.in/china-is-a-serious-threat-to-usa-nikki-haley In a significant policy speech delivered in New Hampshire, Indian-American Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley made a striking claim, characterizing China as an "existential threat" not only to the United States but to the world at large. In her address, she argued that China has been meticulously planning for decades to surpass and potentially defeat the United States, and she expressed grave concerns about the rapid development of China's military capabilities. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-jd-s-announces-tie-up-for-ge-2024 In a run-up to GE 2024, the Janata Dal (Secular) has joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance ahead of next year's general election. The announcement was made after senior JDS leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP boss JP Nadda today. No details have been released so far about seat-sharing in the southern state. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-faces-allegations-of-promoting-khalistani-separatism-by-india India responded to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations regarding the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, suggesting that there is an element of bias in his allegations and labeling them as politically motivated. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pointed out that Canada has not provided any specific information or evidence to support its claims in the Nijjar case. https://opinionexpress.in/trudeau-accuses-india-without-credible-evidence-on-nijjar-killing Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized Canada's dedication to the rule of law, with a commitment to safeguarding the safety of its citizens and upholding both Canadian values and the international rules-based order. He expressed that these are the current priorities for Canada as it navigates its relations with India amidst the ongoing controversy. https://opinionexpress.in/diplomatic-tensions-escalates-between-india-and-canada The Indian government has taken a significant step in the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Canada, announcing its request for a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence in India. The move comes amidst escalating tensions sparked by the killing of a Khalistani terrorist and allegations of Canadian diplomats interfering in Indian affairs. India's decision was swiftly followed by the suspension of visa services in Canada, a move with potential repercussions for numerous travelers planning to visit India. https://opinionexpress.in/obc-scst-quota-demanded-by-congress-within-women-reservation-bill Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress parliamentary party, expressed her party's strong support for the Women's Reservation Bill in a recent session of the Lok Sabha. She called for the immediate implementation of the bill and emphasized the need to extend reservations to women from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) following a caste census. https://opinionexpress.in/erdogan-racks-up-kashmir-issue-in-un Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the issue of Kashmir during his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, emphasizing the importance of establishing a just and lasting peace in the region through dialogue and cooperation between India and Pakistan. Erdogan's statement reiterated his country's commitment to supporting efforts in this direction. https://opinionexpress.in/womens-reservation-bill-step-closer-to-being-law After hours of intense debate, a momentous bill that has been the subject of discussion and contention for years has finally seen the light of day. Today, in a historic move, the Lok Sabha passed a bill providing 33 percent reservation to women in both Parliament and state assemblies. This landmark legislation, which marks a significant step towards gender equality in Indian politics, was introduced and passed in the lower house for the very first time. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-on-the-moon-and-pak-is-in-complete-disarray-nawaz-sharif Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, who currently resides in self-imposed exile, has criticized his country's financial situation, contrasting it with India's accomplishments, including its lunar mission and hosting the G20 summit. He attributed Pakistan's economic challenges to former military leaders and judges. https://opinionexpress.in/historic-day-in-parliament-womens-reservation-bill-to-stirs-fierce-debate Congress leader Sonia Gandhi will lead the party's debate on the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha today. The government yesterday introduced the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, reserving 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. https://opinionexpress.in/women-reservation-bill-may-divide-india-block The two national parties namely BJP and Congress may be inching towards a consensus for the women's reservation bill to capitise the vast vote bank for General Election 2024. The history of the women's reservation bill which guarantees a 33 percent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, reportedly approved by the union cabinet last evening, highlights the fissures within the INDIA alliance of opposition parties. Sources say the bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha during the special session of the parliament that began yesterday, and the ruling BJP has asked its women MPs to be present in the house when it is taken up for consideration and put to a vote. https://opinionexpress.in/aiadmk-likely-to-opt-out-of-nda As the GE 2024 approaches closer, the alliance partners are trying to assess the local situation to consolidate respective territories. The strains between the AIADMK and BJP seemed to have reached a flashpoint on Monday when a senior leader of the Dravidian party said there was no alliance with the saffron organisation and that any decision on a poll pact would be decided only during the election. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistani-terrorists-killing-in-canada-leads-to-fresh-tensions-between-the-two-nations In a shocking turn of events, Canada accused India of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, in June, leading to the expulsion of New Delhi's intelligence chief in Ottawa and a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, addressing an emergency session of the parliamentary opposition, revealed that his government had "credible allegations" linking Indian agents to the assassination of Nijjar in British Columbia. This accusation sent shockwaves through the international community and further strained the already tense relationship between Ottawa and New Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-narendra-modi-glorifies-indian-parliament-achievement Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech today in which he invoked the historic words of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, reflecting on the nation's journey since gaining independence from British rule nearly eight decades ago. He began by reminding the country of Nehru's iconic "A tryst with destiny" speech delivered in Parliament on August 15, 1947, when India finally achieved its long-awaited freedom. https://opinionexpress.in/the-perfect-travel-companion-medium-sized-trolley-bags Traveling, whether for leisure or business, often involves packing various essentials to make your journey comfortable and hassle-free. Among the numerous travel accessories available, a medium-sized trolley bag stands out as a versatile and reliable companion for globetrotters. In this article, we will explore the reasons why medium-sized trolley bags are the perfect travel companion. https://opinionexpress.in/h-1b-visa-debate-takes-a-centrestage Indian-American US presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has found himself at the center of controversy following his recent comments on the H-1B visa program. In a candid interview with Politico, Ramaswamy not only expressed his desire for reform but also labeled the H-1B program as "senseless" and even likened it to "indentured servitude." He went on to outline his vision of overhauling the existing lottery-based system and replacing it with a more meritocratic admission process if he secures the presidency in the upcoming elections. https://opinionexpress.in/special-session-of-the-parliament-starts-today The five-day "Amrit Kaal" session of parliament begins today. The agenda includes discussions on the evolution of India's parliamentary democracy. Eight bills are listed, including a controversial one on the Chief Election Commissioner's pick. https://opinionexpress.in/india-demolish-sl-to-win-asia-cup-in-style This is India's seventh Asia Cup title and also their biggest victory (263 balls) in ODIs in terms of balls remaining. This was India's first title in a multi-nation event after their triumph in the Asia Cup 2018, and in a way, it also exorcised the ghost of India's 54 all out against Lanka in the Coca Cola Champions Trophy at Sharjah in 2000.  https://opinionexpress.in/congress-rejects-one-nation-one-poll-push-by-the-bjp The Congress party rejected the 'One Nation, One Election' idea, calling it an assault on the Constitution and federalism. While addressing a briefing on the deliberations of the first meeting of the reconstituted Congress Working Committee (CWC) here, party leader P Chidambaram said the BJP does not have the numbers to pass the required constitutional amendments for holding simultaneous polls. https://opinionexpress.in/no-telangana-liberation-day-celebrations-due-to-vote-bank-politics-amit-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the official celebration of 'Hyderabad Liberation Day' on Sunday, expressed his disappointment that political parties in Telangana were reluctant to celebrate the day due to considerations of vote bank politics. The event marked the commemoration of Hyderabad's freedom from the erstwhile Nizam rule and its merger with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-is-well-prepared-to-win-ge-2024-with-india-alliance-kharge During the second day of the Congress Working Committee meeting in Hyderabad, the party's national chief Mallikarjun Kharge asked all leaders and workers at all levels to meet people regularly and listen to their problems, as the party prepares the ground to fight the national election next year. The Congress party called for unity among citizens cutting across ideological and party lines to "overthrow" what it called "the dictatorial government in order to save democracy."  https://opinionexpress.in/iphone-15-series-on-sale-in-india The highly awaited Phone 15 series of smartphones will be available to preorder today, days after Apple unveiled its latest generation of handsets. This year, the company introduced four new models — the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max — that arrived as the successors to its iPhone 14 lineup, with some hardware improvements over the older models. The iPhone maker's new smartphones are equipped with a USB Type-C port and the Dynamic Island — on all four models. They will go on sale a week later and customers can place orders for the handsets starting today. https://opinionexpress.in/cwc-meeting-in-telangana-kick-off The Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened a pivotal meeting today in Hyderabad to formulate its strategy for the upcoming assembly elections in five states. The primary focus of this crucial meeting is to bolster the party's campaign in Telangana, which is one of the states heading to the polls. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-navin-takes-charge-of-ed-director Special Director & Senior IRS officer Rahul Navin was appointed as in-charge director of the Enforcement Directorate on Friday on the completion of tenure of the incumbent Sanjay Kumar Mishra, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/trade-talks-halted-amidst-tensions-between-india-and-canada The K ( Khalistan ) factor has started hurting the bilateral relationship between India and Canada. According to an official statement released on Friday, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng has decided to delay a trade mission to India that was initially scheduled for October. This decision comes amid growing tension in diplomatic relations between the two countries, following a recent incident at the G20 summit in New Delhi where India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, publicly criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-relief-in-editors-guild-case A case had been filed against three members of the Editors Guild's fact-finding team, who had gone to Manipur to assess the media's reportage of the ethnic conflict in the state, and the Guild's president. The complainant had alleged that the report submitted by the team was "false, fabricated and sponsored", and the charges in the first information report included promoting enmity between different groups. https://opinionexpress.in/helpful-tips-for-new-little-league-coaches-coaching-little-league-baseball Coaching Little League baseball is a rewarding experience that allows you to mentor and guide young athletes as they learn and develop their skills in the sport. However, being a successful Little League coach involves more than just knowledge of the game; it requires effective teaching, communication, and leadership skills. Whether you're a first-time Little League coach or looking to improve your coaching abilities, here are some helpful tips to set you on the path to success. https://opinionexpress.in/scientist-discover-water-molecule-on-the-moon-surface The scientists community analysing the remote sensing data from India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission have found that high energy electrons from the Earth may be forming water on the Moon. https://opinionexpress.in/security-forces-on-the-job-to-eliminate-terrorists-in-jk The Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched their joint search operation on the night of September 12-13. They laid a cordon in search of some terrorists in Garol village, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/sanatan-dharma-is-under-attack-by-india-alliance-pm In a strongly worded critique of the opposition INDIA alliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack during an event in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. His remarks marked his initial public response to the controversy surrounding DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin's statements regarding Sanatana Dharma. https://opinionexpress.in/india-calls-for-thorough-investigation-into-students-death India has strongly urged the United States to initiate a comprehensive inquiry into recently revealed bodycam footage, which features a Seattle police officer making callous comments regarding the tragic death of an Indian student who was struck by a speeding police car. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-block-india-to-boycott-specific-tv-and-media-houses In s bitterly divided policies, even the media is likely to be divided on ideological lines soon. The Opposition INDIA bloc will boycott a group of television anchors and shows, the leaders will come up with a list of anchors whose debates and shows the Opposition leaders would boycott. In a statement today, the Coordination Committee said its subgroup on media will draw up the names of anchors and shows. https://opinionexpress.in/promoting-the-art-of-face-yoga Mansi Gulati is an International Yoga exponent with a specialization in Face Yoga. Her journey into the world of Face Yoga began at a very young age, and she takes immense pride in sharing her expertise with individuals seeking natural beauty enhancement, free from artificial cosmetics or costly surgeries. Through the "Manasvini Foundation," she have had the privilege of assisting numerous men and women in their quest to naturally enhance their attractiveness and overall well-being. https://opinionexpress.in/national-sports-day-celebrated-at-city-montessori-school At the City Montessori School, Rajajipuram Campus II, the National Sports Day on 29th August was celebrated as 'Athlopolics', a sports event was conducted dedicated to the junior section students.The event was a healthy amalgam of prayers, pledges, and athletic activities, all curated to cultivate a disciplined and physically fit lifestyle among the students. The event commenced with a prayer and a powerful thought, followed by a virtue and pledge, setting an honorable start to an energetic day.The importance of embracing sports in daily life was emphasized by the Head Girl during her speech, further reiterated by the principal's address. The inspirational speeches set the stage for the physical endeavors to follow, starting with a stimulating aerobics session led by the energetic girls of Class 5.Post aerobics, a range of races engrossed everyone present. The first race, Carrom, was fervently inaugurated by the principal herself. Diverse races ensued, including traditional sprints, one-leg and three-legged races, and shuttle and relay races which witnessed immense enthusiasm and competitive spirit.Unique, fun-filled competitions like the pastry race, Hoola hoop race, crocodile race and throw and catch race left everyone exhilarated. The girls showcased their agility in the skipping race. It was then followed by a gripping Kabaddi match by the boys of Class VIII.Without a doubt, one of the most anticipated events of the day was the gripping Kabaddi match between the boys of Class VIII. As the audience waited, the atmosphere was thick with palpable excitement and eager anticipation. With every Kabaddi chant, the venue was filled with an electric atmosphere, further fuelled by the loud cheers and encouraging shouts from the audience.The day was concluded by prize distribution, leaving behind a trail of victorious smiles and the joyous spirit of sportsmanship. https://opinionexpress.in/parliament-special-session-agenda-shared-with-public-suspense-remains The special five-day session of Parliament starting next week will discuss the 75-year history of parliament, the government revealed this evening, putting an end of days of speculation. The government will also clear four bills, including the one on appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner which has generated much controversy. https://opinionexpress.in/media-trails-must-have-to-stop-sc The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the practice of 'media trials,' which refer to biased reporting that can lead to public suspicion of a person's involvement in a criminal offense. The court has directed the Union Home Ministry to develop guidelines for police conduct during press briefings related to criminal cases. The ministry has been given a three-month deadline to create a comprehensive manual. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-heaps-praise-on-modi Russian President Vladimir Putin said that PM Modi is just doing the "right thing" in promoting the Make in India programme. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies in the Russian port town of Vladivostok.  https://opinionexpress.in/cracks-appears-in-india-alliance INDIA alliance partner AAP leader Raghav Chadha condemned DMK leader Udayanidhi Stalin's remark on Sanatana Dharma but said statements made by some "small" leader from any party cannot be considered the official stand of the INDIA bloc. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-zooms-to-all-time-high Indian BSE index of Equity benchmark indices continued their winning momentum on Tuesday early trade, climbing for the eighth day running, with the Nifty scaling its fresh all-time high level. https://opinionexpress.in/from-india-to-bharat-reclaiming-the-identity-of-an-ancient-nation The sacred scriptures that originated on this soil referred to this immense, varied, and mystic land as distinct and diverse in every possible aspect and dimension—its geographical, historical and spiritual being that came to be known as the homeland of "Bharata", which is a culturally and intellectually rich and awakened world located in the South East ("Dakshina Poorva Dighbhage, Bharata varshe, Bharata khande"). This land which was the chosen home of the descendants of King Bharata, was known for its vast treasure of knowledge immortalised in books that are primitively simple and holistically and esoterically profound in philosophy, science, medicine, and just about anything that is concerned with the earthly and heavenly aspects of human life. A critical reading of history would alert us to the naming of this land from a conqueror’s perspective, a perspective that would be inevitably limited, much like the blind men in the story trying to name the elephant. This was bound to be impressionistic. Some of these names are referents to such geographical and cultural features as the Sindhu, and Hindu, Indica and India. Megasthanes, the Greek traveler, whose extinct text "Indica", which survives only some surviving fragments sings paeans to the rich cultural, philosophical and spiritual heritage of this country. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-should-not-be-isolated-world-leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening visited the International Media Centre at the Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 Summit. After holding a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders following the conclusion of the summit, Modi came to the media centre and greeted those present there. He waved at journalists, both from India and abroad, as camerapersons vied to click him. Amid cheers, Modi walked in the cavernous hall on the ground floor of the International Media Centre (IMC) which was all decked up. G20 logos were splashed across huge decorative panels put up in the hall on the theme 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- 'One Earth. One Family. One Future'. Leaders of the world's 20 big economies ended a summit in the Indian capital on Sunday overcoming deep divisions over the war in Ukraine to produce a consensus document and move forward on issues such overhauling institutions like the World Bank. They also formally admitted the African Union to the bloc to make the grouping more representative.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-superior-power-than-china-africa-union-chief NEW DELHI: In a big endorsement for India's rising global stature, chairperson Azali Assoumani on Sunday said the country is a "superpower" which is now "ahead of China". https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-and-us-president-joe-biden-issues-joint-statement-from-india-us-bilateral-talks NEW DELHI: The White House released a detailed joint statement shortly after USPresident Joe Biden and PM Narendra Modi held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Fridayahead of the G20 summit over the weekend. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-faces-fire-at-home-abroad Slow Economy & Shrinking Population: Chinese President Xi Faces Fire at Home and Abroad. https://opinionexpress.in/india-all-set-for-mega-g20-summit The summit is expected to be attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union and invited guest countries and 14 heads of international organisations. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-rejects-one-nation-one-election-concept-kejriwal AAP Chief & Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal rejected the 'One nation, One election' concept, asking what the common man gets from such an arrangement. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-first-ai-powered-anti-drone-system-unveiled An Indian company based in Hyderabad-based robotics firm has unveiled a state-of-the-art autonomous anti-drone system, powered by artificial intelligence. The system can protect not just vital installations like nuclear installations and oil rigs, but also a wide area encompassing even an entire city, from multiple drones of any kind. This is the first time such a system has been developed in India. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-a-nation-with-one-billion-aspirational-minds-and-two-billion-skilled-hands-pm-narendra-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his vision for India's future. He articulated a bold ambition for the country, asserting that India would attain the status of a developed nation by the time it celebrates its 100th year of Independence in 2047. In this vision, he emphasized that three significant issues plaguing the nation – corruption, casteism, and communalism – would be eradicated from the fabric of Indian society. https://opinionexpress.in/india-bloc-hates-hinduism-amit-shah The remark on Sanatana Dharma by DMK chief MK Stalin's minister son shows that the Opposition bloc INDIA "hates Hinduism" and is "an attack on our heritage", Union Home Minister Amit Shah said today. https://opinionexpress.in/india-ally-dmk-appeals-to-eradicate-sanatana-dharma I.N.D.I.A's ally DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu minister and son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, said on Saturday that Sanatana Dharma is against the idea of social justice and must be "eradicated". MK Stalin compared Sanatana Dharma with diseases like dengue and malaria, inviting sharp criticism from BJP leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/pio-minister-in-rishi-sunaks-cabinet The growing power of PIO worldwide is stamped with Ms Claire Coutinho, a close aide of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who got a big promotion as his new Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary in a mini reshuffle on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-ambitious-solar-odyssey-begins-a-ray-of-hope-for-a-sustainable-future In an effort to dominate space science, India's first solar mission Aditya L1 on board the PSLV will lift off from Sriharikota today for its 125-day voyage towards the Sun. Aditya L1 is designed for providing remote observations of the solar corona and in situ observations of solar wind. https://opinionexpress.in/all-indians-are-hindus-mohan-bhagwat The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was speaking here at the inauguration of ‘Madhukar Bhavan', the new building of Shri Narkesari Prakashan Ltd., which runs the newspaper ‘Dainik Tarun Bharat'. “Hindustan (India) is a ‘Hindu Rashtra' and this is a fact. Ideologically, all Bharatiyas (Indians) are Hindus and Hindus mean all Bharatiyas. All those who are in Bharat (India) today are related to Hindu culture, Hindu ancestors and Hindu land, nothing other than these,” he said. https://opinionexpress.in/caste-censes-divides-india The third meeting of the INDIA alliance in Mumbai saw one of the first major differences emerge between the opposition parties since they decided to band together in June.  https://opinionexpress.in/russia-have-to-exits-from-china-military-alliance-vivek-ramaswamy Vivek Ramaswamy told Fox News that as a US president, he would offer to freeze the current lines of control between Ukraine and Russia, make a hard commitment that NATO will not admit Ukraine into it and lift sanctions. In return, Russia would have to exit its military alliance with China, he said. https://opinionexpress.in/one-nation-one-elections-bill-likely-to-be-tabled-soon The formation of a committee to study the 'one nation, one election' proposal is a significant development in India's political landscape. This concept aims to synchronize the timing of elections for the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Parliament) and state legislative assemblies, thereby streamlining the electoral process and potentially reducing the financial and logistical burdens associated with separate elections. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-government-calls-parliament-special-session The Narendra Modi government has called for a "special session of Parliament" to be held from September 18 to 22, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding, that there will be five sittings. "Amid Amrit Kaal, looking forward to having a fruitful discussion and debate in Parliament," he said. https://opinionexpress.in/major-opposition-meet-in-mumbai-today In the all-important Opposition meeting in Mumbai today, members of the INDIA alliance are expected to finalise a logo, a coordination committee, and a joint action plan to take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Ahead of their third round of discussions, several leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc exuded confidence that they would prove to be a formidable opponent for the government.   https://opinionexpress.in/arvind-kejriwal-not-in-the-pm-race-aap Putting a rest to the speculation of resentment in the I.N.D.I.A, Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is not in the race for the prime minister's post. Talking to reporters here on the eve of the INDIA bloc meeting, Chadha also said that AAP decided to join the opposition alliance in a bid to strengthen it. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-is-favoured-by-80-indians-pew-report Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds about 80 per cent of Indians' favourable view and around seven in 10 Indians believe their country has recently become more influential, according to a survey by the PEW Research Center. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-raises-aksai-chin-issue-demands-pm-statement China (PRC) released a new "standard" map that shows Aksai Chin, which it occupied in the 1962 war, and Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as South Tibet, as part of its territory. The map also shows the entire South China Sea as part of China, as it had in previous editions. This has created a major furor in the world.  https://opinionexpress.in/jk-ut-status-is-temporary-centre-government The Modi Government told the Supreme Court that the union territory status of Jammu and Kashmir is not a “permanent thing” and that it will make an elaborate statement on the vexatious political issue in the court on August 31. https://opinionexpress.in/china-is-making-rubbish-claims-over-territories-jaishankar China released the 2023 edition of its “standard map” compiled based on the drawing method of national boundaries of China and various countries in the world. The map displayed by the Global Times showed Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as South Tibet, and Aksai Chin occupied by it in the 1962 war, news agency PTI reported. https://opinionexpress.in/center-to-inform-on-jk-statehood-timeframe-in-supreme-court The Central Government will on Thursday make a "positive statement" on the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the Supreme Court was told today after it asked for a "timeframe" for such a move. https://opinionexpress.in/ril-sets-the-roadmap-for-its-succession The board of Reliance met ahead of the company's annual general meeting to approve the appointment of twins Isha and Akash as well as Anant, as the "non-executive directors of the company," the firm said in a stock exchange filing. https://opinionexpress.in/china-ignites-fire-at-lac In a provocative stand, China has officially released the 2023 edition of its “standard map,” which shows the state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region as part of its territory. https://opinionexpress.in/chandrayaan-3-sends-first-scientific-data Vikram's lander touched down on August 23, making India the only country to land in the lunar South Polar region. The touchdown spot was later named Shiv Shakti point. https://opinionexpress.in/neeraj-chopra-scripts-history-yet-again The hero of Indian athletics Neeraj Chopra, is a world champion now. At the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on 27.08.2023, his javelin took flight and landed at a distance of 88.17m in his second attempt history was made by the 25-year-old from Haryana India. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khans-big-admission-in-missing-cypher-case As the legal problems compound for its former PM, Former Prime Minister Imran Khan admitted in jail to misplacing a confidential diplomatic cable as he was interrogated by Pakistan's top investigative agency at the Attock Jail in a case filed under the Official Secrets Act for wrongful use of the classified document, according to media reports on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-made-g20-summit-more-inclusive-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that India has made G20 Summit a more inclusive forum during its presidency. The G20 Summit will be held in Delhi next month. https://opinionexpress.in/it-department-launches-revamped-website In an effort to make the tax process seamless,  The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Nitin Gupta launched the newly revamped website at the 'Chintan Shivir', organised by Udaipur's Directorate of Income Tax (Systems). https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-35-trillion-economy-by-2047 India will take a giant leap to become one of the largest economies in the world soon. Union minister Piyush Goyal said India is aiming to go "from 3.5 trillion dollar economy to 35 trillion dollar economy in 25 years" by the time it celebrates its Independence centenary. Speaking at the NDTV conclave ahead of the G20 meet, Mr Goyal, who handles the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, said, "We are all optimist and young. The demographic profile of India is in its 30s, we will add 30 trillion dollars to India's economy in coming years." https://opinionexpress.in/pm-narendra-modi-at-isro-landing-spot-to-be-called-shiv-shanki-point Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today while addressing the scientists of ISRO in Bengaluru. that the spot on the Moon where Chandrayaan-3's lander Vikram touched down will be known as 'Shiv Shakti Point'.  https://opinionexpress.in/putin-likely-to-skip-g20-summit-in-india The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans to attend the G20 summit in India in September in person. https://opinionexpress.in/ramaswamy-stocks-are-soaring-in-the-us-prez-debates According to the Ramaswamy campaign, the 38-year-old presidential aspirant raised more than USD 450,000, with an average donation of USD 38, in the first hour after the debate. Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy's popularity rating and online fundraising surged on Thursday, a day after the maiden Republican presidential debate. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-arrested-released-on-bail In a major embarrassment to the US democratic system, Former US president Donald Trump was arrested at a Georgia jail Thursday on racketeering and conspiracy charges and released on $200,000 bond after having a historic mug shot taken. https://opinionexpress.in/brics-will-add-six-members-from-1-jan-2024 In an expansion of its influence areas, the BRICS grouping will invite six nations to become full members, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said this afternoon. These countries are Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and will join Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa, Mr Ramaphosa said, adding membership will take effect from January 1 next year. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-chandrayaan-3-first-to-land-a-craft-near-the-moon-south-pole In a remarkable feat, India's Chandrayaan-3 has landed near the Moon's south pole. The successful Moon mission has made India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface after the US, China, and the erstwhile Soviet Union, and the first to land a craft near the Moon's south pole. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-puts-brics-block-forward-to-sought-out-global-challenges Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BRICS leaders have discussed major global developments and leveraging the five-member bloc's platform to find solutions to global challenges during a key meeting here. https://opinionexpress.in/in-the-digital-era-a-pdf-file-could-be-remotely-hacked-from-an-iphone-or-pc In the age of the digital era, security has become a paramount concern for individuals and organizations alike. With the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, it is clear that no system can provide an absolute guarantee of 100% security. Despite the implementation of multiple layers of security measures, vulnerabilities can still exist. The reality is that hackers and malicious actors are constantly finding new ways to exploit weaknesses in systems. https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-the-moon It is perhaps the most important moment in the Indian space science journey. India made history at 6.04 pm this evening after Chandrayaan-3 completed a soft landing on the Moon's surface, becoming only the fourth nation - after Russia (then the Soviet Republic), the United States and China to achieve this feat. The touchdown process of the Vikram lander which contains the Pragya rover that will operate on the lunar surface for 14 days, gathering valuable scientific data began at 5.47 pm, triggering the '20 minutes of terror'. https://opinionexpress.in/gadar-2-success-brings-smile-in-bollywood "Gadar 2" has crossed Rs 400 crore mark at the domestic box office, the makers said Wednesday. Sunny Deol starrer, directed by Anil Sharma, the film is a sequel to the 2001 blockbuster "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha". The movie, a Zee Studios production, was released in theatres on August 11. https://opinionexpress.in/nmmc-tallest-flag-soars-by-day-tricolor-lights-shine-by-night Residents of Navi Mumbai gathered on Tuesday at Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Headquarters, Belapur to mark the nation's 77th anniversary of Independence. Flag hoisting was followed by patriotic songs and theatrical performances before Rajesh Narvekar, Commissioner at NMMC, addressed the audience. https://opinionexpress.in/chandrayaan-success-will-boost-indias-space-industry-globally Chandrayaan-3 success will alter the space business scene by 360^, analysts expect India's space sector to capitalise on a reputation for cost-competitive engineering. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had a budget of around just $74 million for the mission wherein NASA has a budget of $90 billion for a similar mandate. The space race India aims to win this week by landing first on the moon's south pole is about science, the politics of national prestige and a new frontier: money. https://opinionexpress.in/the-people-of-india-have-resolved-to-become-a-developed-nation-by-2047-pm PM Modi arrived in South Africa earlier on Tuesday to attend the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg from August 22-24 at the invitation of the country's president Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. This will be PM Modi's third visit to South Africa and the trip marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between India and South Africa. Indian PM congratulated the BRICS Business Council on its tenth anniversary and said that BRICS Business Council has played a very vital role in enhancing our economic cooperation. https://opinionexpress.in/mission-chandrayaan-in-the-final-stage-of-its-journey After a majestic and succesful liftoff, the Bahubali rocket, ISRO's formidable launch vehicle, Mark-3, propelled Chandrayaan-3 into orbit. The spacecraft embarked on numerous elliptical orbits around Earth, gradually building up momentum. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-squad-for-asia-cup-2023-announced-kl-rahul-shreyas-iyer-in As predicted by Opinion Poll on 19 Aug 2023: the Indian cricket team's Asia Cup 2023 squad was announced by captain Rohit Sharma and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar in a press conference today. KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah have made a comeback to the squad. https://opinionexpress.in/new-criminal-laws-to-be-in-place-by-year-end The Modi government is likely to push the new set of criminal laws in the next session of parliament in Nov/Dec. The country might get new criminal laws, through the three bills that will replace the IPC, CrPC, and the Evidence Act, by the end of this year as the committee tasked with examining it is trying to submit its report before the start of the Winter Session of the Parliament, which usually starts and ends in December, sources said. The government will try to get the bills passed in the parliament after discussion in the Winter Session itself, according to sources. https://opinionexpress.in/assessing-the-efficacy-of-international-economic-sanctions Introduction https://opinionexpress.in/vivek-has-risen-to-secnd-spot-in-us-presidential-race-for-repuplicans In an interesting development in US presidential race, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy find themselves tied for the second place in the Republican presidential field in a new poll, The Hill reported. https://opinionexpress.in/china-have-encroached-indian-land-rahul-gandhi In an attack on the current Modi government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is touring Ladakh, took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the PM’s claim that not an inch of land has been lost in the Union Territory “is not true”. He said the local people have confirmed that the “Chinese army entered our land”. https://opinionexpress.in/digital-india-is-a-role-model-for-rest-of-the-world-pm PM Modi addressed the G20 Digital Economy Ministers' Meet via video message today. He credited the launch of the Digital India initiative in 2015 for the unprecedented digital transformation that has taken place in India over the last 9 years. https://opinionexpress.in/dg-who-praised-india-for-advancing-health-coverage-and-schemes Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday praised India for advancing health coverage and schemes. Dr Tedros made the remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the ongoing G20 Health Ministers' Meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-prez-hopeful-vivek-offers-complete-new-dimension-to-ukraine-war In a twist of turn on the Ukraine war from an American perspective that is quite different from other US leaders, Indian-American lawmaker Vivek Ramaswamy has advocated for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict with Moscow keeping parts of Donbas region and Kyiv not joining NATO. https://opinionexpress.in/who-monitoring-new-covid-variant As the world s recovering from the impact of Covd-19 impact, the World Health Organization and US health authorities said Friday they are closely monitoring a new variant of Covid-19, although the potential impact of BA.2.86 is currently unknown. https://opinionexpress.in/rain-mayhem-in-himachal-pradesh Ina continued mayhem, the death count from the monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh climbed to 74 on Thursday, as rescue workers pulled out another body from the rubble of a Shiva temple in Shimla while two more were killed in Chamba. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-be-winning-150-seat-in-mp-digvijay-singh Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said the Congress is hopeful of a good show in the Assembly polls due later this year. "Our preparation is about 1.5 times better than it was in 2018," he said, adding that he won't be surprised if the party gets more than 150 seats in the 230-member assembly. https://opinionexpress.in/next-gen-iphone-15-takes-center-stage-in-indias-manufacturing-revolution World's largest market cap company Apple Inc.'s next-generation iPhone 15 is beginning production in Tamil Nadu India, in an effort to further narrow the gap between its India operations and main manufacturing base in China. https://opinionexpress.in/former-law-minister-hr-bhardwajs-ambitious-reforms-ipc-and-crpcs-untold-story HR Bhardwaj's tenure as the Law Minister holds a significant place in the annals of India's legal and political history while serving as the Law Minister from the early 1990s to 2009, Bhardwaj's vision and determination to reform and update the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were noteworthy. However, his pursuit of these reforms was hampered by the lack of political support within the Congress party during that period. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-in-top-gear-for-the-next-round-of-assembly-elections The BJP has called a meeting of its central election committee at its Delhi headquarters this evening while leaving no stone unturned in preparations for the Assembly polls due later this year. https://opinionexpress.in/tdp-will-take-a-call-to-join-nda-at-a-right-time-cb-naidu Amidst a buzz about Telugu Desam Party (TDP) joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) once again, Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the party President Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that he will talk about it at the 'right time'.. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-independence-day-2023 HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 2023 https://opinionexpress.in/trump-indicted-on-serious-charges-of-election-crimes In an escalation of trouble for the former US Prez Donald Trump, he was indicted Tuesday on charges of racketeering and a string of election crimes after a sprawling, two-year probe into his efforts to overturn his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden in the US state of Georgia. The case relying on laws typically used to bring down mobsters is the fourth targeting the 77-year-old Republican this year and could lead to a watershed moment, the first televised trial of a former president in US history. https://opinionexpress.in/demography-democracy-and-diversity-will-drive-india-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unfurled the flag at 7.30 at Delhi's Red Fort on the 10th occasion of his government. He is now addressing the nation. In a departure from his usual style, he today addressed the 140 crore Indian citizens as "parivarjan (family members)". Cabinet ministers, political leaders, all three service chiefs and bureaucrats are present for the occasion. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-strategic-relation-at-all-time-high-ro-khanna During the current visit to India, the Indian-American lawmaker said deeper cooperation between India and the US in areas of critical technologies and defence would be beneficial not only for the two countries but for the globe. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-strategic-airlift-amidst-the-lac-standoff In a tit-for-tat reply to the Chinese military establishment PLA, India while displaying its military prowess - the Indian Air Force has executed an awe-inspiring logistical feat, airlifting nearly 70,000 Army troops and heavy equipment to eastern Ladakh. This impressive effort was initiated as part of India's endeavors to bolster its operational preparedness in the region, which has remained under the shadow of a prolonged military standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). As the standoff entered its fourth year, India's proactive measures underscored its commitment to ensuring territorial integrity and safeguarding national security. This article delves into the multifaceted dimensions of this monumental airlift operation, examining its strategic significance, logistical intricacies, and broader implications on the India-China border dynamics. https://opinionexpress.in/chatgpt-in-financial-stress-reports ChatGPT became the fastest-growing app in history after its launch in November 2022, but after a record-breaking influx of users during their early stages, the company is seeing a gradual decline in user engagement over recent months. Data by SimilarWeb says that by July end the user base of ChatGPT dropped even further. https://opinionexpress.in/senator-anwaar-ul-haq-kakar-is-a-new-caretaker-pm-in-pakistan Turmoil is synonymous with Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riaz agreed on Saturday to name Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as caretaker premier to oversee elections, the Prime Minister’s office said. https://opinionexpress.in/government-proposes-stringent-laws-to-combat-crimes-against-women The new laws are drafted to combat crime against women, .marrying a woman by concealing identity or having intercourse under the false promise of marriage, promotion and employment will attract up to 10-year imprisonment with a bill introduced on Friday proposing a specific provision to deal with these offenses for the first time. https://opinionexpress.in/upgraded-air-force-deployment-in-jk-sector India has deployed upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets at the Srinagar air base to tackle threats from both the Pakistani and Chinese front. "Srinagar lies in the centre of Kashmir valley and its elevation is higher than plains. It is strategically better to place an aircraft with a higher weight-to-thrust ratio and less response time due to proximity to the border and is equipped with better avionics and long-range missiles. The MiG-29 fulfils all these criteria due to which we are capable of taking in the enemies on both fronts," Indian Air Force stated in an interview.. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-is-non-serious-on-the-manipur-issue-rahul After the no-confidence motion, stepping up the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said it does not behove the Prime Minister to laugh and crack jokes in Parliament when the state has been "on fire" for the past four months. https://opinionexpress.in/ipc-overhauled-replaced-by-new-set-of-laws-amit-shah The Modi government has introduced a bill for the complete overhaul of colonial-era Indian criminal laws. The Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. https://opinionexpress.in/major-transfer-of-hc-judges-by-sc Ina major judicial shake up, the Gujarat High Court judge who refused to pause Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark is among 23 judges recommended for transfer by the Supreme Court Collegium. Justice Hemant M Prachchhak, in a 123-page verdict in July, had rejected Rahul Gandhi's request, saying no case was made out to stay the conviction. https://opinionexpress.in/pitching-warm-up-exercises-now-available-on-dominate-the-diamond-a-great-aid-for-baseball-players Wednesday, 10 August 2023: Dominate The Diamond has come up with a new way to help baseball players which will especially prove helpful for pitchers. This bundle called the Arm Care, is designed to help pitching coaches with warm-up exercises. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-attacks-opposition-for-misleading-nation-no-confidence-motion-defeated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the No-Confidence Motion in parliament this afternoon turned out an occasion for scourging the Opposition and showcasing the achievements of the government. Such events are "lucky" for him, PM Modi said, for these turn out to be a test of the Opposition. The people judge them and return the BJP to power with a bigger mandate. "Whichever institution they speak against, their luck turns around... You have decided that NDA and BJP will return with a record mandate," he said. https://opinionexpress.in/eci-appointment-process-amended-through-a-bill The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Services and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, to come up in Rajya Sabha today, proposes that top Election Commission officers shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.  https://opinionexpress.in/pm-to-reply-on-no-confidence-vote-today-in-lok-sabha The much-awaited moment is likely to be witnessed in the parliament when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition parties in a bid to corner the government over the violence raging in Manipur. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-administrations-vision-for-the-needy-amit-shah-speaks-out In an aggressive stand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah -- responding today in a debate in parliament that has violence-hit Manipur at its centre -- focussed primarily on the government's welfare work for farmers, women and the poor. He also presented a report card of the Centre in terms of fighting Covid and the drugs menace. Speaking on behalf of the Centre, which has been accused of neglecting the northeastern state, Mr Shah said he has to focus on the government's "achievements" since the No-Confidence Motion against the Narendra Modi government is "politically motivated". https://opinionexpress.in/failure-of-rule-of-law-demanding-accountability-and-justice-for-the-manipur-incident As a society, it is unthinkable that even today women are used as a means to take revenge in a conflict. Women were paraded naked and the whole mechanism shamelessly remained a spectator until they saw the incident became viral and there was no other way to hide it. On the one hand, it shows the ugliness of a patriarchal overview of women and on the other hand, it exposes a grave failure of the rule of law and accountability within our society. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-government-murdered-india-in-manipur-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha today in a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government that BJP has "murdered India in Manipur" and is now trying to set Haryana on fire,  https://opinionexpress.in/chandrayaan-mission-largely-successful-isro-chief ISRO chairman S Somanath said  that Vikram, the lander of India's third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, will be able to make a soft landing on the Moon's surface on August 23 even if all the sensors and two of its engines do not work,  https://opinionexpress.in/judiciary-should-be-diverse-transparent-and-accountable-parl-committee The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, chaired by BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi, presented its 133rd report on "Judicial Processes and their Reform" to both Houses Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/heated-debate-on-the-no-confidence-motion-underway-in-the-lok-sabha Contrary to the expectation, Rahul Gandhi delayed his speech in the no-confidence motion. The debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government brought by the opposition alliance INDIA started amid loud sloganeering. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi opened the debate, with heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches. https://opinionexpress.in/vaibhav-to-be-the-new-cfo-of-tesla In a swift move at Tesla, Indian-origin Vaibhav Taneja has been named Tesla's new Chief Financial Officer as the previous finance chief Zachary Kirkhorn announced his decision to step down, the automaker said in a company filing on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/big-debate-in-parliament-on-manipur To corner the Modi government in the parliament and to build up a narrative for GE 2024, the Opposition's No-Confidence Motion against the Narendra Modi government will come up in parliament today - in the absence of the Prime Minister. Congress's Rahul Gandhi, freshly reinstated in parliament, will open the debate, sources have said. https://opinionexpress.in/nct-delhi-amendment-bill-passed-by-parliament To tame the AAP party in the national capital, the controversial Delhi Services Bill has been passed by Rajya Sabha today despite bitter resistance by the Opposition, following an exhaustive and bitter debate. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-nia-cop-three-hc-judges-42-sit-to-monitor-manipur-violence-sc The nation's top court Supreme Court today proposed a three-member committee headed by retired Jammu and Kashmir High Court chief Justice Gita Mittal to look at the humanitarian aspects while it appointed former Mumbai police commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar to supervise the CBI inquiry into the ethnic violence in Manipur and  https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-ls-membership-reinstated Suspended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was today reinstated to the parliament following a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark. Rahul Gandhi will be back in the Lok Sabha, representing his constituency Wayanad, at a time when the parliament has seen repeated disruptions over the Opposition bloc INDIA's demand for a dedicated discussion on violence in Manipur prefaced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the same. https://opinionexpress.in/vivek-ramaswamy-embraces-and-celebrates-his-hindu-heritage USA Prez candidate hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy is as comfortable talking about Bible stories as he is sharing the message of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most sacred Hindu texts. https://opinionexpress.in/pms-bold-vision-for-nations-transport-infrastructure-gets-underway In a push to develop world-class transport infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 state of art railway stations across the country via video conferencing. https://opinionexpress.in/x-to-cover-legal-cost-if-users-are-unfairly-treated In a decision to boost free speech, billionaire Elon Musk has announced that X, formerly Twitter, will now cover the legal costs of people who have been treated unfairly by their employers or companies because of their activities on the platform. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-arrested-and-debarred-from-politics Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was arrested today after a court sentenced him to three years in jail in a corruption case. An Islamabad trial court barred him from participating in active politics for five years. The 70-year-old politician, also a cricket legend,  was found guilty of illegally selling gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his term as prime minister. https://opinionexpress.in/efforts-intensify-to-quell-ongoing-unrest-in-manipur Manipur remains tense despite the security forces have created buffer zones to stop the violence. Three unarmed villagers, including a father-son duo, were killed in fresh violence in Manipur's Bishnupur district early this morning, according to witness accounts from locals. Suspected militants raided Ukha Tampak village near Kwakta in Bishnupur around 2 am and started firing indiscriminately, police sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/byjus-trouble-are-mounting-again One of the lenders in India's hottest tech startups, Byju's, created bogus default claims tied to a $1.2 billion loan as part of a scheme to gain control of the education technology provider, the firm's lawyer told a judge. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-stays-rg-conviction-in-modi-surname-defamation-case In a major relief for Rahul Gandhi, SC stays his conviction in Modi surname defamation case. It means his Lok Sabha membership will be restored with immediate effect.  https://opinionexpress.in/grandmaster-dommaraju-gukesh-is-indias-top-chess-player In a twist to Guru AND Disciple story, Chess Prodigy and Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh has now become India's top chess player, beating a live ratings record held by Viswanathan Anand for 36 years. This comes after the 17-year-old Gukesh qualified for the third round of the FIDE Chess World Cup, a major single-elimination tournament being held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Gukesh beat Misratdin Iskandaro to secure a live ranking of 2755.9, narrowly beating Anands 2754.0. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-reluctant-to-leave-china-after-pandemic Chinese Premier Xi's border visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in March has been his sole trip abroad, representing the shortest amount of time he's spent overseas in the first half of a year since taking power, excluding the pandemic. Just two days is all President Xi Jinping has spent outside his country this year, as mounting domestic problems from a faltering economy to rare political scandals demand the Chinese leader's attention at home. https://opinionexpress.in/nct-delhi-amendment-bill-2023-passed-by-parliament While introducing the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha, seeking to replace the ordinance for control of services in Delhi, he said, "This ordinance refers to the order of the Supreme Court which says that the parliament has the right to make laws on any issue related to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. There are provisions in the constitution that allow the centre to make laws for Delhi." https://opinionexpress.in/asi-is-free-to-survey-gyanvapi-mosque-high-court In a developing story, the Archaeological Survey of India will continue its survey to determine if the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi was built on a temple, the Allahabad High Court ruled today. The mosque committee had challenged the survey of the mosque, which is next to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-ambuja-cement-take-over-cement-maker-sanghi-industries In an announcement on Ambuja Cement, a part of Adani Group, today announced its acquisition of Sanghi Industries at an enterprise value of ? 5,000 crore. Soon after the acquisition, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said Ambuja Cement's promise to double its cement capacity by 2028 is on track. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-likely-to-have-red-carpet-welcome-in-india EV Automobile giant Tesla will have a red-carpet welcome from India for its proposal to invest in the country, while its largest rival in electric vehicles, China's BYD, has been stopped cold by increased scrutiny from New Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-a-rise-us-china-slips-in-the-global-rating-morgan-stanley Global rating agency Morgan Stanley has changed India's status to 'favorable' as it believes that the nation's reform and macro-stability agenda supports a strong capex and profit outlook. An overweight rating means that the firm expects India's economy to perform better in the future. The upgrade in the backdrop of US losing AAA status and the economic slowdown in China. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-constitutional-bench-starts-370-abrogation-hearing A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud today commenced hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Centre's August 5, 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370, a move that had come in for vicious attack by some major opposition parties but earned fulsome praise from those supporting the BJP. But who can recommend the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir when no constituent assembly exists there? The Supreme Court Wednesday put this question to the petitioners who have challenged the abrogation of the constitutional provision that bestowed special status on the erstwhile state. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-faces-78-criminal-cases The troubles for the former US Prez Donald Trump are mounting with the passing of every day. With his latest Justice Department indictment, former US President Donald Trump now faces a whopping 78 criminal counts. Trump has proclaimed his innocence, but if he were convicted and then sentenced to the maximum term for each count, he would theoretically face hundreds of years in prison. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-rebukes-manipur-government-calls-it-a-grave-constitutional-crisis the Supreme Court said today that there has been an absolute breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state for the past two months. The top court passed scathing remarks against the government over the ethnic violence in Manipur,  https://opinionexpress.in/modi-pawar-shares-stage-amidst-opposition-cry-to-boycott In yet another twist of Maharashtra's political journey, the seniormost leader of the opposition bloc Sharad Pawar, shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Maharashtra today, upsetting his allies and several other parties that had urged him to skip the event. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-party-is-responsible-for-the-north-east-unrest-assam-cm In an attempt to build a counter-narrative, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday alleged that the north-east region has suffered from "geographical isolation, political instability and imbalanced development" for 70 years due to the previous "Congress governments' intentional ploys to divide and rule". https://opinionexpress.in/communal-tensions-rock-haryana-authorities-on-high-alert Three people, including two Home Guards, were killed, and at least 45 others injured in clashes that broke out between two groups in Haryana yesterday. The clash started during a religious procession in Haryana's Nuh, adjoining Gurugram. https://opinionexpress.in/foxconn-to-set-up-another-facility-in-tamil-nadu In a big boost to the investment in T.T., The Tamil Nadu government has signed a deal with tech giant Foxconn for a ? 1,600 crore investment to manufacture mobile phone components in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/nct-bill-manipur-issue-likely-to-rock-parliament The Modi government is set to introduce a bill in parliament this week for control of services and officers' posting in Delhi, setting up the stage for a showdown with the opposition. The bill was earlier an ordinance. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill has become a rallying point for a united opposition against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). https://opinionexpress.in/manipur-viral-video-controversy-lands-at-sc After a gap of a few days, the action on Manipur viral video controversy has landed in the top court. The Supreme Court today will hear the center's request to transfer the case of two women being paraded naked in strife-torn Manipur to a different state. The two women filed petitions in the Supreme Court against the centre and the Manipur government. https://opinionexpress.in/are-khalistan-freedom-rallies-promoting-justice-or-spreading-propaganda Khalistan Freedom rallies are going to be held on July 8. Gurpatwant Pannu of Sikhs for Justice has announced that rallies will be held in front of Indian embassies around the world on July 8. https://opinionexpress.in/west-behind-drone-attacks-on-moscow-russia Russia's leadership has blamed the West for initiating drone attacks on its soil. Russian claims that three Ukrainian drones were downed over Moscow early Sunday, Russia's defense ministry said, in an attack that briefly shut an international airport. While one of the drones was shot down on the city's outskirts, two others were "suppressed by electronic warfare" and smashed into an office complex. No one was injured. https://opinionexpress.in/tharman-shanmugaratnam-launches-presidential-bid-to-shape-singapores-future Former Indian-origin minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam launched his presidential campaign, vowing to evolve Singapore's culture to maintain its global prominence. He emphasized the need to prevent societal divisions and expressed his commitment to be a unifying figure if elected. Tharman highlighted his experience in unifying people during his 22 years in politics and his capability to handle presidential responsibilities, including safeguarding reserves. He also stressed his integrity and independence of mind, which would remain unchanged. Tharman's background includes roles as Minister for Education, Finance, and Deputy Prime Minister, as well as positions in international organizations. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-unites-for-a-drug-free-future-dr-js-raju-spearheads-the-movement Dr. Jagmohan Singh Raju met Sh. Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister and thanked him on behalf of the people of Punjab, particularly Amritsar, for opening a unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at Amritsar. He also gave a representation suggesting more measures to mitigate the menace of drugs in Punjab: https://opinionexpress.in/team-bjp-2024-revamped Gearing up for the GE 2024 battle-ready mode, BJP president JP Nadda rejigged the list of the party's central office-bearers today, bringing in a Pasmanda Muslim from Uttar Pradesh as one of its Vice Presidents. Former Telangana unit chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar was appointed national general secretary of the BJP. There are 13 vice presidents, nine general secretaries, including BL Santhosh as the in-charge of the organisation, and 13 secretaries on the list. https://opinionexpress.in/uae-invites-indian-business-to-showcase-clean-tech-at-green-zone-in-cop28-consul-general-of-uae H.E. Mr. Abdulla Husein Salman Mohamed Almarzooqi, Consul General of UAE in Mumbai invited Indian businesses, government civil society and individuals for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) on climate change, which is scheduled from November 30th to December 12th, 2023 in Dubai.“The COP28 UAE Presidency believes that governments and the private sector must work closely together in order to address climate change. Through the Green Zone, the COP28 UAE Presidency offers the private sector the opportunity to showcase their contributions and solutions to the global climate challenge. Their innovative approaches, climate action technologies and entrepreneurship will constitute an important part of COP28. The Green Zone will also host technical conferences, panels, and activations with a focus on existing and future solutions to climate change mitigation,” H.E. Mr. Almarzooqi remarked at the official sideline event of COP28, which is part of the initiative of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The event was jointly organized by the UAE Consulate General in Mumbai, All India Association of Industries (AIAI), WTC Mumbai and the Indian Chamber of International Business (ICIB).H.E. Mr. Almarzooqi further remarked, “COP28 UAE is a milestone opportunity for the world to come together, course correct, and drive progress. As the first country in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement, the first to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions, and the first to announce a Net Zero by 2050strategy, the UAE is committed to raising ambition in this critical decade for climate action. COP28 will emphasize a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to climate action. Underscoring all efforts are the principles of transformation, solidarity, pragmatism, and inclusivity.”The consul general concluded his address by saying, “I commend the efforts of every delegate participating in COP28, as well as the countless individuals and organizations working tirelessly to combat climate change worldwide. Together, we have the power to shape the destiny of our planet. Let us embrace this responsibility with courage, determination, and solidarity. Let us turn the tide on climate change, ushering in an era of sustainability, and leave a legacy that future generations will be proud of.”Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, President - All India Association of Industries (AIAI), Chairman - WTC Mumbai remarked, “Climate change is the greatest challenge of humanity in the 21st century and every citizen should participate in combating this challenge. Developing smart cities is a solution to combat climate change. Rulers of ancient India have set illustrious examples of how to build environment-friendly drainage and sewerage systems. Our municipal authorities need to adopt these sustainable practices and also take strict action against unauthorized construction. Local authorities may consider the environmental impact of construction projects before giving approval. Government may also provide land and tax incentives for converting urban waste into power, fertilizer and other useful products.”Dr. Kalantri suggested industries use recycled materials as inputs in their manufacturing process to reduce wastage and conserve raw materials. There are proven methods to produce fiber and yarn from used clothes. Similarly,Dr. Kalantri pointed out that advanced countries such as the USA may implement capacity-building projects in low-income countries to facilitate their transition to sustainable development. Dr. Kalantri mentioned that we can collaborate with the UAE Consulate in Mumbai to conduct roadshow to promote the COP28 Summit that will be held in Dubai later this year.During the event, Prof Seema Unnikrishnan, National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai welcomed Government of India’s move to introduce a carbon credit market, which will be administered by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. She remarked, “I am confident that the new carbon market will add to the momentum gained from the already existing PAT scheme (Perform Achieve and Trade scheme) and incentivize obligated entities to reduce their carbon footprint.”In his welcome address, Mr. Manpreet Singh, President, ICIB pointed out, “This is the new beginning as we are here to prepare roadmap for collaboration to build a better planet. Global warming and natural disasters are costing lives, livelihood and loss to world GDP in enormous proportion. COP28 will shape dialogue on the role of business and civil society in addressing the greatest challenge of humanity, which is climate change.”During the event, Mr Chintan Oza, Regional Director – India, Founder Institute, Mr. Sandeep Goswami, Climate Science and Policy Professional and Mrs. Dhanashree Hardas, Chairperson - Environment committee, MACCIA raised awareness about the urgency of combating climate change with the support of business and civil society. https://opinionexpress.in/top-opposition-leaders-in-manipur In an attempt to assess the ground situation, a 21-member opposition delegation reached Manipur today in the northeastern state where ethnic violence has been raging for nearly three months. https://opinionexpress.in/india-brazil-to-counter-china-on-brics-expansion In a rapidly changing world order, India and Brazil are pushing back against a Chinese bid to rapidly expand the BRICS group of emerging markets to grow its political clout and counter the US, officials with knowledge of the matter said. https://opinionexpress.in/rare-discovery-of-600m-year-old-ocean-at-himalayas In a rare discovery.high up in the Himalayas, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Niigata University, Japan, have discovered droplets of water trapped in mineral deposits that were likely left behind from an ancient ocean which existed around 600 million years ago. https://opinionexpress.in/earth-burns-as-temperature-soars-to-over-50c-in-many-parts-of-the-globe Normally, the global mean temperature for July is around 16C (61F), inclusive of the Southern Hemisphere winter. But this July it has surged to near 17C (63F). This would be at least 0.2C (0.4F) warmer than July 2019, the former front-runner in the 174-year observational record, according to European Union data.  https://opinionexpress.in/ed-chief-gets-yet-another-relief Enforcement Directorate chief SK Mishra has got some reprieve from the Supreme Court, which said he can stay on till September 15, instead of the earlier deadline of July 31. https://opinionexpress.in/europe-to-levy-visa-on-us-citizens-from-2024 The privilege of free Visa travel for US citizens is coming to an end. US citizens currently enjoy visa-free access to most E.U. countries.   https://opinionexpress.in/bill-for-delhi-bureaucracy-control-gets-ysrcp-support In yet another bailout for the NDA government in the upper house, the Centre's bill for the control of services in Delhi is set to clear both houses of parliament with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party deciding to support the BJP-led government in parliament on two big votes, including a no-confidence motion on Manipur. https://opinionexpress.in/no-confidence-motion-against-government-admitted-in-lok-sabha Today, the lower house (Lok Sabha) speaker admitted the Congress motion seeking a no-trust vote over the ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur. The speaker is yet to announce a date for the vote. The violence in Manipur has been a key reason for the continuous logjam in both Houses of Parliament since the Monsoon Session began on July 20. https://opinionexpress.in/monsson-engulfs-entire-country-with-rain-fury The rain god has left the fury in north India and the scene has shifted to South India. https://opinionexpress.in/to-bring-pm-in-parliament-opposition-files-no-confidence-motion Opposition parties led by Congress have filed a no-trust motion against the Narendra Modi-led government in Lok Sabha amid a parliament impasse over Manipur. The ongoing ethnic clashes in Manipur have been a key reason for the continuous logjam in both of houses of Parliament since the Monsoon Session began on July 20. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-is-defeated-tired-hopeless-modi Taking a dig at the so-called opposition unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the opposition as "directionless" and cited the "Indian Mujahideen" and "Popular Front of India" as he derided the opposition alliance for its new name, INDIA. "I have never seen such a directionless opposition". https://opinionexpress.in/doval-talks-tough-with-chinese-diplomat India has acted tough with China and NSA has communicated that there will be no normalcy till the border dispute is resolved. The situation along the LAC, India's de-facto border, in the Western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship between the two countries, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval told top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi while discussing bilateral ties on the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS meeting in South Africa's Johannesburg on Monday, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-launch-seven-satellites-of-singapore In a boost to its growing space power in the world, India would launch PSLV-C56 carrying DS-SAR satellite of Singapore, along with six co-passengers, from the first launchpad of the ISRO's Sriharikota spaceport at 6.30 am on July 30. https://opinionexpress.in/byd-ev-proposal-rejected-tesla-gets-a-major-boost In a blow to the Chiese EV vehicle manufacturer, India rejected Chinese carmaker BYD Co.'s proposal to build a $1 billion electric-vehicle plant in partnership with a local company, according to people with knowledge of the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/accountability-is-key-for-any-success Let us face up to the reality of the losses on our borders and take some firm action rather than spend time concealing facts from the domestic audience  https://opinionexpress.in/adanis-on-track-with-the-copper-plant-production-unit In an attempt to overcome the troubles of recent times, Gautam Adani-led group's copper-producing factory at Mundra in Gujarat will start operations in March next year, helping cut India's dependence on imports and aiding the energy transition. https://opinionexpress.in/political-supremacy-is-the-reason-for-manipur-violence In a surprise resentment within the party, Manipur BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip, one of the 10 tribal legislators of the northeastern state who in May wrote to Chief Minister N Biren Singh demanding a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts in the state, has alleged "complicity of the state" in the ethnic violence as one of the reasons why it took time to be contained. "Proof of state complicity can clearly be discerned from the fact that what started out as a purely ethnic-communal violence was later on attempted to be portrayed by the Chief Minister as the state's war on 'narco terrorists'," Mr Haokip wrote in an opinion article for a leading publication house India Today. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-badminton-pair-clinch-korea-open-title Indian Badminton doubles pair of Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy beat world no. 1 Indonesian pair 17-21, 21-13, 21-14 in men's doubles final, clinch Korea Open Super 500 badminton title. The Indian pair, after losing the first set, showed remarkable improvement to down the top seeds Fajar ALfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto. https://opinionexpress.in/india-france-can-be-a-potent-force Together, the two countries can be an effective balancing power in the Indo-Pacific https://opinionexpress.in/goair-is-allowed-to-fly In a relief to the travellers due to the soaring air fare in India, Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday said it has approved Go First's plan to restart operations with 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights, subject to certain conditions. Budget carrier Go First, which stopped flying on May 3, is undergoing an insolvency resolution process. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-anf-jd-s-to-work-together-kumaraswamy In a developing story after the assembly elections in Karnataka, JD(S) leader and Karnataka's former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday declared that his party has decided to work together with the BJP as an opposition, in the interest of the state. https://opinionexpress.in/virat-regains-steam-to-score-ton-in-500-match Modern batting maestro Virat Kohli scripted history by becoming the first batter in the history of the sport to score a century in his 500th international match. Kohli got to his 29th Test century on Day 2 of the 2nd Test between India and the West Indies in Port of Spain. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-defeat-nda-in-ge-2024-mamta West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a resounding call of 'Jeetaga Bharat,' emphasising that her sole focus is on the "alliance's victory rather than seeking any post". While expressing unwavering confidence in the I.N.D.I.A. (Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance) to defeat the BJP in the 2024 elections,  https://opinionexpress.in/court-allows-scientific-survey-of-gyanvapi-mosque In a developing story, the Varanasi District Court today allowed a "scientific survey" of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), except the barricaded 'wazukhana' where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a 'shivling' exists, to find out as to whether the Mosque had been constructed over a pre-existing structure of the Hindu temple. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-issues-notices-to-purnesh-modi-and-gujrat-government-in-rahul-gandhis-appeal-in-defamation-case The Supreme Court of India sought responses from former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi and the state government on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's appeal challenging the high court verdict which dismissed his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. https://opinionexpress.in/chief-justice-of-india-stresses-equality-protocol-shouldnt-convey-privilege While taking a strong note of the indiscipline of a high court judge, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has written to Chief Justices of High Courts, taking exception to an instance of a judge calling for “explanation” about the inconveniences he faced during a train journey. The incident, Justice Chandrachud wrote, has given rise to “justifiable disquiet both within and outside the judiciary”. He also underscored the need for “self-reflection and counselling within the judiciary”.  https://opinionexpress.in/law-artificial-intelligence-justice Law is a matter of the heart, as well as the head. You have to have compassion; it is one of the greatest qualities. Lord Denning and Justice Krishna Iyer have both said that compassion is extraordinarily important in the law, amongst lawyers and particularly amongst Judges. One must be able to assess whether a person has something genuine to say in a case.-Fali Sam Nariman, Senior Advocate  https://opinionexpress.in/government-to-act-tough-on-twitter-for-the-viral-manipur-video The Union government is likely to take action against Twitter over the horrific Manipur video of two women being paraded naked by a group of men, which went viral on Wednesday, triggering waves of outrage and condemnation across the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-to-push-for-ai-based-applegpt The World's No1 company in terms of its market cap is getting ready for the integration of AI in its gadgets. Apple is developing its own artificial intelligence large language models internally as the competition in the AI landscape gets fierce. Cupertino has created a chatbot service, internally called “Apple GPT” by some engineers. https://opinionexpress.in/manipur-incident-is-a-gross-constitutional-violation-sc The Manipur government has launched a probe into a horrific video of two women being paraded naked on a road by a group of men. Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Biren Singh called it a "crime against humanity" and promised that the state will make all efforts to catch the culprits. "I have ordered a police probe in this case and am personally monitoring the investigation. It is a heinous crime against humanity and the state government will make all efforts to catch the culprits,"  https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-consolidates-nda-to-launch-ge-2024-pitch In the backdrop of the opposition meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the new Opposition Tuesday evening, declaring that alliances "built on negativity have never won". Without naming the fresh-minted I.N.D.I.A, PM Modi, addressing allies at the mega meet of NDA, said, "When an alliance is dynastic and corrupt, the country will lose". Against I.N.D.I.Which the opposition said will represent the voice of the nation – the Prime Minister spoke of Bharat, the poor and the backward classes whom the NDA represents. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-passport-is-poorly-ranked-in-the-global-standing The Indian government must do a serious soul-searching for being placed at a low level of passport ranking which reflects the power of the nation glocally.  The latest ranking published by Henley Passport Index, released recently puts India's passport at the 80th spot, moving it up five places from its position in 2022. Indians can now travel to 57 destinations without a visa. India's current rank ties it with countries like Togo and Senegal. https://opinionexpress.in/it-will-be-nda-vs-india-in-ge-2024 The Narendra Modi ouster is the single most important objective for the opposition parties sitting in Bengaluru. The focus of the discussion and the outcome of the opposition meeting is to give a tough fight against Narendra Modi-led NDA in GE 2024 so that an alternate government can be formed at the centre. The Opposition alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be named INDIA (Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance), the 26-member grouping of Opposition parties has decided. Meanwhile, addressing the second day of the Opposition unity conclave in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that his party was not interested in either power or the prime ministerial post. He added, “We’re aware of differences between some of us at the state level; these are not ideological” and that they were not so great that they couldn’t be put aside for the “sake of the people”. https://opinionexpress.in/nda-in-hurdle-to-counter-the-narrative-of-opposition-unity As the opposition parties are meeting in Bengaluru to strategize for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India, which are scheduled for the next year, 2024. the information available suggests that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is preparing for a significant display of strength in New Delhi,  https://opinionexpress.in/probe-panel-report-is-biased-wrestlers In a twist of turn, the women wrestlers have questioned the intent of the oversight panel that probed the sexual harassment accusations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and alleged that it was biased towards him, said the charge-sheet filed by the Delhi Police in the sensational case. https://opinionexpress.in/carlos-alcaraz-is-the-new-star-of-tennis-wins-wimbledon-title It was the dream match to watch. Djokovic said that he didn’t expect the Spaniard to play so well on grass this year. Alcaraz beat Djokovic 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to win his second Grand Slam title. https://opinionexpress.in/big-opposition-meet-in-bangalore-today All the top leaders of 24 opposition parties are expected to attend the meeting, called by the Congress, to chalk out a plan for the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. https://opinionexpress.in/global-warming-hitting-the-world-hard It is an indication of the worse things to come. Tens of millions were battling dangerously high temperatures in the United States on Saturday as record heat forecasts hung over Europe and Japan, in the latest example of the threat from global warming. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-likely-to-accept-indian-currency-for-trade-commerce As India pushes for the rupee to be the international currency, Sri Lanka would want to see the Indian Rupee used as much as the US dollar, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said, days ahead of his first official visit to New Delhi. President Wickremesinghe, also Sri Lanka's finance minister, made this remark while addressing the Indian CEO Forum this week. https://opinionexpress.in/major-agreements-signed-by-india-uae-in-upi-education-sectors Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who received him at the airport on his arrival from France for an official visit to the Gulf country. https://opinionexpress.in/growing-friction-china-accuses-us-of-provoking-space-militarization As tensions soar in the south pacific zone amid a freeze in military-to-military contacts, China is accusing the United States of militarising outer space, a day after it protested the passage of a US Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft through the Taiwan Strait. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-in-uae Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi today on a day-long visit to the UAE during which he will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and review the burgeoning bilateral ties between the two strategic partners. https://opinionexpress.in/singapore-minister-arrested-for-corruption-charges In a developing story, Singapore's transport minister has been arrested in connection with a rare top-level corruption probe that has ensnared a billionaire hotel tycoon, the country's anti-graft body has said. Transport Minister S. Iswaran was "arrested on 11 July 2023" and "subsequently released on bail", the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in an emailed statement late Friday, confirming the arrest for the first time. https://opinionexpress.in/chandrayaan3-is-a-new-chapter-in-indian-space-history-pm Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch as a "new chapter" in India's space odyssey and said it has elevated the dreams and ambitions of every Indian. https://opinionexpress.in/chandrayaan3-on-its-way-to-moon-isro While chasing history, India's Chandrayaan-3 lifted off from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, carrying the hopes of an entire nation. If successful, the mission will make India the fourth country to achieve a controlled landing on the moon, after Russia, the United States, and China. https://opinionexpress.in/france-confers-the-grand-cross-of-the-legion-of-honour-to-indian-pm-modi In a historic moment, French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to France. It is the highest French honour in military or civilian orders. With this, PM Modi becomes the first Indian PM to receive this honour. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-upi-to-be-used-in-france-pm-modi It is likely to be a game changer for the trade and commerce between the to countries, Resurgent India's most successful payments system UPI will be used in France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the Indian community in Paris today. "India and France have agreed to use UPI in France. In the coming days, it will begin from the Eiffel Tower, which means Indian tourists will now be able to pay in rupees," PM Modi said, referring to the Unified Payments System, or UPI. https://opinionexpress.in/narendra-modi-strong-push-for-permanent-membership-in-unsc Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India, now the most populous country, "needs to regain its rightful place", in a strong push for permanent membership of the country in the UN Security Council.  https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-hits-66k-mark Indian stock market benchmark hit their record high levels in intra-day trade on Thursday, with Sensex breaching the historic 66,000 mark for the first time following a rally in global markets amid moderating US inflation data. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-to-go-without-cm-face-in-chhattisgarh-elections Veteran BJP leader Raman Singh, three-time Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, won't be the BJP's face for the state elections due later this year, with the party opting to fight the polls "under collective leadership", sources have said. The BJP has decided to fight the Chhattisgarh state assembly elections without a Chief Ministerial candidate, a move unprecedented in the party's history in the state, according to party insiders. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-to-make-a-big-time-entry-in-india-musk EV automobile market leader Tesla has started discussions with the Indian government for an investment proposal to set up a car factory in the country, with an annual capacity of as many as 500,000 electric vehicles,  The prices for the electric vehicles would start from 2 million rupees ($24,400.66), the report added. https://opinionexpress.in/cybercrime-must-be-nailed-for-securing-a-peaceful-future-amit-shah Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said cybercrimes pose a major threat to the security of citizens across the globe in a rapidly advancing borderless digital arena. He also said that a reliable global partnership is the key to effectively combatting this menace. https://opinionexpress.in/online-gaming-is-put-at-28-gst-tax-net The latest GST Council meeting has announced that the bets placed in online gaming and casinos will now face 28 percent tax. Among the other changes announced by the council were the reduction of tax on food and beverages sold at multiplexes, and tweaking the definition of utility vehicles for taxation. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-directors-third-term-invalid-sc In a setback to the central government, while declaring as “not valid in law” the two tenure extensions granted by the government to Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Director of Enforcement Directorate, beyond the September 8, 2021 cut-off date it had fixed, the Supreme Court Tuesday said he can continue on the post only until July 31. https://opinionexpress.in/rain-havoc-across-north-india In an unusual trend of Monsson rains in India this year, rains for a fourth consecutive day led to several deaths, landslides, and destruction across North India. The scale of the damage in the entire region has been captured in visuals of bridges being swept away, boulders tumbling down hills due to rain-induced landslides, and vehicles swallowed by the gushing waters. https://opinionexpress.in/wfi-chief-summons-by-delhi-court WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh may be running for some serious trouble. The wrestling federation of India chief accused of alleged sexual harassment by several athletes has been summoned to Delhi's Rose Avenue court on July 18. The court said there was sufficient evidence to proceed against the accused. https://opinionexpress.in/prime-minister-urges-political-integrity-unveils-plan-to-tackle-corruption-in-congress Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, alleging that corruption was its biggest ideology, and said the grand old party cannot breathe without it. Modi said if Congress is a guarantee for corruption, he is a guarantee for action against graft. https://opinionexpress.in/set-back-for-rahul-gandhi-in-the-gujrat-high-court Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will remain disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP after a Gujarat High Court today rejected his request to put on hold his conviction in a defamation case over his 2019 Modi surname remark. The conviction is "just, proper and legal", the High Court said.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-have-zero-tolerance-policy-on-any-separatist-movement-mea While taking a strong view of the poster war initiated by Khalstani separatists, for inciting violence against Indian diplomats surfaced in Canada and a few other countries, India on Thursday said such activities are not at all acceptable. https://opinionexpress.in/ucc-process-underway-bjp a process on the issue of adopting the UCC  is underway and people should wait for its outcome. Without giving a timeline for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the BJP on Thursday said  While addressing a press conference here, BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also accused the Congress-led Government at Chattisgarh of causing a revenue loss of  RS 2,061 crore to the state treasury by  “blessing” the liquor mafia in the state. He said those involved in the liquor scam are close to the state Chief Minister. Answering a question on the UCC  the former minister said the commitment to the implementation of  UCC  has been a part of the ruling party's manifesto."A process is on. You should wait for its outcome," he said while replying to a question at the conference. https://opinionexpress.in/tanzania-will-get-first-overseas-iit-campus The first IIT campus outside India will come up in Tanzania's Zanzibar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for the setting up of a campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar, which is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-politics-is-deeply-rooted-in-corruption Politics and cinema are two factors that are intertwined in Tamil Nadu. Since 1967, when the DMK formed the first non-Congress Government, cinema and politics rule the roost of Tamil politics. It all started with CN Annadurai, the DMK chief, who became the first non-Congress chief minister of the State. After his two-year-long tenure was cut short by terminal illness, Muthuvel Karunanidhi was anointed as chief minister. Karunanidhi used cinema and dramas to propagate his style of politics embellished with bribery and freebies. No DMK representative in the Union Cabinet (1996-98, 1999-2004 and 2004-2013) was free of corruption charges which earned the party the unprecedented reputation of an outfit with “DNA of corruption in its genes”. The Justice Ranjit Singh Sarkaria Commission of Inquiry, appointed by the Indira Gandhi regime in 1976 to probe corruption charges against Karunanidhi, found out that there were “cogent, convincing and reliable” pieces of evidence against him and described Karunanidhi as an expert in scientific corruption. Propensity to corruption was the basic requirement to get admission to Karunanidhi’s heart, said MG Ramachandran who was ousted from the DMK for questioning the impropriety of the K-clan members. Though MGR’s tenure as CM was bereft of any charges of corruption, his successor Jayalalithaa was embroiled in a series of such cases and the Supreme Court itself upheld the verdict sentencing her to four years’ imprisonment. https://opinionexpress.in/sebi-to-strengthen-cyber-security Indian Stock Markets watchdog Sebi has proposed a consolidated cyber security and cyber resilience framework wherein all regulated entities need to put in place an up-to-date cyber crisis management plan. https://opinionexpress.in/india-strongly-condemns-khalistani-activities-in-canada In an ongoing unacceptable anit India activities perpetrated by radical elements in the Western countries, its activities and poster has sparked outrage across India by calling India's High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava as "killers" of the Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. https://opinionexpress.in/threads-offers-direct-challenge-to-twitter Zuckerberg-owned Meta today launched Threads, an app designed as a direct rival to Twitter, ramping up the rivalry between billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. On Threads, people can post text and links and reply to or repost messages from others. https://opinionexpress.in/maruti-suzuki-sets-suv-invicto-on-road Top car maker in India Maruti Suzuki India launched the Invicto today, its most expensive car in India yet. The car is a rebadged version of the Toyota Innova HyCross MPV, launched last year. The Invicto is yet another product after the partnership between Maruti and Toyota Kirloskar began in 2016 and was formalised in 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-gears-up-for-chandrayaan-3-launch The Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) today mated the encapsulated assembly containing Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft with LVM3, its new heavy-lift launch vehicle, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. https://opinionexpress.in/rival-camps-in-ncp-to-showcase-strength-in-mumbai-today The war-torn two NCP factions will hold key meets in Mumbai today to demonstrate that the bulk of the party's legislators are with them. The party has been in firefighting mode since Ajit Pawar rebelled and joined the Maharashtra government last week.The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has issued a whip to all its legislators asking them to attend a key meeting at 1 pm at Mumbai's Nariman Point today.The whip was issued by Jitendra Awhad, who was named as the party's chief whip on Sunday. Supporters have put banners outside Sharad Pawar's residence asking people to come to support the "83-year-old warrior who is fighting alone". https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-government-to-protests-over-quran-desecration-in-sweden The Pakistan federal government will officially observe Yaum-e-Taqaddus-e-Quran on Friday to hold countrywide protests against the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and convene a joint parliamentary session a day earlier, The decision was made during a meeting that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over to talk about the problem of the Holy Quran's desecration in Sweden. https://opinionexpress.in/government-will-be-facilitator-not-the-regulator-for-the-start-ups-goyal The Indian government will always act as a facilitator to strengthen the startup ecosystem and not act as a regulator, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. He said that stakeholders of this ecosystem will do self-regulation. https://opinionexpress.in/there-is-no-alternative-to-modi-ajit-pawar Newly appointed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said there is no leader like PM Narendra Modi. https://opinionexpress.in/sco-must-take-aggressive-stand-against-terrorism-pm-modi In yet another serious attack with reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told leaders of the SCO nations that "there must not be any double standards in combating terrorist activities" and the "bloc must not hesitate to criticise countries that support cross-border terrorism as part of state policy". https://opinionexpress.in/lalu-prasad-attacks-modi-for-demolishing-democracy Veteran leader RJD president Lalu Prasad alleged that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-led government in Maharashtra at a time when opposition leaders came together to fight the assault on democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/india-urges-foreign-countries-not-to-give-space-to-extremist-khalistani-ideology Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to "extremist Khalistani ideology" as it is "not good" for relations. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-questions-anil-ambani-for-fema-violation In a developing story, Industrialist Anil Ambani was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate today in an alleged case filed under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, sources said. The chief of Reliance Group had reached the offices of the agency in Mumbai at 10 am and left after recording his statement. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-connecting-entire-south-asia-with-a-road-link-gadkari In an effort to launch India as a global power, the Indian government is working on connecting south Asian countries with India to boost trade and commerce. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said. that around 70 percent of construction work on the ambitious India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway has been completed,  https://opinionexpress.in/jack-mas-surprise-visit-to-pakistan-sparks-excitement-and-optimism In a surprise move, Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, has created a stir among observers with his unexpected visit to Pakistan, according to the Express Tribune newspaper. https://opinionexpress.in/ucca-political-pandoras-box If the government obtained parliamentary nod  for the UCC, it is likely to position it as a central issue in the upcoming  state elections, with the hope of capitalizing on it in the next year’s Lok Sabha polls, writes Navin Upadhyay https://opinionexpress.in/sharad-pawars-ncp-flys-from-mva-to-nda-ajit-pawar-to-be-the-new-dy-cm It is the biggest setback for aging Sharad Pawar in Maharastra. The party he nurtured has been broken by his confidant and he is left with no political legacy to boost off.  https://opinionexpress.in/freebie-is-a-cheap-recipe-to-win-elections-pm The election-bound Madhya Pradesh will see freebies galore from all the political parties. The launch of a new healthcare programme in Madhya Pradesh played host to a fresh attack by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the opposition over promises of so-called "freebies" like water and electricity that have sponsored a string of state election defeats for his party BJP, most recently in Karnataka. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-a-dominants-factor-in-middle-east-us-magazine In a compliment to the aggressive foreign policy followed by the Narendra Modi government in New Delhi for the last decade, an article in Foreign Policy, a noted US magazine focused on global affairs, has cited the emergence of India as a "major player" in the Middle East as one of the most interesting geopolitical developments in the region in years. The write-up highlighted New Delhi's deep and growing ties with major countries in the region, including Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to assert that the evolution of India's place reflects the changing international order and the willingness -- perhaps even eagerness -- of these nations to benefit from the new multipolarity. https://opinionexpress.in/rioters-burns-france Finally, the policy of liberal immigration and the so-called Western notion of human rights have come back to haunt Europe. France is burning, the government deployed 45,000 officers backed by light armoured vehicles to tackle a fourth straight night of violent protests after the fatal police shooting of a teenager. Crack police units and other security forces fanned out across the country to quell violence and rioting over the shooting, which took place during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-dials-putin-for-update-on-current-affairs-g20 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation around Ukraine and how Moscow had resolved an armed mercenary mutiny in a telephone call today. The Kremlin said that PM Modi had expressed support for what the Kremlin called the Russian leadership's decisive actions in handling the mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group last Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/hdfc-breaks-into-ranks-of-worlds-most-valuable-banks In a moment of pride for every Indian, a homegrown Indian company will for the first time rank among the world's most valuable banks after completing a merger, marking a new challenger to the largest American and Chinese lenders occupying the coveted top spots. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-government-set-for-major-cabinet-reshuffle-new-faces-expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on July 3, a development which comes against the backdrop of hectic meetings of the ruling BJP's top brass amid a buzz over a Cabinet reshuffle and organisational changes. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-honours-veteran-101-year-old-sikh-world-war-ii-warrior PIO/NRI community continues to bring pride to the motherland. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has honoured Rajindar Singh Dhatt, one of the last surviving Sikh soldiers who fought in the Second World War with a Points of Light honour at a UK-India Week reception at 10 Downing Street. https://opinionexpress.in/massive-shake-up-expected-in-bjp-government-and-organizational-overhaul-imminent Sources said that all the senior BJP leadership held a meeting last night to discuss the strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The meeting, held at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda and other senior party leaders. The meeting comes just days after Prime Minister Modi returned from the US. Sources also said that a major reshuffle may have been discussed at the meeting that lasted for over five hours. https://opinionexpress.in/pv-commitment-to-indias-development-is-noteworthy-narendra-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi today remembered former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary and mentioned that Narasimha Rao's "far-sighted leadership" and his "commitment to India's development was noteworthy". https://opinionexpress.in/khalistan-issue-has-impacted-ties-with-canada-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Canada's response to the Khalistani issue appeared to be constrained by its "vote bank compulsions" and India will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security and integrity,  https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-at-all-time-high-breaches-64k-mark The Indian benchmark equity indices hit their lifetime high levels on Wednesday, with the Sensex reaching the record 64,000-mark and the Nifty scaling the 19,000 level in intra-day trade, propelled by fresh foreign fund inflows and a rally in the US and European markets. https://opinionexpress.in/muslim-law-board-in-huddle-after-pm-bats-for-ucc Within a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, India's top Muslim body, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, held an emergency meeting last night. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-strong-pitch-for-ucc Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for the uniform civil code (UCC), saying the Constitution mentions having equal rights for all citizens. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-cm-house-renovation-to-be-probed-by-cag In yet another controversy involving the AAP party, the expenses made to renovate Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bungalow will be probed by the country's top auditor, sources said today, after a months-long controversy. The Union Home Ministry has ordered the audit following a letter from Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena alleging gross irregularities, sources said. Denying allegations of irregularities, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has accused the Centre of targetting political opponents. https://opinionexpress.in/armed-rebellion-against-russian-state-is-instigated-by-western-forces-putin A visibly relaxed Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine and its Western allies of wanting Russians to "kill each other" during a revolt by mercenaries of the Wagner group, which stunned the country with an aborted march on Moscow over the weekend. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-unity-index-gets-another-hit-now-it-is-tmc-vs-congcpi-m In the aftermath of the mega opposition meeting in Patna, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the role of CPI (M) and Congress, saying despite her efforts to form a grand opposition alliance against the BJP at the Centre, their actions as playing second fiddle to the saffron camp in the state are throwing a spanner in the efforts. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-relationship-is-among-the-most-consequential-in-the-world-joe-biden In a reaffirmation after the departure of the Indian PM from the USA. The US president has summed up the agenda with a tweet that the "US-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world with bilateral ties more dynamic than ever". https://opinionexpress.in/wrestler-to-give-up-road-protest-fight-legal-battle After a huge uproar over WFI chief ouster and conduct, wherein some of India's top women wrestlers accused their politically powerful federation chief of sexual harassment and sparked a nationwide protest movement, they announced on Sunday that they were moving their campaign to the court now. https://opinionexpress.in/g-20-summit-boosts-goas-global-tourist-destination-ambition The G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting has put a new perspective on Goa's ambition to promote the destination globally. Goa is now set to put its best foot forward for two more crucial events of the influential bloc in July. Dubbed the 'Pearl of the Orient', Goa's captivating beaches and sunny skies attract tourists from within the country and abroad. The past three months, however, witnessed a different sight as delegates from G20 countries convened for the fourth and final G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting and the G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/narendra-modi-gets-egyptian-highest-state-honour Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received Egypt's highest state honour, 'Order of the Nile', from Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is the 13th such highest state honour that various countries across the world have conferred upon PM Modi. https://opinionexpress.in/india-welcome-monsoon Heavy rain lashed Delhi and Mumbai overnight as the monsoon reached both cities together in a rare event. While it hit the national capital two days earlier than scheduled, its entry into Mumbai is two weeks late, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD). https://opinionexpress.in/narendra-modis-us-state-visit-paves-the-way-for-global-cooperation In the realm of international diplomacy, state visits play a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations between nations. The relevance of an official state visit by a major global leader to the United States lies in its potential to strengthen bilateral relations, promote dialogue on key issues, and enhance cooperation in various fields. State visits provide an opportunity for leaders to engage in high-level diplomacy, exchange ideas, and foster mutual understanding. It serves as a platform to address shared challenges, expand trade and economic partnerships, and coordinate efforts on global matters such as climate change, security, and human rights. Overall, state visits contribute to the maintenance and advancement of international relations in an increasingly interconnected world. https://opinionexpress.in/truce-with-militia-leader-yevgeny-gives-breather-to-kremlin In a major relief to Kremlin, Militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin who turned his Wagner force against the military leadership in Moscow, will leave for Belarus and a criminal case against him will be dropped, the Kremlin said Saturday. "Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-mercenary-group-launches-lethal-attack-near-moscow Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces won't surrender after Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced their military rebellion as "treason" in a crisis that's rapidly spiraling into the most serious threat to the Kremlin leader's authority in decades. The insurrection is without precedent in Putin's nearly quarter-century rule in Russia, jolting a country simultaneously trying to sustain a war in Ukraine that's the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.  https://opinionexpress.in/major-rebellions-in-russia-by-mercenary-groups In a major twist in the ongoing Ukraine war, Russian authorities said that security measures had been tightened in several regions after the chief of the mercenary group Wagner said his forces had crossed the border from Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin vowed to "go to the end" to topple the Russian military leadership, whom he accused of launching strikes on his men, while the country's prosecutor general said he was under investigation for "armed rebellion". https://opinionexpress.in/g20-meet-success-proved-peace-prevails-in-kashmir-amit-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was peaceful now and the successful hosting of a G20 meeting in Srinagar proved it. Inaugurating or laying foundation stones of various development projects in Kashmir Valley, Shah said that development funds used to go into the pockets of a few earlier but now all those deserving are getting the fruits of development. https://opinionexpress.in/together-we-will-defeat-bjp-in-ge-2024-united-opposition All major opposition parties have agreed to contest elections together, but one more meeting will be held next month in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla to finalise details, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was the host of the big Opposition meeting of 16 parties, said soon after the four-hour-long meeting. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK head MK Stalin were absent from the joint press conference, though Nitish Kumar claimed they left because they had to rush to their flights back. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-showcase-indias-strength-to-the-us-congress In an almost one-hour speech to the US Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon a variety of themes. They were met with applause and standing ovation several times by the US Congress members, including Vice President Kamala Harris. https://opinionexpress.in/anti-bjp-forces-gather-to-set-up-agenda-for-ge-2024 In a buildup to the GE 2024 fight against Narendra Modi-led NDA, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed confidence that opposition parties will fight like a family and take on the BJP "one to one". https://opinionexpress.in/major-tech-engagements-between-india-and-the-us Technology and business have taken a new high between India and the US. In a massive push to the Narendra Modi government's Make In India pitch, General Electric's aerospace arm announced today that it has teamed up with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to make fighter jet engines for Indian Air Force in India. The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Modi's meeting with General Electric chairman H Lawrence Culp Jr in Washington. They discussed GE's greater technology collaboration to promote manufacturing in India," the PMO tweeted. https://opinionexpress.in/a-major-chink-in-the-opposition-unity-emerges-before-23-june-patna-meeting The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has threatened to skip tomorrow's pivotal opposition meeting if the Congress does not back its campaign against a contentious central government ordinance that aims to reshape Delhi's administrative services, sources said on Thursday. The move risks derailing efforts by India's splintered opposition to come together and strategise for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. https://opinionexpress.in/federal-structure-of-governance-must-be-strictly-adhere-for-comprehensive-growth-siddaramaiah During his first formal visit to Delhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he has told Union Home Minister Amit Shah that there should be no "hate politics", in the supply of rice to the state, for a scheme aimed at the poor. https://opinionexpress.in/meetings-joint-press-conference-address-to-the-joint-session-of-us-congress-planned-for-modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will be taking questions from the press on Thursday, the White House has confirmed, terming it a "big deal". John Kirby, the White House's national security spokesperson, said, "We are just grateful that Prime Minister Modi is participating in a press event at the end of the visit. We think that's important and we're glad he thinks that's important too." https://opinionexpress.in/pm-showcases-indias-soft-power-to-the-world-in-the-new-york-yoga-event Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his second day in the US by leading the mega yoga event at the United Nations building in New York on International Yoga Day.  https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-likely-in-india-soon-eon-musk Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk today as he began his landmark three-day state visit to the US. "I'm a fan of Modi," Musk told reporters after the meeting. It was a fantastic meeting with the Prime Minister and I like him quite a lot. He visited our factory a few years ago. So, we have known each other for a while," Musk said. "I am incredibly excited about the future of India. I think India has more promise than any large country in the world." https://opinionexpress.in/india-stands-for-peace-modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India stands on the side of peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. In an interview with WSJ ahead of his departure for a historic State visit to the US, PM Modi said that when it comes to the Ukraine conflict, "Some people say that we are neutral. But we are not neutral. We are on the side of peace." https://opinionexpress.in/modis-visit-to-the-us-boosts-trade-and-defense-ties-with-key-global-partner Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the US today on a landmark state visit - the highest diplomatic reception reserved for closest allies. An unprecedented deal on jet engine technology transfer is also expected during the visit. https://opinionexpress.in/blinken-china-visit-has-broken-the-ice-for-future-cooperation-biden The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken got a muted reception when he arrived in Beijing: a lone Foreign Ministry official there to meet him and no red carpet, just red lines on the runway that social media users joked were a symbol of China's unwillingness to compromise on issues like Taiwan. https://opinionexpress.in/ravi-sinha-is-appointed-as-raw-chief The government of India has taken a crucial decision related to the country's security apparatus. Senior IPS officer Ravi Sinha was on Monday appointed as the chief of the country's external spy agency RAW, succeeding Samant Kumar Goel who will complete his four-year tenure on June 30, an official order said. https://opinionexpress.in/democracy-20-modernizing-the-democratic-process-for-betterment-of-the-country All political parties must learn to adhere to the best practices of parliamentary protocol and work for the welfare of the people in tandem https://opinionexpress.in/aap-decides-free-broadcast-of-gurbani-from-harmandir-sahib To break the syndicated stronghold of Akalis over the apex Sikh committee SGPC,  The Bhagwant Mann cabinet in Punjab will formalise a decision that the broadcast of Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar should be made free. Chief Minister Mann, who contends that Gurbani is everyone's right and it should be free of cost, made the announcement in a tweet. https://opinionexpress.in/special-welcome-awaits-narendra-modi-on-his-next-us-state-tour Already soaring friendship between India and USA will witness on June 22 that Washington will roll out the red carpet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making him just the third world leader, after France's Emmanuel Macron and South Korea's Yoon Suk Yeol, to be invited by President Joe Biden for a state visit and dinner -- the highest ranked diplomatic reception typically reserved for only the closest of allies. https://opinionexpress.in/heat-wave-grips-north-central-india As the summer peaks in India, there has been no relief from scorching heat as several parts of the country continue to reel under intense heat waves. In its latest notification, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in various regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana among others.  https://opinionexpress.in/us-fed-keeps-interest-rates-unchanged To tame the inflation and keep the growth rate buoyant, the US Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday after having raised it 10 straight times to combat high inflation. But in a surprise move, the Fed signaled that it may raise rates twice more this year, beginning as soon as next month. https://opinionexpress.in/doval-calls-for-adoption-of-cutting-edge-technologies-for-citizens-welfare A key player of the team Modi set up National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on India Inc to focus on bringing in critical and emerging technologies and make its workforce globally competitive to take forward the country's development trajectory. https://opinionexpress.in/landmark-visit-pm-modis-usa-trip-paves-the-way-for-unprecedented-collaborations-jaishankar While narrating the extreme importance of PM's state visit to the US, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to the US will have "significant outcomes",  He was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a function in Delhi, he also said that it will be the first time that an Indian prime minister will be addressing the US Congress twice. https://opinionexpress.in/transnational-titans-american-business-organizations-thriving-in-india In recent years, American business organizations have been making waves in the Indian market, establishing themselves as transnational titans. The economic landscape in India has undergone a significant transformation, presenting lucrative opportunities for international companies to expand their operations and tap into the vast consumer base of over 1.3 billion people. With their robust strategies, innovative approaches, and deep-rooted expertise, American companies have managed to navigate the complexities of the Indian market and emerge as thriving entities. https://opinionexpress.in/ahead-of-pm-visit-usa-enhances-green-card-eligibility-for-indian-citizens In a goodwill gesture to improve the bilateral relationship between the two friendly countries, the Biden administration has eased norms by releasing policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for those waiting for green cards to work and stay in America, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host PM Modi at a state dinner on June 22. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-delivers-nuclear-weapons-to-belarus-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has delivered its first tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, three months after announcing the plan that threatens to ratchet up tensions with the US and its allies over the war in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-worried-about-the-opposition-unity-nitish In a renewed pitch, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has caused a flutter by predicting early Lok Sabha polls, on Friday asserted that the possibility arose out of the ruling BJP's fears of his opposition unity drive gaining momentum. https://opinionexpress.in/manipur-is-a-sad-tale-of-violence The problems are in plenty in Manipur. At least two houses were set on fire by a mob here on Thursday afternoon a day after an attack in the Khamenlok area left nine people dead and injured ten others, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-biparjoy-leaves-trail-of-destruction-in-gujrat Nature fury has engulfed two people died and 22 were injured as cyclonic storm Biparjoy wreaked havoc in Gujarat on Thursday, uprooting trees, and damaging several vehicles and houses. The cyclone is likely to weaken into a depression this evening over Rajasthan. https://opinionexpress.in/separatist-amritpal-singhs-close-aide-dies-in-london In a strange coincidence, Khalistani separatist Avtar Singh Khanda, a close associate of jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh, died today in the UK. Sources say Avtar Singh Khanda was admitted to a Birmingham hospital after he complained of uneasiness on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-to-scrap-anti-conversion-law-in-karnataka In a developing story that might have a national bearing, the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah has decided to scrap the law against religious conversion introduced by the previous BJP government. https://opinionexpress.in/wfi-chief-brij-bhushan-to-face-sexual-harassment-and-staking-charges-police In a breaking story, Wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will face sexual harassment and stalking charges, the Delhi Police said today after filing a 1,000-page report on its investigations into allegations that triggered massive protests by wrestlers. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP MP, will face charges like "outraging the modesty of a woman", which is non-bailable, besides sex harassment and stalking, both bailable offenses. https://opinionexpress.in/democracy-takes-center-stage-in-thailand The rise of the Move Forward Party and its dynamic leader Pita eclipses the Thaksin family aura, giving Thailand a chance at democratic transformation https://opinionexpress.in/severe-cyclone-bipajoy-to-hit-gujrat-tonight More than q lakh people have been shifted to shelters from Gujarat's coastal region ahead of cyclone Biparjoy's expected landfall in the Kutch district this evening. Orange and yellow alerts have been issued in several districts of the state. https://opinionexpress.in/inflation-rate-in-india-drops-to-three-year-low-confirms-rbi According to the RBI's latest survey, the wholesale price-based inflation rate declined by (-) 3.48 percent in May, a 3-year low, on easing prices of food, fuel and manufactured items. The wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation rate has been in the negative territory for the second straight month. In April it was (-) 0.92 percent. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-strategic-partnership-reaches-unprecedented-heights-us-ambassador US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti praised National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, calling him an "international treasure". Highlighting Ajit Doval's humble origins as a village boy from Uttarakhand, the envoy said, "India's NSA has not only become a national treasure but an international treasure". The envoy also expressed admiration for the strong foundation between the United States and India. https://opinionexpress.in/gujrat-braces-itself-for-major-cyclone-authorities-on-alert Major Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make landfall in Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch regions and adjoining Pakistan coasts on Thursday. The storm is currently located over the east-central Arabian Sea, about 350 kilometers southwest of Porbandar. https://opinionexpress.in/defiant-trump-targets-joe-biden-of-running-corrupt-and-vindictive-government Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to dozens of criminal counts of mishandling some of the US government's most sensitive secrets and scheming to prevent their return, in a historic first court appearance as a federal defendant. The former president who is a favorite to fight next year's election for the Republicans gave himself up to US Marshals in Miami for a hearing that set up the unprecedented scenario of a White House race litigated from the courtroom as well as at the ballot box. https://opinionexpress.in/diplomacy-will-see-biden-family-to-host-inner-for-modi-on-june-21 The Biden family is planning to host an intimate dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 21, a day before the much-in-demand State Dinner at the White House, a senior administration official has said. Modi has been invited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for an official state visit. https://opinionexpress.in/jack-dorsey-expose-on-farmers-protest-creates-huge-uproar-in-india In a major erupting controversy, Centre rebuts Jack Dorsey's claims of Twitter facing pressure during Indian farmers' protest; terms it  Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in a stunning allegation claimed that the micro-blogging platform had faced government pressure and threats of a shutdown during farmers' protest, a statement that evoked a sharp rebuttal from Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar who termed it an "outright lie". https://opinionexpress.in/a-comprehensive-guide-to-coaching-and-developing-baseball-players-in-the-art-of-defense When it comes to baseball, one of the crucial positions on the field is third base. As a coach, it is essential to effectively instruct your players on how to excel in this role. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of teaching your players the intricacies of playing third base, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to shine defensively. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-top-country-in-the-world-by-2047-rajnath-singh Taking on the clue from the Prime Minister narrative, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that the country has been making rapid economic progress and is tipped to become a developed nation by the time it celebrates the centenary of its Independence. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-condemns-modi-governments-ineffective-china-policy-pushes-for-stringent-action In a renewed attack on the Narendra Modi government, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday hit out at the Modi government over reports of fresh Chinese military constructions along the LAC in Uttarakhand, and demanded that China should be confronted strategically and not by "hollow boasts". https://opinionexpress.in/trump-took-secret-nuke-docs-attack-plans-from-the-white-house-prosecutors US Federal prosecutors unsealed a wide-ranging indictment of Donald Trump today accusing the former US president of endangering national security by holding on to top secret nuclear and defense documents after leaving the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/ais-will-enhance-indias-tech-ecosystem Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and said on Friday that artificial intelligence's potential in enhancing India's tech ecosystem is vast, among the youth in particular. "We welcome all collaborations that can accelerate our digital transformation for empowering our citizens," he tweeted, describing the conversation with Altman as insightful. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-counterattacks-jaishankar-on-rahuls-remarks-in-the-us The Congress hit back at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday over his criticism of Rahul Gandhi for his remarks made in the US recently, saying the man who started the practice of taking national politics outside the country is none other than the one who gave him a ministerial position. https://opinionexpress.in/donald-trump-indicted-for-handling-classified-documents Former US President Donald Trump said that he has been indicted over his handling of classified documents after leaving office, the former US president's most serious legal threat yet as a firestorm of criminal investigations imperils his bid for a second White House term. "The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax," Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social as he broke what would be bombshell news of a historic moment for the United States: the first time a sitting or former commander-in-chief has ever faced federal charges. https://opinionexpress.in/india-welcomes-normal-monsoon-imd The southwest monsoon reached the Indian mainland on Thursday, a week later than it normally does, with the India Meteorological Department declaring its onset over Kerala. Meteorologists earlier said Cyclone 'Biparjoy' had been impacting the intensity of the monsoon and that its onset over Kerala would be "mild". https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-accuses-rahul-of-habitually-criticizing-india-on-global-platforms Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday shredded Rahul Gandhi for his "habit of criticising India" abroad and said taking national politics out of the country is not in its interest. Mr Jaishankar also exuded confidence in the NDA retaining power in 2024 parliamentary elections.  https://opinionexpress.in/the-largest-democracy-in-the-world-gets-a-new-parliament-building The largest democracy in the world is known for its vibrant and robust parliamentary system. The Parliament of India serves as the cornerstone of democratic governance, where elected representatives deliberate, legislate, and shape the nation's future. With the proposal and construction of a new parliament building underway, it becomes essential to understand the significance of this development. This essay explores the multifaceted importance of a new parliament building in bolstering India's democratic processes, enhancing functionality, accommodating growth, and symbolizing the country's commitment to democratic values. https://opinionexpress.in/digital-india-an-exemplary-leap-towards-next-level-digitalization India's Digital India initiative has emerged as a beacon of inspiration, showcasing the country's commitment to taking digitalization to the next level. Launched by the Government of India in 2015, Digital India encompasses a comprehensive vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Through a range of transformative initiatives, Digital India has become a remarkable global example of harnessing digital technologies for inclusive growth and development. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-decision-on-rs-2000-note-exchange-challenged-in-the-sc The battle of Rs2000 note has reached the apex court. The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a report from its registry on the issue of urgent listing of a plea challenging the notifications enabling the exchange of Rs 2,000 currency notes without any requisition slip and ID proof. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-jd-s-alliance-on-card-for-ge-2024 The Janata Dal Secular (JDS), stunned by its worst-ever performance in the recent Karnataka election, is leaning towards the BJP and has sent feelers for an alliance for the 2024 national election, sources say. https://opinionexpress.in/china-is-expansionist-bullying-nations-across-the-world-lloyd-austin US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his visit to India, did not hesitate to describe such behaviour as a form of “bullying and coercion”. With ongoing tensions between China and India at the border in Ladakh, as well as China’s aggressive posturing in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea He further emphasised that the India-US relationship serves as a “cornerstone” for a free and open Indo-Pacific. https://opinionexpress.in/new-york-is-the-most-expensive-city-to-live-survey New York has leapfrogged Hong Kong as the world's most expensive city to live in as an expat, while skyrocketing rents saw Singapore crash into the top five, according to a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/brij-bhushan-singh-questioned-by-delhi-police The Delhi Police has recorded statements of associates of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of investigations into sexual harassment allegations against him, officials said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-registered-fir-for-the-odisha-train-accident The CBI today started its investigation into alleged criminal negligence leading to the Balasore train accident which claimed 278 lives after registering an FIR, officials said. A team of CBI officials, along with forensic experts, has reached Balasore district in Odisha and started the probe immediately after the registration of the FIR Tuesday afternoon, they said. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-shiv-sena-to-contest-all-subsequent-elections-together-shinde Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest all future elections together, including civic polls. https://opinionexpress.in/ncb-seized-largest-lsd-drug-consignment The Narcotics Control Bureau today seized drugs worth thousands of crores, calling it the biggest-ever drug seizure made by the anti-drugs agency. Large amounts of party drug LSD were recovered after the agency busted a nationwide dark-net-based drug syndicate and arrested several smugglers. NCB is scheduled to hold a press conference today at 12pm to reveal more details about the drug seizure. https://opinionexpress.in/civil-aviation-ministry-to-hold-discussion-to-cap-high-fares Go Air liquidation, Spicejet management issues, and the peak summer season has led to tremendous stress on aviation fares. The civil aviation ministry will hold discussions with airlines later in the day on issues related to airfares, which have surged on certain routes in recent weeks, according to an official. https://opinionexpress.in/a-major-win-for-up-government-against-organised-mafia-raj In a turnaround to a major fight against organised mafia in U.P., a court in Varanasi on Monday sentenced gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari to life imprisonment for the murder of Awadhesh Rai, the brother of a Congress leader, more than 30 years ago. Awadhesh Rai, the brother of former MLA Ajay Rai, was shot dead on August 3, 1991, at the gate of his Lahurabir residence in Varanasi. A case was registered against Mukhtar Ansari and others. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-assures-swift-and-lawful-action-in-wfi-row In a new development, India's top wrestlers, who have been protesting against BJP MP and chief of the country's wrestling federation Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, met Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting according to the sources say the meeting that began at 11 pm lasted for more than an hour and that it was attended by Mr Punia, Sakshee Malikkh, Sangita Phogat and Satyawart Kadian. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-party-takes-on-the-responsibility-of-defending-indias-idea-rahul A visibly confident Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told members of the Indian American community here that India is currently experiencing a "fight" between two different ideologies and exuded confidence that all opposition parties are joining hands for an "alternative vision" of the country to that of the ruling BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/rail-safety-audit-report-last-year-flagged-serious-concerns As the inquiry both internal and external reveals, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said the "root cause" of the horrific triple train collision in Odisha's Balasore, which claimed 300 lives and injured over 1,000 people, has been identified and will be revealed soon in a report, critics have pointed to an audit report of the railways tabled in the Parliament in September last year, which flagged several serious lapses in rail safety. https://opinionexpress.in/progressive-step-rajasthan-proposes-right-to-health-bill-prioritizing-citizens-well-being On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the  "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (also known as Obamacare" legislation) it was a historic bill that presidents of the United States have tried for more than a century but could not pass.   The bill was widely debated in the US Congress and was vehemently opposed by several stakeholders by the courts.   Obamacare not only survived but has now become popular and thriving.  According to previous estimates, it has insured more than 40 million Americans who can sleep with peace of mind that God forbid that if a health emergency arises, they will be protected from bankruptcy from all health care expenses.  The passage of another landmark legislation, the Right to Health Bill, this month in my home state of Rajasthan, should be understood in this context. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-tdp-alliance-likely-in-telangana-ge-2024 Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu today met BJP president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss an alliance ahead of the Telangana assembly election later this year and general elections next year. The meeting lasted for about half an hour. BJP and TDP may have an alliance for the Telangana assembly elections to be held this year, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/manoj-sinhas-vision-for-jk-pioneering-development-and-fostering-prosperity Since taking oath as the 2nd Lieutenant Governor of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on 7th of August 2020, Manoj Sinha in the next three months will complete three years at the helm of affairs of the J&K UT. Mr Sinha an agriculturalist at heart and a silent performer is known in many circles as the Vikas purush or development man. Mr.Sinha consciously maintains a low profile but is regarded as a strict administrator. He was among the best-performing members of Parliament in the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999. A civil engineer and an IIT-BHU alumnus, He is recognized for his strong ability to connect with the masses and belief in welfare measures. After being sworn in as the governor he pitched for peace and stability and said the powers of the Constitution will be used for the betterment of the people and the development of Jammu and Kashmir.Before this He has been a three-time Lok Sabha MP. He was elected to the lower house for the first time in 1996 and then in 1999 and 2014. https://opinionexpress.in/technical-or-human-error-caused-train-accident-probe-ordered After a crash involving three trains killed more than 230 people in Odisha last evening, questions are being raised about possible operational lapses that could have contributed to the tragedy. Between 6.50 pm and 7.10 pm on Friday, two collisions took place at Odisha's Balasore between three trains, leaving a mass of wrecked compartments and coaches on top of one another. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-committed-to-five-guarantees-siddaramaiah On the poll promises made by Rahul Gandhi, the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday decided to implement the ruling Congress's five guarantees, without any discrimination of caste or religion, within this financial year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said. https://opinionexpress.in/firs-implicate-brij-bhushan-saran-singh-for-a-serious-crime FIR against WFI chief: Wrestlers narrate instances of sexual favours demand, sexual harassment, inappropriate touchingThe two FIRs registered by Delhi Police against outgoing WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh based on complaints of six adult wrestlers and father of a minor narrate several alleged instances of sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, groping, stalking and intimidation by him at different times and places including in foreign countries, over a decade. https://opinionexpress.in/major-train-accident-in-odisha-many-feared-killed-and-injured In a major train tragedy, many people were killed and 300 were injured when a passenger train hit the derailed coaches of another train in Odisha's Balasore this evening. Many are feared trapped. A third freight train was also involved in the accident.  https://opinionexpress.in/empowering-women-inspiring-millions-ashna-dhauls-influencer-journey-continues-to-make-waves Ashna Dhaul is a remarkable public figure who has made a significant impact in various roles as a social worker, social activist, influencer, vlogger, and blogger. She has emerged as a formidable force, advocating for women's empowerment and working tirelessly to create a solid foundation for women in the fashion industry. With her talent, sheer beauty, and poise, Ashna has become a prominent figure, creating a buzz on social media platforms and amassing a large community of followers on Instagram and Facebook. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-case-against-ilfs-subsidiary-for-banks-defraud In a continued drive against corruption, the CBI has filed a case against IL&FS Transportation Network Ltd and its directors for allegedly defrauding 19 banks of ? 6,524 crore between 2016 and 2018. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-relations-will-be-strained-for-times-to-come-rahul During a press brief in the USA, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted that India cannot be pushed around by China as he underlined that the relationship between the two neighbours is going to be "tough" and not an easy one. https://opinionexpress.in/india-nepal-pledges-to-improve-bilateral-relationship In an effort to improve the bilateral relationship between the two countries, India and Nepal will strive to take their bilateral ties to Himalayan heights and resolve all matters, including the boundary issue, in this spirit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday after holding wide-ranging talks with his Nepalese counterpart Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-mongolia-can-collaborate-in-various-sectors-he-mr-dambajav In Picture: H.E. Mr. GANBOLD Dambajav, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of India (right) being felicitated by Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, MVIRDC WTC Mumbai at an interactive meeting in WTC Mumbai https://opinionexpress.in/judicial-probe-to-resolve-manipur-violence-shah To monitor the situation and douse the fire, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said a judicial probe headed by a retired high court chief justice to inquire into clashes that erupted in the northeastern state of Manipur, will soon be announced. https://opinionexpress.in/its-a-freebie-galore-in-rajasthan Freebies are raining in Rajasthan, the idea is to win the elections and defeat the future of the people living there. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-is-the-richest-person-on-the-planet In a swing of fortunes, Elon Musk has retaken the title of the world's wealthiest person with an estimated net worth of over $ 200 billion. The Tesla Inc. chief executive officer surpassed luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault on Wednesday after shares of Arnault's LVMH fell 2.6% in Paris trading. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-freebie-will-lead-the-country-bankrupt-pm BJP party has started to focus on the Rajasthan election 2023 by sending his top guns to the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today mocked the Congress in Rajasthan, raising questions about the stability of its government and what he called its "guarantee formula" for state elections. On a visit to Ajmer and Pushkar as part of the BJP's public outreach or Jan Sampark Abhiyan, PM Modi ripped into the Congress over corruption.   https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-valuation-slides-to-one-third-of-elon-musk-acquisition-cost Social media platform Twitter is now worth just $15B, almost the 1/3 rd what billionaire Elon Musk paid for the social-media platform, according to Fidelity, which recently marked down the value of its equity stake in the company. https://opinionexpress.in/government-obstructed-bharat-jodo-yatra-rahul-gandhi While speaking at an event in San Francisco during his visit to the US, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said today that the government used "all its strength" to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Rahul Gandhi arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday to begin a three-city tour of the United States. During his visit, he will meet with Indian expatriates and American lawmakers. "The government used all its strength to stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The BJP is threatening people and misusing government agencies. But nothing worked and the impact of the Yatra increased. This happened because the idea of 'Join India' is in everyone's heart," Rahul Gandhi said. "The Bharat Jodo Yatra started because all the instruments that we needed to connect with the people were controlled by the BJP-RSS." https://opinionexpress.in/global-alliance-for-peace-uniting-nations-in-pursuit-of-a-harmonious-world Russia, India and China remain focused against Western war conflicts in the East and are the “True Axis of Good” Justifiably determined to give their citizens much more prosperity and more peaceful patriotic pride while safely trading with the rest of the world. https://opinionexpress.in/buoyancy-in-tax-collection-a-pathway-to-lower-direct-tax-rates As the tax collections grow in India, while India is not the richest country in the world but the tax collection here is one of the highest and the income tax rate should be reduced to 25 percent from around 40 percent at present, eminent economist Surjit Bhalla said. This reduction in tax rate is required to accelerate the pace of economic growth. https://opinionexpress.in/all-promises-delivered-in-the-last-nine-years-of-service-narendta-modi The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government completed nine years today. PM Modi, terming it as nine years of seva, said every decision taken in the past nine years was meant to "improve the lives of people". https://opinionexpress.in/csk-beats-gt-in-a-cliff-hanger Chennai Super Kings (171/5 DLS) defeat Gujarat Titans (214/4) by 5 wickets to lift their fifth IPL title. It was a last-ball finish from Ravindra Jadeja, who smashes a four off Mohit Sharma's delivery. For GT, Mohit Sharma and Noor Ahmad scalp two wickets and for CSK, Devon Conway scores 47.  https://opinionexpress.in/narasimha-raos-economic-reforms-propel-india-to-global-prominence In picture: Former Prime Minister PV Narsimha Rao with Prashant Tewari, P.V. Narasimha Rao played a pivotal role in building a modern and vibrant India through his transformative policies and leadership during his tenure as the ninth Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996. In his five-year term, Rao implemented significant economic reforms, navigated through political challenges, and helped shape India's global standing. His contributions to economic liberalization, foreign policy, and welfare programs have had a lasting impact on the country's development.  https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-win-150-seats-in-mp-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said today that the party is confident of winning the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, slated to be held later this year. "We had a long discussion, our internal assessment is that we got 136 seats in Karnataka, we are going to get 150 seats in Madhya Pradesh," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing reporters in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/india-successfully-launches-next-gen-navigational-satellite Indian space agency ISRO today successfully launched a navigation satellite on board an expendable GSLV rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 20 minutes after the flight, the rocket deployed the satellite in a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) at an altitude of about 251 km, ISRO said. The navigation satellite has been successfully placed in orbit. https://opinionexpress.in/a-dream-comes-true-deve-gowda-on-new-parliament-building Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who on Sunday attended the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi, said it is his good fortune that he witnessed a great moment in India's democratic history. The 91-year-old expressed his joy, saying he never thought that he would sit in a new Parliament building in his lifetime. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-high-on-us-news BSE Sensex jumped 480 points to 62,984 in early trade, while the Nifty opened 120 points higher today, a day after US President Joe Biden and the Republicans reached an agreement on increasing the US debt ceiling. https://opinionexpress.in/start-ups-gets-thumps-up-by-tax-authorities-in-india The Finance Ministry has notified 21 countries, including the US, UK and France, from where non-resident investment in unlisted Indian startups will not attract angel tax. https://opinionexpress.in/the-new-parliament-building-is-a-temple-of-democracy-narendra-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the new Parliament building as a "temple of democracy" and wished that it continues to strengthen India's development trajectory and empower millions. https://opinionexpress.in/major-anti-terror-operations-in-manipur-kills-several-insurgents Commandos of the Manipur Police have been engaging insurgents for over eight hours today in several areas of the state hit by ethnic violence, Chief Minister N Biren Singh told reporters today they have got reports that "40 terrorists" have been shot dead. https://opinionexpress.in/upis-global-ascent-a-testament-to-modi-governments-digital-payments-revolution Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been a game-changer in India's payment ecosystem, transforming the way people transact in the country. The Narendra Modi government has been at the forefront of promoting digital payments and encouraging people to move towards a cashless economy. Taking it further, the Indian government recently announced a partnership with Singapore to link UPI and PayNow, Singapore's digital payment system, which allows cross-border payments between the two countries. This is anticipated to revolutionise the world of payments. https://opinionexpress.in/reconciling-free-speech-and-a-strong-state-locating-judicial-autonomy-in-india The preamble of the Indian constitution reads “We the people of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic………do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this constitution.” The sovereign people of this land gave themselves a constitution, an essential rulebook for a constitutionally guided democratic order. Over the length of 395 articles, the Constitution contains the art of modern statecraft, division of power, rule of law, and a unique feature of a democratic polity: a set of rights for its citizens. Over the years, the country’s jurisprudence and scholarly discourses have successfully established that Fundamental Rights are the critical feature of the basic structure of Indian Constitution. In giving themselves the Constitution, the people had reserved these rights for themselves. https://opinionexpress.in/should-there-be-a-common-syllabus-for-higher-education Education is a fundamental human right and a key driver of economic and social progress. Recognizing the importance of education, the Indian government introduced the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which is a comprehensive framework for the development of education in the country. The NEP 2020 aims at transforming the Indian education system by making it more inclusive, holistic, and flexible. https://opinionexpress.in/democracy-and-fundamental-rights-have-been-buried-in-pakistanimran-khan The arrest and release of former Pakistani PM Imran Khan https://opinionexpress.in/bail-is-a-rule-jail-is-an-exception-an-analysis ABSTRACT https://opinionexpress.in/new-parliament-building-inaugurated-by-pm-narendra-modi In a showcase of the strength of florishing democracy in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building amid a boycott by opposition parties, which insisted President Droupadi Murmu should do the honours. The PM unveiled a plaque marking the inauguration. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-vostro-accounts-in-india-stands-at-a-crossroad In April 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine resulted in economic disruption all around the world, the downfall of the tech sector in America, and global inflation somewhere attract global attention towards the need for a substitute for the dollar as a global currency. As a response to respective incidents, India made a policy to shift its foreign transaction from the dollar to domestic and local currencies. In the series of actions, India demonstrates a 'Special Rupee Vostro Account 'with Malaysia in April 2023, as Malaysia is 16th largest trading partner of India. India also commenced talks with Russia for the same. But Russia adjourned the talks of trade in the rupee with India. Russia claims that its share of India in global trade is just 2% in merchandise and 4% in services. Such an agreement results in a $40 billion deficit to Russia. So the talks have been suspended by Russia.  https://opinionexpress.in/is-the-collegium-system-risky Ambedkar delivered a lengthy speech in response to the debates and amendments introduced in Article 124. "I came across three distinct proposals. The first proposal is that Supreme Court justices be appointed with the Chief Justice's approval. "There can be no disagreement that the judiciary must be both independent of the executive and competent in its own right," he said. "With regard to the question of the concurrence of the Chief Justice, it appears to me that those who advocate that proposition seem to rely implicitly both on the impartiality of the Chief Justice and the soundness of his judgment," Ambedkar said. https://opinionexpress.in/cyber-security-of-hospitals-need-emergency-care Clearly, there is a lot of hullabaloo around cyber security for hospitals since the cyber-attack that crippled AIIMS Delhi was reported on November 23 last year. Even two months after the attack, the IT systems of the country’s premier hospital were not fully restored. Was the AIIMS incident a one-off cyber-attack on a hospital in India? The number of cyber-attacks on the Indian healthcare industry was second highest globally, with 7.7 % of total incidence on the segment being witnessed in the country in 2021, cyber security intelligence firm CloudSEK reported in September last year, months ahead of the AIIMS attack. Globally, the Healthcare sector is a top target for cyber attacks. In May 2017, the NHS, was brought to a standstill for several days due to the WannaCry ransomware outbreak, affecting hospitals and GP surgeries across England and Scotland.  Although the NHS was not specifically targeted, the attack highlighted security vulnerabilities and resulted in the cancellation of thousands of appointments and operations, together with the frantic relocation of emergency patients from stricken emergency centres. https://opinionexpress.in/the-tough-road-for-the-indian-semiconductor-industry Semiconductor Chips are being lately referred to as “the oil of the 21st Century”. As per Pat Gelsinger, the CEO of Intel, these semiconductor chips will play a central role in international politics in the upcoming decades because of their scarcity. These chips are part of most electronics, ranging from smartphones to cars to washing machines. https://opinionexpress.in/prospects-of-a-cashless-economy-in-india The world is gradually becoming cashless, and India is one of the frontrunners in this direction. In a cashless economy, a substantial fraction of transactions is carried out without exchanging currency notes or coins. So, a cashless economy is not essentially a cash-strapped economy. The primary objective of a cashless economy is to ensure that people and institutions carry out their transactions, payments, and settlements without holding cash. However, currency notes and coins of smaller denominations continue in circulation even in a cashless society. https://opinionexpress.in/sad-state-of-indian-academics What does an academic do in her daily life? Whom does she serve by her pedagogical excellence? What topics are they covering for her academic score? What kind of books are they writing for her pupils or, say, for her own promotion and better placement and perks? What kind of research projects are they supervising? Are they superior human beings untouched by lowly million lives? Are they self-serving or serving their respective disciplines with scientific precision, mechanical rigour and disinterested selves? Are they slaves of the vast educational moguls? Or are they ‘free’ to investigate, visit and revisit their disciplines with individual resources, inputs and experiences? https://opinionexpress.in/dispelling-the-khalistan-myth-examining-the-unrealistic-aspirations It was the afternoon of 23 February 2023, a contingent of Punjab Police, with lathis in their hands, was standing behind barricades outside the Ajnala Police Station in the Amritsar district of Punjab, facing a huge crowd, many armed with Kirpans. The crowd was also carrying the Guru Granth Sahib in a bus. And walking among this crowd, surrounded by armed men with rifles, was Amritpal Singh Sandhu, who is being seen as the new face of the resurging Khalistan demand in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/the-russian-special-military-operations-in-ukraine-and-indias-dilemma On the eve of 24th February 2022, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin called upon a Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine, primarily to stop the NATO expansion into Ukraine and against the use of force by Ukraine in the areas primarily Russian, as per the Russian narrative. History became witness to the largest military operation on European soil since the end of World War 2. The military operation opened multiple fronts on the borders of Ukraine, mainly through the Donbas area and the other through Crimea, which Russia had annexed in 2014, following the coup in Ukraine. The proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic were supposedly the two oblasts that sought independence from Ukraine, as the military operation commenced. By the end of August’22, 4 oblasts of Ukraine were under military occupation by the Russian Federation. In the oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia, referendums were organized, and following the declaration of Kherson and Zaporizhia as independent countries on 29th September, on 30th September 2022, the Russian Federation announced the annexation of the 4 oblasts, citing a successful referendum in each and therefore the fulfilment of the UN charter. https://opinionexpress.in/bbcs-flaws-on-modi-continued-saga-of-neo-imperialism Since the birth of India as a democratic state, the western notion of Democracy and knowledge and even the western Political pundits have apprehensions about the success of India’s democratic experiment. From the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to the President of the United States of America, all predicted the demise of India as a nation-state. This western neo-imperialistic mindset is best reflected in the works of Selig S. Harrison ‘India: the most dangerous decades’. In this work, he claimed that India would be disintegrated into pieces during the 1960’s. India not only survived but came out much stronger. Western philosophers are always shy to call India the largest democratic country. The image of snake charmers is still used by the Western media in general and BBC in particular to represent the Indian state. https://opinionexpress.in/fast-track-to-progress-indias-call-for-high-speed-freight-corridors The Government of India’s mega project of building 3381 kilometers of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) passing through nine states, where goods trains have their own rail tracks separate from passenger trains, has the potential to revolutionize transportation in the Indian economy. This will make transportation cheap, fast and more accessible to industry and agriculture. Combining slow freight and fast passenger trains is complicated and leads to traffic congestion as freight trains have to make way for faster passenger trains. The freight railroad sector in the United States offers interesting insights into the impact of such a project on the economy. Railways are a government-run monopoly in India and so are the freight trains. Therefore, a comparison with the United States which has several privately run freight railway companies may be an unlikely one, but still offers interesting parallels. America’s freight network is universally recognized as among the best in the world and has served the nation as its transportation lifeline for over 40 years. After years of regulation, The Staggers Rail Act of 1980 took a major step towards deregulation by freeing rail fares and giving railway companies the freedom to charge market rates, enter into contracts with clients and manage the railroad networks independently. This move reinvigorated the freight railway sector in the United States. The freedom to run their business as they saw fit led to dramatic improvements which included a sharp rise in traffic and productivity and a fall in freight costs. Productivity rose by 172?tween 1981 and 2010, rates fell by 55% and the share of the freight market, measured in ton-miles, rose steadily to 43%, among the highest in rich countries. The average horsepower of the locomotives has risen by 72% since 1990 and the introduction of lighter stronger freight wagons such as those made of aluminum has led to higher energy efficiency lifting the ton-miles per American gallon of fuel from 332 to 457(The Economist: “High-speed Railroading https://www.economist.com/briefing/2010/07/22/high-speed-railroading). This sector has been sucking costs out of supply chains, so much so that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway purchased $34 billion stock in 2009 in Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) which is, one of the seven main freight railways https://opinionexpress.in/digital-life-is-simply-real-life “These days, many of us spend more time online than in the actual world. Classes, meetings, and birthday celebrations are all held in cramped rectangles. And many of us switch out the work computer for a different one after spending the day staring at a screen. https://opinionexpress.in/a-chinese-trap-and-pakistans-gameplan-after-fatf-exit-new-delhi-has-to-see-a-long-view-of-realities Last year Indian Air Force Chief said that Pakistan is changing its strategy and had indicated a new developing strategy which is denoted by “Triple R”. The triple R here means rearticulate, reorganize and relocate. The changing military strategy of Pakistan is a result of certain geopolitical changes or opportunities which began forming after Taliban takeover last year. However, with FATF's exit recently, It may solidify and New Delhi has to push up its guard to deal with changing Pakistan’s conventional and unconventional mixed gameplan.    https://opinionexpress.in/prevalence-of-caste-oppression-in-elite-educational-institutes-and-the-authoritys-denial-of-institutional-murder Owing to their self-claimed tag of being progressive and inclusive, institutions nationwide have been effortlessly successful. https://opinionexpress.in/china-witness-new-covid-wave The Chinese authorities are rushing to push out vaccines to combat an ongoing new wave of the coronavirus that is expected to peak in June and infect as many as 65 million people a week since the new XBB variants of the virus are evolving to overcome the immunity developed after China's abrupt departure from its "zero covid" policy last year, reported The Washington Post. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-will-be-third-time-pm-with-300-seats-amit-shah While asserting that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term after the general elections next year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that the opposition Congress will not be able to even secure its present tally in the Lok Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/new-parliament-is-no-personal-property-of-any-individual-rahul Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said neither getting President Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building nor inviting her to the ceremony is an "insult" to the country's highest constitutional post. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-alleges-pressure-tactict-by-government-to-liquidate-pti-party It is almost a case of mild civil war in Pakistan. Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan said Wednesday that senior leaders were being pressured into resigning from his party amid a crackdown, as a former cabinet minister became the latest to quit. Rights monitors said authorities have detained thousands of supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party since days of street violence erupted over his brief arrest earlier this month. https://opinionexpress.in/shriram-properties-rs-1200-crore-sales-revenue A major south Indian realty firm Shriram Properties Ltd on Tuesday said it has acquired development rights for 1.9 million square feet at an ongoing housing project in Chennai and aims Rs 1,200 crore worth sales revenue over the next five years. https://opinionexpress.in/who-warns-of-deadlier-pandemic-tedros The head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a stern warning that the world must get ready for the next pandemic, which might be "even deadlier" than the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when COVID cases are somewhat stabilising around the world. https://opinionexpress.in/new-parliament-inauguration-by-modi-major-opposition-parties-to-boycott All the major nineteen opposition parties, including the Congress, Left and TMC, on Wednesday collectively announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming it as an "undignified act" that insults the high office of the president. https://opinionexpress.in/securing-national-sovereignty-through-cybersecurity-karnal-singh-highlights-its-critical-importance ( Extract of the speech given by Sri Karnal Singh, Former Enforcement director ) https://opinionexpress.in/jeff-bezos-engaged-to-girlfriend-lauren-sanchez-reports Amazon founder and one of the richest men on the planet Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez are now engaged, The couple is currently in France for the Cannes Film Festival where they have been attending the star-studded party circuit. https://opinionexpress.in/deljhi-hc-issues-summons-to-bbc-for-defaming-india The Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a defamation suit filed by an NGO claiming that its documentary cast a slur on the reputation of India, its judiciary and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-demands-jpc-on-adani-episode-jairam The Congress today alleged that the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee and the SEBI have "hit walls" while investigating the Adani group's transactions and stressed the need for a joint parliamentary committee probe to unravel the truth in the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/no-panic-2000-notes-will-remain-legal-tender-rbi The 2,000 banknotes were introduced in November 2016 under Section 24(1) of the RBI Act, 1934 -- which allows the central bank to issue notes of any denomination not exceeding Rs 10,000 -- primarily to meet the currency requirement of the economy "in an expeditious manner" after the big demonetisation exercise, in which the legal tender status of all Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes in circulation at that time was withdrawn, the Reserve Bank of India has said. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-visit-to-papua-new-guinea-supercharges-the-relationship-marape Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape today told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Pacific Islands nations consider the Indian premier as the leader of the Global South and will rally behind India's leadership at international forums. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-south-korea-to-streamline-bilateral-ties Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday reviewed the progress in the bilateral strategic partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in areas like trade and investment, defence, semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-claims-major-victory-in-ukraine Russia's military commander claims it has captured the east Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, epicentre of the fighting, as President Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops and private mercenary group Wagner. https://opinionexpress.in/quad-group-deplores-chinese-aggressive-intent-in-the-south-pacific-region The leaders of the Quad group -- Australia, India, Japan and the United States -- delivered a thinly veiled swipe at Beijing's behaviour at a summit in Hiroshima. US President Joe Biden and his three partners in the group did not mention China by name but the communist superpower was clearly the target of language in a joint statement calling for "peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain". https://opinionexpress.in/war-is-no-solution-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan's Hiroshima. This is the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year. They have earlier only spoken virtually. https://opinionexpress.in/top-6-benefits-of-adopting-an-adult-cat-instead-of-a-kitten Adopting a cat is the best decision, and while kittens are undeniably adorable, there are also numerous benefits to adopting an adult cat. Here are the top six benefits of adopting an adult cat instead of a kitten. https://opinionexpress.in/china-oppose-g20-summit-in-jk As on expected lines, China has opposed the holding of a G20 meeting in Kashmir, while Turkey and Saudi Arabia have not registered for the event to be held in Srinagar.On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that "China firmly opposes holding G20 meetings in any form in 'disputed' areas and will not attend such meetings." https://opinionexpress.in/paytm-to-launch-paytm-sbi-card-on-the-rupay-network Taking the digital transformation to the next level, Payments and financial services company Paytm on Thursday announced that it has partnered with SBI Card to launch Paytm SBI Card on the RuPay network. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-bans-entry-of-500-us-nationals In a tit-for-tat response, Russia on Friday said it banned entry to 500 Americans, including former president Barack Obama, in response to sanctions imposed by Washington. https://opinionexpress.in/central-government-bring-new-ordinance-to-negate-the-sc-order The circle has turned to a complete 360*, days after the Supreme Court ruled that the Delhi government must have control over transfers and appointments of bureaucrats, the Centre today brought in a special law, making Lt Governor, who is the Centre's representative, the final arbiter in the matter. Before the verdict of the court, the Services Department was under the control of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor. https://opinionexpress.in/clean-chit-to-adani-by-sc-panel A Supreme Court-appointed panel of experts examining India's regulatory mechanism in an investigation linked to the Hindenburg allegations has given a clean chit to the Adani Group and has said it appears there was no regulatory failure on the part of market regulator SEBI.  https://opinionexpress.in/sm-krishna-a-trailblazer-for-karnatakas-global-outreach SM Krishna, a stalwart of Indian politics, is undeniably a real hero of Bangalore and Karnataka. With a career spanning several decades, he has made significant contributions to the growth and development of the region, leaving an indelible mark on its history. https://opinionexpress.in/rahawwur-rana-to-be-extradited-to-india-us-court Just a month before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first state visit to the US, a federal court in USA agreed to New Delhi's request, through Washington, for the extradition of Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana to India where he is sought for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-needs-to-put-a-dalit-as-dcm-g-parameshwara Senior Congress Dalit leader G Parameshwara today cautioned the party's central leadership that if a Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) post is not given to a Dalit, there would be an adverse reaction and it would spell trouble for the party. https://opinionexpress.in/law-minister-of-india-is-changed-meghwal-replaces-kiren-rijjiju Arjun Ram Meghwal, who replaced Kiren Rijiju as Union Law Minister on Thursday in a move that few saw coming, has denied the big reset was because of his predecessor's turbulent relationship with the judiciary. https://opinionexpress.in/siddu-cm-dks-dy-cm-in-karnataka After a week of deadlock, Siddaramaiah will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar his deputy, the Congress announced on Thursday, ending five days of suspense after the party's emphatic election win. They will take oath on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/honoring-hr-bharadwaj-mentor-visionary-and-architect-of-modern-legal-reforms HR Bharadwaj, a distinguished statesman, legal luminary, and mentor, left an indelible mark on the Indian political landscape as a former Governor and Law Minister. His unwavering dedication to public service, astute legal acumen, and exceptional leadership qualities make him a true inspiration for generations to come. https://opinionexpress.in/regulation-on-artificial-intel-is-vital-sam To counter the fear of a major disruption, Sam Altman, the chief executive of ChatGPT's OpenAI, told US lawmakers on Tuesday that regulating artificial intelligence was essential after his poem-writing chatbot stunned the world. https://opinionexpress.in/vodafone-cuts-11k-jobs-worldwide UK-based wireless carrier Vodafone confirmed that it's laying off 11,000 workers as part of a major revamp aimed at cutting costs and boosting flagging financial performance. https://opinionexpress.in/new-parliament-building-to-be-inaugurated-on-26-may-2023 India's new Parliament building is likely to be inaugurated later this month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources have said. Sources say the new building of Parliament, which is in its final stages, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in the last week of May, to mark nine years of his government. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-south-africa-arms-deal-sends-a-red-flag The commander of South Africa’s ground forces is in Moscow for talks, the country’s military said Monday, confirming earlier Russian media reports, days after Washington accused Pretoria of secretly providing arms to Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/eknath-maha-government-is-stable-ajit-pawar NCP leader Ajit Pawar continues to differ from the MVA block on all major matters. Soon after a delegation of the Shiv Sena (UBT) handed over a 79-page letter to the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker seeking expedited action in the disqualification of 16 MLAs of the Shinde camp, NCP leader Ajit Pawar made it clear that the action would not actually topple the government. Even if 16 MLAs are disqualified, the government of Shinde and Fadnavis will not fall. There is no threat to the government," he said on Monday while addressing a press conference here in Mumbai. https://opinionexpress.in/inflation-eases-the-relief-for-the-common-man Ina major relief to policymakers and common citizens, the wholesale inflation rate eased to a 34-month low of (-) 1 percent in April on easing prices of food, fuel and manufactured items. The wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation has been on a declining trend for 11 months in a row and entered the negative zone in April. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-a-developed-nation-by-1947-rajnath-singh India will be a developed nation by 2047, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday while laying emphasis on the advancement of technology amid a rise in cyberspace threats in the defence sector. https://opinionexpress.in/bharatpe-ashneer-grover-family-members-booked-for-an-alleged-fraud The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police has filed an FIR against BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover, his wife Madhuri Jain Grover and family members Deepak Gupta, Suresh Jain and Shwetank Jain for an alleged Rs 81 crore fraud after a complaint by the fintech unicorn. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-to-launch-major-blitz-to-celebrate-modi-governments-9th-anniversary On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government completing nine years, the Bharatiya Janata Party has planned a massive month-long "special contact campaign" across the country, covering all Lok Sabha constituencies. It starts on May 30 and will conclude on June 30. https://opinionexpress.in/conservative-regime-change-in-thailand-liberals-wins-landslide Thailand's opposition secured a stunning election win on Sunday after trouncing parties allied with the military, setting the stage for a flurry of deal-making over forming a government in a bid to end nearly a decade of conservative, army-backed rule. https://opinionexpress.in/praveen-sood-is-the-new-cbi-chief Praveen Sood, Karnataka police chief, has been chosen as the next director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He will succeed current director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, whose term ends on May 25. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-voted-out-due-t-bad-administration-kharge AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday termed Congress' good show in the Karnataka Assembly polls as a victory of "Janata Janardhana", saying people have voted "furiously" against BJP's "bad administration" in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/i-take-responsibility-of-karnataka-defeat-br-bommai Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today said he will take full responsibility for the BJP's defeat in the Assembly elections, and that the party will function as a responsible opposition in the days to come. https://opinionexpress.in/shops-of-love-have-defeated-market-of-hate-rahul While briefly replying to the reporters in News Delhi, Congress's Rahul Gandhi congratulated the people of Karnataka, where his party looks set to form the next government with a massive victory. "The market of hate has been shut, and shops of love have opened," he told the cheering party workers at the Congress office in New Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/big-moral-booster-win-for-congress-in-karnataka In a must-win situation for Congress in Karnataka, the Congress stays comfortably above the halfway mark. The BJP may end up with close to 75 seats. The JDS is faring badly in many of the regions. Keep following our updates. https://opinionexpress.in/amidst-chaos-at-lahore-hc-bail-to-imran Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan was granted two weeks of bail by Islamabad High Court on Friday in a corruption case, a day after the Supreme Court called his arrest "invalid and unlawful". The Islamabad High Court upheld Khan's arrest but a three-member Supreme Court bench on Thursday had declared his detention "illegal" and ordered his immediate release. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-to-have-a-new-ceo-elon-musk Based on the marker buzz, NBCUniversal executive Linda Yaccarino is in talks to become Twitter's chief executive officer, the Wall Street Journal reported, following owner Elon Musk's announcement that he had found a new leader for the social network and will shift into a new role as chief technologist. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-visit-to-us-will-be-a-historic-one-taranjit-singh Prime Minister Narendra Modi's next scheduled visit to the US will show that the partnership between the two nations is people-centric, people-driven, and is good for the world at large, a top Indian diplomat here on Wednesday said, as he called the visit "historic." https://opinionexpress.in/major-win-for-aap-government-over-lg-in-sc-battle Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a significant win drawn-out tussle for power with the Centre, the Supreme Court today said the Delhi government must have control over services and that the Lieutenant Governor is bound by its decision. https://opinionexpress.in/shinde-to-remain-maha-cm-sc The Supreme Court, a short while ago, said that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray cannot be reinstated as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra as he resigned from the post voluntarily without facing a floor test. However, it said that the then Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision to call for a floor test that ultimately toppled the Uddhav-Thackeray-led MVA government was not in accordance with the law. https://opinionexpress.in/big-sc-order-on-maha-today Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's job and his government will be on the line today when the Supreme Court announces an all-important verdict on last year's Shiv Sena mutiny. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-hindenburg-row-in-sc-on-may-12 Action packed second week in may before the summer vacations in SC awaites the most awaited hearing in the recent time. The Supreme Court will hear on May 12 the pleas on the Adani-Hindenburg row in which it had on March 2 asked market regulator SEBI to probe within two months allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani group and lapses in regulatory disclosure. https://opinionexpress.in/goair-insolvency-plea-admitted-by-nclt The Mumbai branch of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) today admitted Go First's voluntary plea to initiate the insolvency resolution process against the airline. A two-member bench comprising President Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and L N Gupta also appointed Abhliash Lal as interim resolution professional (IRP) to run the debt-ridden company. https://opinionexpress.in/tech-is-the-principle-driver-of-namo-government-jitendra-singh Min in PMO & Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that technology-driven governance has been the hallmark of the nine years of the Narendra Modi government. https://opinionexpress.in/travel-advisory-in-pakistan-by-many-countries Anticipating a worsening law and order situation in Pakistan, the United States, United Kingdom and Canada have issued new travel advisories for their citizens citing political unrest following the arrest of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, ARY News reported. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, ARY News reported. After his arrest, PTI workers across the country held protests and called for his release. As the protests have erupted in various parts of Pakistan, the US, Canada and the UK have issued travel advisories for their citizens and diplomatic staff. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-arrested-in-pakistan In a dramatic event, Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested today just as he was entering the Islamabad High Court for a hearing in one of the dozens of cases pending since he was ousted from office last year. The 70-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician was taken into custody from the court premises by paramilitary forces; leaders from his party, Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have alleged that the police entered the court, smashed the glass window of the room where his biometric data was being taken, and dragged him outside. The arrest comes a day after the country's powerful army had accused Imran Khan of levelling baseless allegations against a senior officer of the spy agency ISI. https://opinionexpress.in/narendra-modis-passionate-appeal-to-karnataka-voters-to-repeat-bjp-government While making a strong pitch for the return of the BJP government in Karnataka a day before the Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday the affection he has received in the state over the last few days has been unparalleled, and it has strengthened the resolve to make it number one across all sectors. https://opinionexpress.in/west-has-unleashed-waragainst-russia-putin An aggressive Russian President Vladimir Putin said at Moscow's Red Square Victory Day parade that the world was at a "turning point" and claimed a "war" had been unleashed against Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-getting-majority-in-karnataka-bsy BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa today predicted that his party would return to power in Karnataka with 130 to 135 seats and Congress leader Siddaramaiah will lose the election from Varuna constituency. https://opinionexpress.in/warren-buffett-heaps-praise-on-elon-musk Warren Buffett, billionaire investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, heaped praises on Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the company's annual shareholder meeting on Saturday. ''Elon is a brilliant, brilliant guy. He dreams about things, and his dreams have got a foundation, '' the 92-year-old CEO said, as reported by Fortune.  https://opinionexpress.in/a-boat-tragedy-in-kerala-takes-over-20-human-life Over 22 people, including seven children, were killed when a double-decker boat overturned and sank near a beach in Kerala's Malappuram district Sunday evening, the state government informed. https://opinionexpress.in/china-remains-the-most-dangerous-place-for-journalists The dictatorial Xi's China is the biggest global jailer of journalists with more than 100 behind bars, according to a press freedom group, as President Xi Jinping’s government tightened control over society. https://opinionexpress.in/us-witness-another-shooting-madness In an ongoing madness in the US, a man who went on a rampage at a Texas outlet mall on Saturday shot dead eight people before he was himself killed, authorities said. The shooting sparked panic at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling shopping complex in Allen, 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Dallas, filled with weekend shoppers. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-to-win-clear-majority-dks Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar today exuded confidence that his party would win at least 141 seats in the May 10 assembly polls and asserted that he would abide by whatever the party decides on the issue of chief ministership. https://opinionexpress.in/king-charles-and-the-indian-prospective Charles III will be crowned king today in Britain's biggest ceremonial event in seven decades. Thousands are expected to line the streets and millions will watch at home and across the globe. King Charles III's coronation - the first of a British king since 1937 - is the religious confirmation of his accession after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last September. https://opinionexpress.in/terror-in-any-form-is-a-disaster-for-society-pm On the Karnataka elections trail, while mounting a fresh attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday alleged that for the sake of vote bank politics, it has nurtured, given shelter and surrendered before terror. https://opinionexpress.in/army-personnel-attacked-in-jk-during-operation-against-militants The precious life of five soldiers are lost and another is injured in an encounter with terrorists in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said today. A defence spokesperson said that the army had launched an operation to flush out terrorists who were responsible for a recent attack on the army in which five soldiers were killed. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-court-issues-summons-to-bbc-wikipedia Acting on a private complaint, the Delhi court issued summonses to the BBC, Wikimedia and Internet Archive on a criminal complaint filed by a BJP leader seeking to restrain them from publishing a documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, or any other material defamatory to the RSS and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). https://opinionexpress.in/king-charles-iii-coronation The public pledge of allegiance to King Charles III at his upcoming coronation ceremony has stirred controversy among many Britons. British Indians have expressed mixed views over the first-of-its-kind move by the UK royals. https://opinionexpress.in/the-kerala-story-binds-bjp-with-christians In a push for building a national narrative, the simmering controversy over the Malayalam plays on nuns, “Kakkukali”, which has now flared up in Kerala in the wake of the row over the film “The Kerala Story”, seems to have given a fresh opportunity to the BJP to find a common cause with the Christian Church in its bid to make an outreach to the minority community. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-consolidates-position-through-better-results  Adani Enterprises Ltd said that its quarterly profit more than doubled, helped by a strong performance at its key coal trading division.The company's consolidated profit increased to 7.22 billion Indian rupees ($88.3 million) in the fourth quarter ended March 31, from 3.04 billion rupees a year earlier. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-has-tarnished-my-image-sanjay-singh AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has written to the Union finance secretary seeking sanction to prosecute the Enforcement Directorate chief and the assistant director for allegedly making “false and derogatory claims” against him in connection with the Delhi excise policy case which is being probed by the agency. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-accuses-us-behind-the-drone-attack-on-putin In an escalation of tensions, Russia accused the United States on Thursday of being behind what it says was a drone attack on the Kremlin intended to kill President Vladimir Putin. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-conduct-raids-on-byjus In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate today said it has searched the Bengaluru-located office and residential premises of Edtech major BYJU's CEO Raveendran Byju and seized "incriminating" documents and digital data as part of a foreign exchange violation probe. https://opinionexpress.in/mukhtar-sentenced-to-ten-years-imprisonment-in-krishnanand-rai-murder-case An MP MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur today convicted jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in kidnapping and murdering case related to the killing of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, and sentenced him to a 10-year imprisonment. https://opinionexpress.in/register-fir-on-every-hate-speech-to-save-constitutional-values-sc A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna termed hate speeches a "serious offense capable of affecting the secular fabric of the country". While extending the scope of its 2022 order beyond three states, the Supreme Court on Friday directed all states and Union Territories to register cases against those making hate speeches even if no complaint has been made. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-lands-c-130-hercules-on-ill-prepared-runway-at-night In a first of its kind, the Indian Air Force conducted a daring night operation by flying into an unprepared runway in the darkness to rescue 121 personnel from a small airstrip in violence-hit Sudan Thursday night. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-police-to-register-fir-against-brij-bhushan In a partial relief to wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police apprised the Supreme Court that it has decided to register an FIR on Friday over sexual harassment allegations levelled by seven women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. https://opinionexpress.in/female-boxers-accuse-sporting-fraternity-of-failing-to-cooperate-during-crisis As clouds of uncertainty continue to loom, Vinesh Phogat has questioned the silence of cricketers and a number of other top Indian sportspersons, renowned wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, etc. have taken to the streets, demanding justice over the sexual harassment allegations they have made against the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Awaiting action to be taken, the wrestlers have been sleeping on the streets, urging authorities to file an FIR against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over the 'Me Too' allegations that have been made. https://opinionexpress.in/hit-kill-accused-anand-singh-released-from-the-jail In a deteriorating law & order situation in Bihar, Padma Krishnaiah, the daughter of the IAS officer murdered in Bihar 29 years ago, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the release of Anand Mohan Singh, the man jailed in the case. A gangster-turned-politician, Anand Mohan Singh was released at 3 am today following a tweak in the jail rules of the state. The matter has turned into a huge political controversy, with the top body of IAS officers in the country and leaders of the BJP criticising the Nitish Kumar government. https://opinionexpress.in/naxal-attack-takes-10-precious-life After a long lull, ten police personnel and a driver were killed in a blast carried out by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Wednesday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/cross-border-terrorism-is-the-core-issue-for-non-engagement-fm Pointing finger at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said it is "very difficult" for India to engage with a neighbour who practises cross-border terrorism against the country. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-squad-for-test-championship-announced-bcci BCCI announced the squad for World Test Championship final against Australia that is slated to kick off on June 7 at the Oval, London. The highlights of the selection were the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane into the team and the exclusion of Suryakumar Yadav from the 15-member squad. From the Indian squad that featured against Australia in the 3rd and 4th Test, Kuldeep Yadav and Ishan Kishan were dropped. Shreyas Iyer couldn't be a part of the team owing to an injury. https://opinionexpress.in/cooperative-federalism-will-scale-up-indias-growth-story-pm While exploring the electoral pitch for BJP in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation various developmental projects, including the Kochi Water Metro, and said as states develop, the country will develop faster. https://opinionexpress.in/icc-warrant-a-cause-of-concern-russia Russian government officials are panicking over the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Vladimir Putin last month for alleged war crimes. Some current and former government employees spoke to The Moscow Times and said that the Kremlin organized a special meeting to discuss Russia's response. The charges against Putin include unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia in February last year. The ICC says the crimes were committed in Ukraine from February 24, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-seeks-reply-on-adani-satpal-malik-china-related-issues-from-pm The Congress Tuesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public relation machinery was "working overtime" for the 100th episode of his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' while accusing him of being silent on crucial issues such as Adani and China. https://opinionexpress.in/karnataka-will-test-modi-development-vs-congress-appeasement-politics As politics get hotter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka were all about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development politics versus Congress' appeasement politics, and defended the state BJP government's decision to scrap the four percent reservation for Muslims. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-presses-accelerator-in-kerala-for-bjp Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive roadshow in Kerala's Kochi today, where he landed for a two-day visit. Visuals showed the Prime Minster surrounded by security personnel walking the road lined with cheering supporters in what was clearly a departure from his usual practice of riding an open-top vehicle. The PM was dressed in traditional Kerala attire, he was seen waving to people on both sides of the 2-km route from the INS Garuda naval air station to the venue of a youth conclave.  https://opinionexpress.in/grand-alliance-against-bjp-likley-mamta In an attempt to forge unity, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after a brief meeting with her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav today, said that there is "no ego clash" regarding a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties and that it's going to be the people vs BJP in next year's general elections. She claimed she has earlier too said that she has no objection to all like-minded Opposition parties getting together for the big electoral battle. https://opinionexpress.in/mahi-the-superstar-hints-at-his-retirement CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said he is in the "last phase of his career", reinforcing the widespread belief that the talisman is making his final appearance in the Indian Premier League. https://opinionexpress.in/fugitive-amritpal-arrested-in-punjab-police Amritpal Singh, a fugitive preacher who has been on the run since March 18, today surrendered before Punjab police in Moga. He has been arrested by the police.Confirming the arrest, Punjab Police asked people to maintain peace and not spread fake news. "Amritpal Singh arrested in Moga, Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-government-rock-by-resignation In a major blow to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, his close aide and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned on Friday after allegations he bullied staff members while working as a Cabinet minister across different government departments. https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-to-visit-india-in-sep-2023 US President Joe Biden is looking forward to travelling to India in September, his administration's point person for South and Central Asia has said, observing that 2023 is going to be a "big year" for the India-US relationship. https://opinionexpress.in/the-rising-trend-of-pink-lehenga-choli Indian women frequently wear lehenga choli, one of the most beautiful costumes. Ladies adore twirling in flowy skirts and sparkly blouses, which make them one of the greatest picks for festivals and Indian weddings. As they are connected to joy, optimism, and hope, florals have a timeless beauty. The ends of your dupatta and the dangling tassels on your blouse sleeves give your outfit an additional sense of adventure and style. https://opinionexpress.in/world-is-witnessing-huge-climate-turbulence As India is approaching the summer season, record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases have led to increased incidences of droughts, floods and heatwaves on a global scale, the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) annual report for 2022 said. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-ticks-off-blue-tick-of-big-legacy-accounts In a developing story, micro-blogging site Twitter on Thursday removed the legacy verified blue ticks from all accounts. The only individual Twitter users who have verified blue checkmarks are those paying for Twitter Blue, which costs USD 8/month via the web and USD 11/month through in-app payment on iOS and Android. https://opinionexpress.in/all-terrorist-will-be-punished-army After the gruesome attack, a massive cordon and search operation has been launched in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district following the terrorist attack on an army truck on Thursday. Five soldiers died and another was seriously injured in the terrorist attack on the military vehicle. https://opinionexpress.in/india-no1-in-population-score India has surpassed China (142.57 crore) to become the world’s most populous nation with 142.86 crore people, according to  United Nations Population Fund, but the news has come with a demographic dividend —about 50 percent of India’s population is below the age of 25 years. https://opinionexpress.in/surat-court-rejects-rahul-gandhis-request-to-put-on-hold-conviction-in-defamation-case Surat sessions court rejects Rahul Gandhi's request to put on hold conviction in a defamation case, he will have to appeal for relief in the Gujrat High Court.  https://opinionexpress.in/nia-takes-over-probe-of-violence-at-indian-high-comm-in-london India's top investigation agency National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the case of protests and attempt to vandalise the Indian High Commission in London last month, a senior government official said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sn-agarwal-aiming-new-heights-creating-global-footprints Subodh Narain Agrawal is a thought-provoking visionary serial entrepreneur who has made relentless pursuits across multiple business domains in the last 40 years. Although he could easily make a footprint through his ongoing family business, he endeavored to make his path by tapping into unexplored domains. https://opinionexpress.in/heat-wave-gripping-the-country-imd Extraordinary heatwave conditions continued unabated as the temperature hovered in the range of 40 to 44 degrees Celsius over most parts of the country on Tuesday, with Hamirpur and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh sizzling at 44.2 degrees Celsius. Entire central India is suffering from above higher temperatures. https://opinionexpress.in/i-am-a-bjp-legislator-mukul-roy Veteran TMC leader Mukul Roy, who kept the political pundits guessing over his next move, on Tuesday night said he is still a BJP legislator and would like to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah as he is keen on returning to the party. https://opinionexpress.in/sudan-is-ingulfed-in-fire Serious fighting between the army and paramilitaries in Sudan has killed around 200 people and wounded over 2000 has left hospitals damaged and medical supplies and food in short supply Monday after three days of urban warfare. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-must-win-150-seats-to-safe-its-next-karnataka-government-rahul Former President & Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling BJP and RSS of attacking democracy and spreading hatred and violence in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/inflation-under-control-rbi The wholesale price-based inflation eased to a 29-month low of 1.34 percent in March on easing prices of manufactured products and fuel items, even though food articles turned costly. https://opinionexpress.in/jagdish-shettar-rebels-against-bjp-before-karnataka-elections BJP prominent face & Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress today after being dropped by the BJP as a candidate for next month's election, becoming the second prominent leader to switch sides since last week. Jagdish Shettar, a prominent Lingayat leader, resigned yesterday as an MLA and quit the BJP. He met with senior Congress leaders late last night, flying from Hubballi to Bengaluru in a special chopper. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-attacks-government-on-pulwama-incident Following the interview of the former Governor of J&K wherein he has made several accusations, the Congress party demanded answers from the Modi government on the outcome of the probe into the 2019 Pulwama incident in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed, asking why the CRPF personnel denied aircraft and were made to commute via road despite terror attack threat. https://opinionexpress.in/atiq-is-a-classical-product-of-criminalisation-of-indian-politcs Dreaded Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's killing is perhaps Uttar Pradesh's most shocking incident in years given the clout he enjoyed, particularly in eastern Uttar Pradesh, even from prison. Ahmed had over 100 criminal cases registered against him, including murder and kidnapping. He was recently sentenced to life imprisonment in a kidnapping case. Ahmed was also a five-term MLA and a former Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MP. https://opinionexpress.in/mafia-atiq-ashraf-gunned-down Dreaded jailed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by assailants while they were being escorted by police to a medical college.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-course-of-7-growth-rate-fm While observing that the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have estimated India to be the fastest-growing major economy in 2023, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the Indian economy will stay on course and is likely to grow at 7 percent in 2022-23. https://opinionexpress.in/japan-pm-attacked-unhurt In an incident, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed after an explosion at a western port on Saturday, NHK television reported, and a suspect was apprehended for allegedly throwing the explosive. https://opinionexpress.in/we-work-with-seva-bhaav-spirit-of-service-for-the-people-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the launch of new facilities such as AIIMS, Guwahati and medical colleges will strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Assam and the entire Northeast. https://opinionexpress.in/government-advisory-to-be-vigilant-on-covid In an upsurge, India today recorded 11,109 fresh Covid cases, taking the active infections beyond 49,622. Amid a gradual increase in the number of Covid cases, medical experts have said the virus' new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving the surge. However, they maintained that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get their booster shots. https://opinionexpress.in/todays-india-is-firm-assertive-fm The forces who indulge in cross-border terrorism against India for decades now know this is a "different India" which will give them a reply, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, stressing that today the country can meet its national security challenges posed by China and Pakistan. Addressing the Indian community in Uganda on Wednesday, Mr Jaishankar spoke about the transformation of the country into a new India. https://opinionexpress.in/mafia-atiq-ahmeds-son-killed-in-an-encounter-up-police Dreaded gangster Atiq Ahmed's son Asad, wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, was gunned down by Uttar Pradesh police in an encounter in Jhansi today. His co-accused Ghulam was also shot dead. Both Asad and Ghulam had a reward of ? 5 lakh on their heads. Asad Ahmed had been captured by a CCTV camera during the attack on Pal and was on the run since. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-will-win-300-seats-in-lok-sabha-2024-amit-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that the BJP will win more than 300 Lok Sabha seats across the country in next year's general elections and return to power for the third consecutive term with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-infections-rise-is-a-matter-of-concern-experts Corrective precautionary measures are required to check the rise of covid infection in India. India added a single-day rise of 7,830 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the highest in 223 days, and the count of active cases in the country has increased to 40,215, according to the data released by the Health Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/icprd-pitch-for-a-better-world India Centre for Policy Research & Development (ICPRD) is a Policy and Advocacy think tank headquartered in New Delhi. We take this opportunity to inform you that we organised a Conference/Summit “Amrit Manthan: India’s Sustainable Transition” on Friday, 7th April 2023 at 02:30 pm in WTC, (World Trade Centre), Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. This event was organised by the experts and policymakers for Climate Resilient India where the experts from worldwide spoke on People Planet and Profit 3P’s of the sustainable model & its impact, Just Transition in Community development and Green funds allocated & the action plan for the execution as related in COP 27 global event. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-gandhi-accuses-modi-government-of-undermining-the-constitution Ex-Congress president Sonia Gandhi today said with the Narendra Modi government bent on "misusing every power" and elections approaching in several key states, her party will take its message directly to people and join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/fm-invites-american-businesses-to-invest-in-india Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged American businesses to invest in the country while asserting that India meets the requirements of a fair and transparent economy,        https://opinionexpress.in/aap-is-a-national-party-ec Aam Aadmi Party, which emerged out of Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement in 2012, got elevated to a national party status on Monday. The party is currently in power in two states - Delhi and Punjab. The Election Commission said the AAP has been named as a national party based on its electoral performance in four states - Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat. https://opinionexpress.in/the-future-of-us-india-economic-relations-post-pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on economies around the world, and the relationship between the United States and India has not been immune to this disruption. However, as the pandemic subsides and the world begins to emerge from its economic slumber, the future of US-India economic relations looks bright. https://opinionexpress.in/china-escalates-tensions-near-taiwan In an escalation of tensions, China said fighter jets carrying "live ammunition" had conducted "simulated strikes" near Taiwan on Monday, and that its Shandong aircraft carrier was involved in the ongoing exercises. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-stands-at-no1-position-in-times-magazine-most-influential-persons-list Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has secured the top position in Time Magazine's poll for its annual TIME100 list. In the poll, the magazine readers vote for the individuals they believe deserve a spot on TIME's annual list of the most influential people. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-military-maneuvers-near-taiwan-raise-risk-of-conflict In a continued aggressive stand, Chinese fighter jets and warships simulated strikes on Taiwan Sunday as they encircled the island during a second straight day of military drills that were launched in response to its president meeting the US House speaker. The exercises sparked condemnation from Taipei and call for restraint from Washington, which said it was "monitoring Beijing's actions closely". https://opinionexpress.in/pm-attacks-dynasty-politics-in-telangana Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Telangana's ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and its chief K Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, while accusing them of obstructing the centre's development projects and indulging in 'parivarvaad' (family rule) and corruption. https://opinionexpress.in/sharad-pawar-punctures-the-adani-campaign-of-rahul-gandhi After the Hindenburg report, the Mumbai club punctured the opposition unity to target Adani. After a complete washout of the parliament session, one of the country's senior opposition leaders has shredded the high-pitched campaign for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe that stalled all business in the country's most important legislative body. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-bright-spots-in-gloomy-global-economy-imf In a validation of the emerging Asian power center, the IMF chief said that the world economy is expected to grow at less than 3 percent this year, with India and China expected to account for half of the global growth in 2023. International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that a sharp slowdown in the world economy last year following the raging pandemic and Russia's military invasion of Ukraine would continue this year. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-keeps-interest-rate-unchanged In an expected move, after raising interest rate by a cumulative 250 basis points in 11 months, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday unexpectedly kept the benchmark rate unchanged as global banking woes added uncertainty to the economic outlook. https://opinionexpress.in/democracy-is-in-danger-taiwan-prez ROC Taiwan's president expressed gratitude for a meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday, saying it showed her island was "not isolated" on the international stage -- but Beijing soon after threatened a "resolute" response. Tsai Ing-wen, who was greeted by the top Republican in California, said she had received a warm welcome in the United States from politicians on both sides of the aisle. https://opinionexpress.in/ncert-revised-content-related-to-gandhi In a tactical shift of setting up historical perspective right, "Gandhiji's death had magical effect on communal situation in the country", "Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists" and "Organisations like RSS were banned for some time" are among the portions missing from the class 12 political science textbook for the new academic session. https://opinionexpress.in/claims-counter-claims-for-arunachal-pradesh-hits-the-headlines Soon after India out rightly rejected China's attempt to rename places of Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing on Tuesday claimed its "sovereignty" over the region. In a regular press conference, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, "Zangnan (Arunachal Pradesh) is part of China's territory. In accordance with relevant stipulations of the administration of geographical names of the State Council, competent authorities of the Chinese government have standardized the names of some parts of Zangnan. This is within China's sovereign rights." https://opinionexpress.in/auto-sales-zooms-in-india In an encouraging signal of a booming economy, automobile retail sales grew in double-digits in the country last fiscal, driven by a record offtake of 36 lakh passenger vehicles, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-rupee-sinks-to-a-new-low The crisis-ridden Pakistani rupee sank to ? 287.29 against the US dollar, a record low on Tuesday as the cash-starved country struggles to unlock critical International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding while dwindling foreign exchange reserves become another source of concern for investors, a media report said. In the interbank market, the local unit closed at 287.29 against the US dollar, 0.78 percent or ? 2.25, down from Monday's close of 285.04, Pakistan's Geo News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/beijing-ready-to-boost-ties-with-moscow-and-new-delhi Just after Russian President unveiled the new foreign policy stating that India, Russia and China are emerging "major powers" with notable influence, Beijing is following the track by being ready to boost ties with Moscow and New Delhi, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-key-to-fight-systemic-corruption-pm PM Narendra Modi said that building a developed India is not possible without professional and efficient institutions and the CBI, therefore, has a huge responsibility,   https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-to-appeal-against-conviction-in-defamation-case After a quick deliberation, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear in a Gujarat court today to appeal against his conviction and two-year sentencing in a 2019 defamation case. https://opinionexpress.in/be-ready-for-a-scorching-heat-wave-met-dept In a warning issued by experts, most of India, barring parts of the northwest and peninsular region, is expected to experience above-normal maximum temperatures from April to June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. It said the above-normal heatwave days are predicted in most parts of central, east and northwest India during this period. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-seeks-pm-degree-details-again In a continued attack, a day after the Gujarat High Court fined Arvind Kejriwal and ruled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degree details were not needed, the Delhi Chief Minister doubled down on his charge. Arvind Kejriwal said the Gujarat High Court order raises a lot of questions over the Prime Minister's education. "It's important that the Prime Minister has to be educated because he has to take a lot of decisions," Arvind Kejriwal said. https://opinionexpress.in/abu-dhabi-shiekh-nahyan-designates-his-son-khaled-as-crown-prince The President of UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed his eldest son Khaled as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, placing him next in line to take over as the federation leader. https://opinionexpress.in/resolution-condemning-hinduphobia-passed-in-georgia-us-state US' Georgia Assembly has passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia, making it the first American state to take such a legislative measure. Condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, the resolution said Hinduism is one of the world's largest and oldest religions with over 1.2 billion adherents in over 100 countries and encompasses an array of diverse traditions and belief systems with values of acceptance, mutual respect and peace. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-indicted-by-ny-grand-jury-over-hush-money-payments Former US President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury over hush money payments made to a porn star during his 2016 campaign, making him the first former US president to face a criminal charge and upending his bid to retake the White House in 2024. https://opinionexpress.in/india-unveils-2-trillion-export-push-foreign-trade-policy-2023 The Indian government today came out with Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 which seeks to boost the country's exports to $2 trillion by 2030 by shifting from incentives to remission and entitlement based regime. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-stands-no1-position-at-twitter Billioner Elon Musk has surpassed former US president Barack Obama as the most followed account on Twitter, five months after he bought the platform in a tumultuous takeover.The founder of Tesla and SpaceX on Thursday had 133,084,560 Twitter followers, a nose ahead of Obama, who had 133,041,813. https://opinionexpress.in/what-is-the-american-chamber-of-commerce The Chamber is a national association of 3,500 member organizations that represent businesses across America and around the world. Our mission is to improve the environment for business, protect consumer interests and create jobs by working with federal, state and local governments to implement policies that foster economic growth. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-is-growing-at-steady-speed-goi In a worsening trend, India recorded 3,016 new Covid cases in the past 24 hours, a 40 percent jump since yesterday. The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 2.7 percent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.71 percent. https://opinionexpress.in/india-indeed-is-the-mother-of-democracy-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the country has become the fastest-growing major economy despite many global challenges and this proves that democracy can deliver because India has delivered governance to over a billion population.  . https://opinionexpress.in/karnataka-to-vote-on-10-may-ec Karnataka will vote on May 10 to elect a new government and members to its 224-seat assembly, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday. The results will be declared on May 13. https://opinionexpress.in/the-war-against-corruption-will-go-on-pm In an open declaration of war against corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, called it a "coming together of the corrupt on one stage". In one of his strongest speeches outside of election campaigns, PM Modi targeted the entire opposition amid 14 parties' move to go to the Supreme Court, alleging misuse of central agencies. "We have a strong foundation of constitutional institutions. That's why to stop India, constitutional institutions are being attacked," PM Modi said at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-extends-aadhar-pan-linking-by-3-months The government today extended the deadline for linking PAN and Aadhaar by three months to June 30, 2023, to provide some more time to taxpayers, an official statement said. https://opinionexpress.in/police-crackdown-in-punjab-is-harsh-akal-takht In a mounting trouble for Punjab government, the Akal Takht has issued a strong statement against the Bhagwant Mann government and the centre over the Punjab Police crackdown against separatist preacher Amritpal Singh, questioning why similar action is not taken against "those who demand Hindu Rashtra". https://opinionexpress.in/glorious-history-of-kamboja-clan Excerpts from Mahroks: The Story of the Kambojas, Sikhs and Shaheeds https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-fires-defense-minister A defiant Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defence Minister Yoav Galant a day after he broke ranks, citing security concerns in calling for a pause to the government's controversial judicial reforms. On a day when 200,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest the reforms, Galant -- who had been a staunch Netanyahu ally -- on Saturday said "we must stop the legislative process" for a month in view of its divisiveness. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-is-valued-at-20b-elon-musk Billionaire Elon Musk has put the current value of Twitter at $20 billion, less than half the $44 billion he paid for the social media platform just five months ago, according to an internal email seen by American news media. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-on-the-prowl-in-india In a news to be taken seriousy, India logged 1,890 new coronavirus cases, the highest in 149 days, while the active cases increased to 9,433, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The country had recorded 2,208 cases in a single day on October 28 last year. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-is-not-savarkar-wont-apologise-to-bjp A combative and aggressive Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tore into Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after the top opposition leader was disqualified from parliament. Rahul Gandhi claimed the Prime Minister is scared of his next speech and used a Veer Savarkar reference to answer why he didn't apologise over his remarks in London and during the defamation trial in which he was convicted. https://opinionexpress.in/finally-india-will-have-a-full-time-amb-eric-garcetti In a relief to the diplomatic communities of both countries, Eric Garcetti, President Joe Biden's close aide, was officially sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by Vice President Kamala Harris, ending over two years of delay to fill one of Washington's most critical diplomatic positions. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-disqualified-from-ls Former Congress president and party leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case. Announcing his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in a notification said that it was effective from March 23, the day of his conviction. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-convicted-for-criminal-defamation-ls-seat-is-at-stake Ex President & Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison today in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname by a court in Gujarat's Surat. However, he was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the decision. https://opinionexpress.in/india-likely-to-face-serious-water-crisis-in-2050-un The growing population, rapid urbanisation, and no futuristic policy can lead to serious consequences for India. India is expected to be the most severely affected as the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050, a flagship UN report said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-fed-voices-banking-sector-concerns To face the upcoming challenge, the US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark lending rate on Wednesday, as it sought to strike a balance between curbing high inflation and averting further upheaval in the commercial banking sector. The quarter-point increase, which was in line with expectations, lifted their interest rate target to between 4.75 and 5 percent at the end of a two-day policy meeting, the Fed said in a statement. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-putin-friendship-is-forced-and-temporary-usa The statement by John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, came as Putin hosted the Chinese leader that In President Vladimir Putin and Russia, Chinese President Xi Jinping sees a counterweight to the American and NATO influence in the world.  https://opinionexpress.in/adani-issue-rocks-parliament The entire opposition party leaders on Tuesday held a protest in the corridors of Parliament House and raised slogans demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue. They also hung a banner that read "We want JPC" from the first floor of the Parliament building. Leaders of opposition parties had earlier met in the Parliament complex and decided to press for a JPC probe into the Adani issue. Leaders of opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, RJD, CPI-M, CPI, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JDU, JMM, IUML, AAP, MDMK, attended the meeting in the chamber of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-is-the-worlds-most-important-foreign-political-party-wall-street-journal India's BJP is the world's most important foreign political party and it may also be the least understood according to an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal authored by Walter Russell Mead. https://opinionexpress.in/us-banking-is-in-mess-study A new study has found that 186 US banks are at risk of meeting a similar fate, after the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, The major reasons for this are rising interest rates and high proportion of uninsured deposits, said the report. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-missions-attacked-by-khalistanis-goi-condemns-the-action In a well-coordinated attempt to press for the message, Khalistan supporters pulled down the national flag at the Indian High Commission building in London, videos of a huge mob was seen attacking the Indian Consulate in US's San Francisco while loud Punjabi music blared in the background. They also spray-painted a huge graffiti saying "Free Amritpal" on the outer wall of the building. https://opinionexpress.in/japan-pm-fumio-kishida-arrives-in-india Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in New Delhi to explore ways to boost bilateral ties in a range of areas, including defence and security, trade and investment, and high technologies. In their talks later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PM Kishida are also set to discuss priorities for India's presidency of G20 and Japan's presidency of the G7. https://opinionexpress.in/collegium-system-is-best-suited-for-judges-appointment-cji While speaking at the India Today Conclave, 2023, the CJI said the judiciary has to be protected from outside influences if it has to be independent. Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said that not every system is perfect but this is the best system available for the appointment of judges while defending the Collegium system of judges appointing judges, a major bone of contention between the government and judiciary. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistan-leader-amritpal-singh-likely-to-be-arrested-soon-punjab-police In a swift action by law agencies including RAW & IB, Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh is likely to be arrested soon as he is on the run from the Punjab police and a search is on to trace him, officials have said. https://opinionexpress.in/lac-situation-is-dangerous-jaishankar The government is concerned about the LAC China issue. The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh remains "very fragile" and is "quite dangerous" in military assessment because of close deployments of troops by both India and China in some pockets, though "substantial" progress has been made in the disengagement process in many areas, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/third-front-takes-shape-with-sp-tmc-coming-together On Friday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that his party would maintain equidistance from the Congress and the BJP. He said that to defeat the saffron camp, the SP would stand firmly with Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee. https://opinionexpress.in/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-against-putin In a surprising move, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. The Hague-based ICC said it had also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights, on similar charges. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-alerts-indian-banks-amidst-svb-crisis Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has cautioned banks against any build-up of asset-liability mismatches, saying both are detrimental to financial stability and hinted that the ongoing crisis in the US banking system seems to have emanated from such mismatches. https://opinionexpress.in/uss-largest-banks-pledge-billions-to-avoid-another-svb-like-collapse USA largest banks moved Thursday to shore up the First Republic, easing fears that the regional lender could be the next domino to fall after collapses including Silicon Valley Bank.A consortium of 11 US private banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, announced they would deposit $30 billion into First Republic. https://opinionexpress.in/k-kavitha-skips-ed-notice-to-appear-fresh-summons-issued-for-20-march In an unusual legal situation, the Enforcement Directorate has issued a fresh summons for March 20 to BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi excise policy money laundering case, after she skipped Thursday's notice citing her pending plea before the Supreme Court where she has sought protection from arrest and quashing of summons in the case, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/below-3-percent-cases-are-against-politicians-ed In a move to counter the narrative that ED is used by the government to attack political opponents, the Enforcement Directorate has said that only 2.98 percent of its overall ECIRs or complaints have been filed against serving or former MPs and MLAs even as its conviction rate under the anti-money laundering law is at a high of 96 percent. https://opinionexpress.in/foreign-lawyers-firms-can-practice-in-certain-areas-bci The Bar Council of India (BCI) has decided to permit foreign lawyers and law firms to practice in areas such as foreign law, international legal issues and arbitration matters, which it said will be mutually beneficial for lawyers from India and abroad. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-to-adopt-a-conventional-approach-for-karnataka-elections The BJP has a different trick for Karnataka than the rest of the places. The BJP is making a break from its usual election model for Karnataka, giving recognition to a different polity and manner of voting. The strategists indicated that the departure from the norm followed in the Hindi heartland and in Gujarat is expected to work in the southern state, where the party is hoping for a second consecutive term. Assembly elections are due in the state in May. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-acceptability-is-phenomenal-in-india-dattatreya At the conclusion of RSS meeting at Kaithal, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said that Rahul Gandhi should speak more responsibly and see the reality of the Sangh's acceptance in society after the Congress leader repeatedly targeted the organisation in his recent speeches. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-is-the-main-indias-main-weapons-supplier Russia remains India's main source of weapons even as the nation has drastically trimmed purchases, highlighting the challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi of recalibrating New Delhi's dependence on Moscow, while its borders with both China and Pakistan remain tense.Russian weapon imports dropped by 19 per cent for the five year period starting 2018 compared to a similar time frame earlier, according to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an independent think tank which studies conflict, weapon sales and disarmament. https://opinionexpress.in/global-stock-markets-hit-by-svb-storm Global financial stocks have lost $465 billion in market value in two days as investors cut exposure to lenders from New York to Japan in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.Losses widened today, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Financials Index dropping as much as 2.7% to the lowest since Nov. 29. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. slid as much as 8.3% in Japan, while South Korea's Hana Financial Group Inc. fell 4.7% and Australia's ANZ Group Holdings Ltd. lost 2.8%. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slides BSE index of Indian shares fell more than 1% in volatile trading, dragged by a selloff in financial stocks, while the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank weakened sentiment. The S&P BSE Sensex dropped 1.4% to 58,309.51, as of 2 pm IST. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities on Sunday announced plans to limit the fallout from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), easing fears of contagion. "Selling in the banking sector In India is not directly linked but as of now one can say it is more of a sentimental impact," said Anita Gandhi, director at Arihant Capital Markets. Indian analysts don't expect a ripple effect of the SVB crisis on the domestic financial system. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-slams-rahul-for-spreading-lies While addressing a poll rally in Karnataka, PM Narendra Modi hit out at Congress's Rahul Gandhi saying his remarks on democracy in India were an attack on the people of Karnataka, India, and God.  "It is unfortunate that from the soil of London, questions are being raised on Indian democracy," PM Modi said during his visit to Karnataka. "These people are insulting Bhagwan Basaveshwara, the people of Karnataka and the people of India. Karnataka must stay away from such people," he added in his address in the state, where assembly elections are due later this year. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-may-take-over-silicon-valley-bank Tesla/Twitter boss Elon Musk said that he is open to the idea of buying the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank and turning it into a digital bank. This came after an exchange of tweets between Min-Liang Tan, co-founder and CEO of Razer tweeted: "I think Twitter should buy SVB and become a digital bank". To which Musk replied: "I'm open to the idea". https://opinionexpress.in/tayyip-erdogan-seeks-reelection-in-turkey In a developing story, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking to extend his two decades in power, on Friday formally set the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections for May 14, a month earlier than scheduled despite last month’s devastating earthquake. https://opinionexpress.in/india-australia-trade-has-potential-to-cross-usd-100-billion-abbott “India shall always be the favoured choice for trade, business and investment opportunities for Australia as the country is emerging as a reliable supply chain partner in the post-pandemic period. The signing of the interim trade agreement with India shows our commitment to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and people-to-people contact,”  said H.E. Tony Abbott, Former Prime Minister of Australia, while speaking at the Business Forum Meeting organised by the All India Association of Industries (AIAI), The Green Billons Ltd. and India Australia Strategic Alliance in Mumbai. https://opinionexpress.in/silicon-valley-bank-collapse-global-stock-market-tumbles Global stock markets took a beating on Friday as US jobs data boosted the likelihood of further aggressive interest rate hikes, while bank shares wobbled amid the collapse of SVB.After sharp losses on Thursday, Wall Street's top indices had managed to peek into the green before regulators closed the troubled Silicon Valley Bank, sending stocks tumbling into the red again. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-raids-lalu-family-at-various-locations The Enforcement Directorate today conducted searches in multiple cities of Bihar and other locations, including premises of former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav's three daughters and RJD leaders, in connection with a money laundering investigation into the land for jobs 'scam' case. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-consolidates-leadership-position-in-china-sets-in-for-the-historic-3rd-term In a historic event, Xi Jinping was handed a third term as Chinese president, capping a rise that has seen him become the country's most powerful leader in generations. The appointment by China's rubber-stamp parliament comes after Xi locked in another five years as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in October. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-pursue-offensive-defense-policy-under-modi-us-intel The US intelligence community has informed lawmakers that it apprehends increased tension between India and Pakistan and India and China with the possibility of a conflict between them. It also noted that under the aggressive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to "perceived or real" provocations from Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/aiadmk-to-remain-with-nda-in-2024 In a relief to the NDA, the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has announced it would continue its alliance with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, amid much tension with the ally. The declaration, however, came with a rider. "The AIADMK will head the NDA in Tamil Nadu, BJP and others should come under us," said senior party leader D Jayakumar. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-holi-2023 HAPPY HOLI TO ALL READERS OF OPINION EXPRESS..... https://opinionexpress.in/celebrating-the-life-and-legacy-of-dr-hansraj-bharadwaj-a-trailblazing-politician-and-legal-icon Dr. Hansraj Bhardwaj, a stalwart of the Indian legal and political arena, passed away on March 8, 2020, leaving behind a legacy of legal reforms and initiatives that have had a lasting impact on the Indian judiciary. As we fondly remember him on his third death anniversary to be inspired by his lifetime achievements and service to the nation. Dr. Bhardwaj served as the Minister of Law and Justice of India for perhaps one of the longest times and was known for his unwavering commitment to the rule of law and judicial independence. https://opinionexpress.in/manik-saha-sworn-in-as-cm-tripura Underrated and sober Manik Saha took oath for the second time as Tripura Chief Minister today after the BJP clinched a victory in the February 16 Assembly polls. Eight other ministers were sworn in today at Agartala. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-sought-external-intervention-to-save-democracy-in-india-bjp Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's comment in London that India's democracy "has come undone" has provoked a backlash with the ruling BJP accusing him of "shaming the country" on foreign soil by "seeking foreign intervention". "BJP would like to emphatically state with great agony that Rahul Gandhi, in his speeches, has sought to shame India's democracy, polity, parliament, political system and judicial system," said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, accusing the Congress leader of telling lies. https://opinionexpress.in/conrad-sangma-repeats-oath-of-meghalaya-cm In an attempt to bring northeast to the mainland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma were among those present on the occasion.NPP president Conrad K Sangma took oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term. https://opinionexpress.in/japan-is-heading-for-population-deflation Japan will cease to exist if it can't slow a fall in its birth rate that threatens to wreck the social safety net and economy, according to an adviser to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida."If we go on like this, the country will disappear," Masako Mori said in an interview in Tokyo after Japan announced on Feb. 28 the number of babies born last year slumped to a record low.  https://opinionexpress.in/why-preferential-treatment-to-adani-jairam-ramesh The Congress alleged that the government has granted "monopolies" to the Adani Group, allowing it to "fleece" consumers who need to use essential infrastructure services such as airports and electricity. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-points-to-pm-regarding-defaming-india Congress's Rahul Gandhi has hit back at BJP over allegations that he had "defamed" the country abroad, alleging that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who did that by discrediting the country's achievements since Independence. The BJP has accused Mr Gandhi of maligning India abroad after repeated electoral defeats, after his address at his alma mater Cambridge University.   https://opinionexpress.in/central-agencies-misused-for-political-gains-opposition Eight major opposition parties have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging misuse of central investigation agencies to go after them, amid the political war over the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia. https://opinionexpress.in/in-a-symbolic-boost-pm-to-attend-oath-ceremony-of-ne-cms Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the oath ceremonies of chief ministers and other leaders in three northeast states, where the BJP will form government after the assembly elections held recently.PM Modi will attend the oath ceremonies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments in Nagaland and Meghalaya on March 7. The next day he will attend the ceremony in Tripura. https://opinionexpress.in/we-need-to-stand-up-against-injustice-kapil-sibal On Saturday, Ex Congress leader and Rajya Sabha leader Kapil Sibal announced a new platform to fight "injustice" prevailing in the country under the BJP-led government, calling on everyone, including opposition chief ministers and leaders, to support him in his fight for justice. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-defames-india-regularly-on-oversees-soil-anurag-thakur Union Minister Anurag Thakur while criticising former Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his statement regarding Pegasus, said that Pegasus existed in Gandhi's heart and mind and it had become his habit to defame India in foreign lands using the foreign media, agencies and friends. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-claims-his-phone-is-hacked-by-intel-agencies Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack at the Centre during a lecture at Cambridge University, alleging that an attack has been unleashed on the basic structure of Indian democracy while also claiming that Israeli spyware Pegasus was being used to snoop into his phone. Rahul Gandhi claimed that he had been warned by the intelligence officers to be "careful" while speaking on the phone as his calls were being recorded. https://opinionexpress.in/buoyant-gst-collection-in-feb In an indication of buoyancy in the economy, Goods and Services Tax collections rose 12 percent to more than Rs 1.49 lakh crore in February as domestic economic activities and consumer spending on high-end goods gained momentum. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-3-0-results-dominates-northeast-political-landscape In a rare electoral event in the northeast, Tripura: BJP-IPFT alliance gets a majority in 60-member assembly, returns to power, The BJP-IPFT alliance won 33 seats in the 60-member Tripura assembly, securing its return to power in the northeastern state for the second time in a row. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-set-up-committee-to-probe-hindenburg-revelations The Supreme Court set up a six-member committee of experts to examine issues arising out of the Adani Group's stock crash triggered by US short-seller Hindenburg's allegations. https://opinionexpress.in/a-big-order-on-ec-by-sc The Supreme Court today said Election Commissioners will be appointed by a panel including the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India, in a landmark verdict aimed at “maintaining the purity of elections”. The Chief Election Commissioners and two election commissioners, who oversee elections across the country, will be appointed by the President on the advice of the three-member committee, the Supreme Court said in a unanimous verdict. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-expansion-has-forced-bjp-to-arrest-sisodia-kejriwal AAP Leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have accused the BJP of attempting to sabotage his government's work in the health and education sectors through the arrest of his deputy Manish Sisodia. The liquor scam, he declared, "is an excuse" and if Manish Sisodia joins the BJP, "he would be free by tomorrow". "Corruption is not the issue. The motive was to stop the good work done by the ministers," Kejriwal said in his first interaction with the media since Sisodia's arrest. https://opinionexpress.in/businessmen-at-risk-sc-grants-z-secuirty-cover-to-ambani The Supreme Court has directed to provide the highest Z+ security cover to Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani and his family members throughout India and abroad. https://opinionexpress.in/india-gdp-growth-rate-slows-down The seesaw battle of numbers continues to unfreeze the Indian economy. India's economic growth slowed down to 4.4 percent in the third quarter of 2022-23 mainly due to poor performance of the manufacturing sector. https://opinionexpress.in/japan-fm-likely-to-skip-g20-summit-meet Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is unlikely to attend a meeting of G-20 foreign ministers in India from Wednesday, instead prioritizing parliamentary business, according to a government official.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-it-professionals-must-work-in-germany-chancellor German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, wrapping up a two-day visit to India, urged the country's IT specialists and other skilled workers to consider working in Germany. Looking for ways to tackle labor shortages in Europe's largest economy, Scholz said his coalition government was planning to reduce immigration hurdles and introduce a point-based system that would grant visas even to specialists who don't yet have a firm job offer in hand. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-win-2024-battle-kharge Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party looks forward to forging a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties to defeat the "anti people" BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. https://opinionexpress.in/manish-sisodia-arrested-by-cbi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to be arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia by a central agency. Manish Sisodia's colleague and Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was the first AAP minister to be arrested by a central agency in May last year. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistan-bogy-in-australia In escalating troubles, the Honorary Consulate of India in Australia’s Brisbane city was targeted by Khalistani supporters who raised the Khalistan flag at the office, the latest in a series of radical activities against the Indian community in the country, according to a media report on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/manish-sisodia-at-cbi-hq-to-be-questioned-in-liquor-scam Manish Sisodia, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister, at CBI's office for questioning in liquor policy case. https://opinionexpress.in/us-watching-china-pak-funding-saga The US administration is deeply concerned that the loans being given by China to India's immediate neighbourhood - Pakistan and Sri Lanka - may be used for coercive leverage, a senior State Department official has said. "Concerning Chinese loans to countries in India's immediate neighbourhood (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal), we are deeply concerned that loans may be used for coercive leverage," Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, told reporters ahead of the India trip of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-on-hiring-spree Tata-owned Air India plans to hire more than 4,200 cabin crew and 900 pilots this year as the Tata Group-owned airline expands its fleet and operations. The announcement comes close on the heels of the carrier ordering 470 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, including 70 wide-body planes. https://opinionexpress.in/ajay-banga-is-the-world-bank-president US President Joe Biden announced that the US is nominating Banga to lead the World Bank, saying the business leader is uniquely equipped to lead the global institution at "this critical moment in history." https://opinionexpress.in/india-abstains-on-un-ukraine-peace-resolution India yet again abstained in the UN General Assembly on Thursday on a resolution that underscored the need to reach as soon as possible a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace" in Ukraine in line with the principles of the UN Charter. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-no-to-gag-media-on-adani-hindenburg-reporting The top court today rejected a plea seeking to gag the media from reporting on the Adani-Hindenburg issue till the court pronounces its order. The Supreme Court had reserved its order on February 20 on a batch of PILs on the recent Adani Group shares crash triggered by the Hindenburg Research's fraud allegations. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-spokesman-pawan-khera-arrested-released-on-bail-by-sc Congress leader Pawan Khera was arrested at the Delhi airport today after he was deplaned from a flight to Chhattisgarh capital Raipur. Nearly 50 Congress leaders launched a rare protest on the tarmac, refusing to let the flight leave. Pawan Khera, a senior Congress spokesperson, was forced to exit the IndiGo flight. He was flying with a large group of Congress leaders to Raipur for a meeting of the All India Congress Committee.  https://opinionexpress.in/gates-lauds-india-for-innovations In a word of appreciation, Microsoft cofounder and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates said in his blog "Gates Notes" that India gives hope for the future and proved that the country could solve big problems at once even when the world is facing multiple challenges. In his blog, Bill Gates said that he believed that with the right innovations and delivery channels the world is capable of making progress on lots of big problems at once, even at a time when the world is facing multiple crises and usually he received the response like, "There isn't enough time or money to solve both at the same time." https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-free-to-meet-its-energy-needs-german-amb Oil-hungry India, the world's third-largest crude importer after China and the US, has been snapping discounted Russian oil after many Western countries shunned it as a means of punishing Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-shares-tumbles-to-reach-new-recent-low Equity shares of Adani Group firms fell sharply in morning trade on Wednesday in line with an overall weak trend in the equity market. Adani Enterprises stock tumbled 9.31 per cent on the BSE. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-wins-delhi-mayor-seat In an expected result though delayed unnessassryly, AAP's Shelly Oberoi defeated BJP's Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes to become the mayor of Delhi, MCD officials announced on Wednesday. Oberoi polled 150 votes while Gupta received 116 votes out of the total 266 votes polled. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-to-probe-snooping-case-against-manish-sisodia The Union Home Ministry has given a go-ahead to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to launch a probe against Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in an alleged case of snooping on rival parties. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-terms-live-transcription-of-its-hearing-as-a-huge-resource On an experimental basis, the Supreme Court began using artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing technology for live recording of its hearings. The live transcription has been launched in the courtroom of Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-pathaan-smashes-500-cr-mark SRK aka Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan isn't done shattering box office records. Now in its fourth week, the film is set to breach the ? 500 crore mark at the Indian box office, the first Hindi film to do so. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh reports that at the end of today's business, Pathaan will have hit the fifth century; the total earned till yesterday is ? 498.95 crore with ticket sales on Monday (Day 27) adding up to ? 1.20 crore. The combined business of the Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions of Pathaan already crossed the ? 500 crore mark last week. The film's worldwide gross is also set to cross ? 1,000 crore, another milestone. Pathaan was released on January 25. https://opinionexpress.in/char-dham-yatra-to-start-from-last-week-of-april The Kedarnath portals situated in the upper Garhwal Himalayas will be opened on April 25 after nearly six months of their closure during the winter season. The Char Dham temples, including Kedarnath, are closed every year in October-November due to extreme cold conditions. The gates of the Himalayan temple will be thrown open to devotees at 6.20 am on April 25, Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-granted-interim-relief-in-contempt-case Ex PM Imran Khan today appeared before the Lahore High Court which granted him protective bail in a case linked to violent protests outside the election commission, amidst high drama inside the court premises where hundreds of his supporters converged to show solidarity with him. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf activists staged a violent protest after 70-year-old Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the prohibited funding case last year. https://opinionexpress.in/joe-biden-visits-kiev In a surprise show of solidarity, US President Joe Biden made a surprise trip to Kyiv today ahead of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  https://opinionexpress.in/ed-raids-across-chhattisgarh Several locations were searched this morning by ED teams across the state. These include the homes of Durg MLA Devendra Yadav, Chhattisgarh Congress treasurer Ramgopal Agrawal, chairman of the building workers' welfare board Sushil Sunny Agrawal and state Congress spokesperson RP Singh. https://opinionexpress.in/india-crushes-aus-within-3-days-to-lead-by-2-0-in-test-series Host and dominant India defeated Australia by six wickets within three days in the second Test to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the four-match series. Chasing a target of 115 in the fourth innings, India comfortably reached home, thanks to Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten 31. During the innings, Virat Kohli became the fastest batter to score 25,000 international runs. https://opinionexpress.in/cash-deal-to-highjack-shiv-sena-raut Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut today claimed a "deal of ? 2000 crore" has taken place so far to "purchase" the Shiv Sena party name and its 'bow and arrow' symbol. https://opinionexpress.in/north-korea-fires-long-range-missile-over-japan Kim's North Korea confirmed that it had test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile as a warning to Washington and Seoul, saying the successful "surprise" drill demonstrated Pyongyang's "capacity of fatal nuclear counterattack". https://opinionexpress.in/jaishanker-slams-soros The controversial billionaire investor George Soros is old, rich, opinionated, and dangerous and invests resources in shaping narratives, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. https://opinionexpress.in/george-soros-attack-india-inc After billionaire investor George Soros said that Indian business tycoon Gautam Adani's recent troubles in the stock market would spur a 'democratic revival in India' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will 'have to answer questions', Union Minister Smriti Irani called upon Indians to unitedly respond to 'foreign powers who try to intervene in India's democratic processes'.  https://opinionexpress.in/communist-china-will-collapse-soon-nikki-haley PIO Republican leader Nikki Haley has said that like the erstwhile Soviet Union, Communist China will also end up on the "ash heap of history," as she issued a stern warning to Beijing in her first public appearance as a 2024 White House hopeful. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-mega-deal-to-create-million-jobs-in-us The mega Air India-Boeing deal will create up to a million jobs across several states in the US and will further deepen bilateral ties, President Joe Biden has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi. https://opinionexpress.in/india-claims-no1-slot-in-all-three-formats In a bounce back to the top, India claimed the top spot in the latest ICC Test rankings after winning the first Test encounter against Australia in Nagpur. Due to the comprehensive victory, Rohit Sharma and Co currently have 115 points – 4 points ahead of the second-placed Aussies. In the third spot, England is currently on 106 points but they will have a chance to improve their standing as they take on New Zealand in the Test series starting February 16. The victory also meant that the Indian spin duo – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – improved their rankings massively with impressive spells on a pitch that assisted their bowling. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-raids-to-burst-isis-modules In an aggressive action, around 60 locations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were raided by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) today in a massive crackdown against suspects having links with the terror outfit ISIS, sources have said. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-to-acquire-250-new-aircrafts Tata Group-led Air India will acquire 250 aircraft, including 40 wide-body planes, from Airbus, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on Tuesday. The Tata Group-owned airline will buy 40 wide-body A350 planes and 210 narrow-body aircraft. https://opinionexpress.in/nikki-haley-to-run-of-prez-2024-elections In a surprise move, former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced today that she is running for president in 2024, challenging fellow Republican candidate Donald Trump by proposing a "new generation" of leadership in Washington. https://opinionexpress.in/bbc-raided-by-it-department According to sources, income tax department officials conducted "survey" operations at BBC's Delhi and Mumbai offices. The development came just weeks after the BBC released a two-part documentary titled 'India: The Modi Question' on the 2002 Gujarat riots. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-and-sc-proposal-of-setting-up-expert-panel-on-regulatory-mechanism The Central government has no objection to a proposal for setting up a panel of domain experts to look into strengthening the regulatory mechanisms for the stock market, the Supreme Court was told on Monday while it was hearing pleas relating to the Adani stocks rout after the Hindenburg report. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-achieves-full-working-strength-of-34 Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Monday administered the oath of office to two new judges of the Supreme Court, taking the number of judges in the apex court to its full sanctioned strength of 34. https://opinionexpress.in/india-defense-exports-to-cross-5-billion-pm Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday inaugurated Asia's biggest Aero India show 2023 at the Yelahanka Airbase in Bengaluru, and said the country will not let go of any opportunity nor spare any effort to become a leading defence sector player. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-stocks-continue-to-book-losses Amidst the chaos, shares of Adani group of companies declined in morning trade on Monday, with flagship company Adani Enterprises falling over 4 percent after credit rating firm Moody's revised the rating outlook on four companies of the conglomerate to 'negative' from 'stable'. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-mayor-polls-postponed The proposed election of Delhi's Mayor, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed as the Supreme Court will now hear the matter on Friday. The decision came after the office of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor told the Supreme Court that it would postpone the February 16 election to a date after February 17. https://opinionexpress.in/india-routs-aus-to-take-1-0-lead-in-test-series India demolished Australia by innings and 132 runs in the first Test of the four-match series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. Off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin claimed a five-wicket haul, rookie Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami took two as India bundled out Australia for 91 runs in the guests' second innings. It was Ravichandran Ashwin's 31st five-for in Test cricket. https://opinionexpress.in/tripura-will-bless-bjp-pm The people of Tripura will bless BJP. Lashing out at the Congress-CPI(M) alliance in Tripura, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that old players of misgovernance have joined hands. https://opinionexpress.in/new-tax-regime-is-flexible-liberal-and-attractive-fm India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the new tax regime, which offers a rebate on annual income of up to Rs 7 lakh, will leave higher disposable income in the hands of people. https://opinionexpress.in/doval-calls-on-putin-to-talk-on-strategic-ties National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Russian President Vladimir Putin held wide-ranging discussions in Moscow and agreed to continue working towards implementing the strategic partnership between the two countries. https://opinionexpress.in/sslv-d2-orbits-3-satellites-successfully India got one more rocket to launch satellites. SSLV-D2 successfully orbited three satellites with its new rocket -- Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). https://opinionexpress.in/collegiums-must-include-members-not-represented-adequately-rijiju In an ongoing tussle, Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju, replying to a question on reservations in the judiciary in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, said that there is no reservation policy in the Indian judiciary presently but reminded the collegium to include those who are not represented adequately in the system. https://opinionexpress.in/investigate-hindenburg-report-under-sc-monitoring-pil In additional trouble for the Adani group, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to constitute a committee monitored by a retired apex court judge to inquire and investigate the Hindenburg Research report which has made a slew of allegations against the business conglomerate led by industrialist Gautam Adani. https://opinionexpress.in/turkish-disaster-and-lesson-to-learn A disaster of the century  https://opinionexpress.in/pm-projects-positivity-amidst-allegations-of-favoritism-to-adani-group In a spirited reply to the charges of opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the world was seeing its prosperity in India's growth story but a few "frustrated" persons were not ready to accept the achievements of the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-banking-system-is-robust-rbi RBI chief says Indian banking system stronger, larger to be impacted by 'case like this' Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday said the strength, size and resilience of the Indian banking system now are much stronger and larger "to be affected by a case like this" in reference to the developments at Adani Group. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhis-massive-attack-in-parliament-on-modi-adani-saga Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today launched a sharp attack in Lok Sabha (parliament) on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire Gautam Adani, whose companies are in the spotlight after US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research alleged stocks manipulation and accounting fraud by the group. https://opinionexpress.in/lawyer-gowri-was-being-sworn-in-as-an-additional-judge Lawyer Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri was being sworn in as an additional judge of the Madras High Court today, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions against her elevation as a judge. The petitioners had cited Ms Gowri's alleged hate speech against Muslims and Christians, arguing it made her unfit to take the oath. https://opinionexpress.in/go-in-the-polls-with-confidence-pm Gearing up for the battle royal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a poll mantra for BJP leaders to fight anti-incumbency in the 2024 general elections at a meeting of party MPs today. He said if the party lawmakers reach out to the voters, "there will be no anti-incumbency". "Party MPs should go to their constituencies and stay connected with the public," said PM Modi. https://opinionexpress.in/major-earthquake-rocks-turkey-syria A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing more than 1,500 people. Hundreds were still believed to be trapped under rubble, and the toll was expected to rise as rescue workers searched mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across the area. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-calls-for-urgent-discussion-on-adani-saga-in-the-parliament In a mounting attack on the Narendra Modi government over Adani saga, almost all the opposition parties, following a meeting at the chamber of the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, in the parliament building today, decided to raise the demand for a discussion on the report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research on Adani Group companies, and a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe in both the houses, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-in-negative-adani-share-free-fall-continues In the aftermath of Hindenberg's report, the ongoing selloff in Adani Group stocks further pressured domestic equities, with a greater impact on the Nifty 50 index. Shares of most Adani Group companies hit their lower circuit again, despite several assurances issued over the weekend to boost the confidence of broader stock investors. https://opinionexpress.in/us-visa-allocation-to-be-made-faster-us-embassy In a major relief to the visa seekers to the US, the appointment waiting period for a US visa is still over 500 days in most of India, despite attempts to cut the backlog, the US embassy in India today said that Indians who are travelling abroad can get a visa appointment at the US embassy or Consulate of their destination. Citing Thailand as an example, it said that the country has appointment capacity for B1 and B2 visas meant for travel and business purposes. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistans-former-president-pervez-musharraf-dies-in-dubai Pakistan's former President General Pervez Musharraf dies after a prolonged illness at Dubai hospital. He was taking treatment in overseas hospitals for a long time.  https://opinionexpress.in/tensions-mount-amid-the-shooting-of-chinese-balloon-by-us The US finally took an aggressive posture on the alleged spy balloon by shooting it with a missile. The Biden administration lauded the Pentagon for shooting down an alleged Chinese spy balloon off the US Atlantic coast  but China angrily voiced its "strong dissatisfaction" at the move and said it may make "necessary responses." https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-balloon-over-us-row-escalates-to-a-new-high The suspect spy Chinese balloon, of the size of three buses, laced with a significant number of payloads will probably be over the United States for a few days, the Pentagon confirmed, asserting that it has surveillance capabilities. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-tough-on-economic-bailout Sinking Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was giving the government a “tough time” during talks to restore the loan. The IMF mission led by Nathan Porter began talks on January 31 with the Pakistan side headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for the ninth review of the USD 7 billion assistance package. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-firm-linked-to-vision-loss-death-in-us Acting on the complaints, authorities swiftly acted after a Chennai-based pharmaceutical company was flagged by US authorities for fatal contamination in a line of eye drops, Tamil Nadu's Drug Controller and members from the Central Drug Control Authority conducted a late night inspection of Global Pharma Healthcare Private Limited. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-notice-for-bbc-documentary-ban The Apex Indian Court today issued notice to the Centre and sought a report within three weeks over an appeal against the ban on a controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegations linked to the 2002 Gujarat riots. The Supreme Court asked for the original record of the order to take down the documentary from the public domain. https://opinionexpress.in/jpc-probe-adani-matter-required-opposition In a fast-developing move, the Congress and other opposition parties demanded a Joint Parliament Committee or a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the Adani Group crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-market-cap-hit-by-over-100b India's Adani group shares plunged today at 12 noon after the Gautam Adani-led conglomerate shelved a $2.5 billion share sale amid a turbulent market, bringing its cumulative market capitalisation losses to $100 billion since last week's short-seller attack. https://opinionexpress.in/disruptive-innovation-shakes-up-an-industry-regularly Innovation, which is advancement over an existing product or idea, is a prerequisite for continuous improvement. But a disruptive innovation shakes up an industry once in a while. Disruptive innovation in business is not a new concept. It took birth in 1995 when it was proposed by one of the world’s leading thinkers on innovation Christensen along with his co-authors. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-20-last-full-budget-highlights Modi 2.0 last full Union Budget has the following highlights tabled in Parliament https://opinionexpress.in/india-crush-nz-by-168-runs-to-win-the-series-2-1 The young guns of Indian cricket have established a good team to bet world-class team NZ comprehensively. India beat New Zealand by 168 runs in the third and final T20 International to win the series 2-1 in A.bad. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-stocks-slides-to-a-new-recent-low In an ongoing asset wealth wipeout, Shares in business tycoon Gautam Adani's flagship firm nosedived again on Wednesday as the conglomerate fought short-seller allegations of accounting fraud. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-2023-is-focused-on-urban-middle-class-farmers-and-msme While presenting her last budget of Modi 2.0 in the parliament, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the economic agenda for the government's vision focuses on facilitating opportunities for citizens, providing strong impetus to growth and job creation as well as strengthening macroeconomic stability https://opinionexpress.in/budget-2023-session-underway Budget 2023 session underway, FM to present the budget from 11 am  https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-the-worlds-fifth-largest-economy-in-the-75th-year-of-independence Resurgent fastest growing economy India has already become the world’s fifth-largest economy in the 75th year of Independence and will reach the $3.5 trillion mark by end-March, said the Economic Survey tabled in Parliament. In real terms, the economy is expected to grow at 7 percent for the year ending March 2023. This follows an 8.7 percent growth in the previous financial year. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-collegium-recommends-allahabad-gujrat-hc-cj-for-sc-elevation In another round of elevation to SC, the Supreme Court Collegium today recommended to the Centre the names of Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Aravind Kumar for elevation as apex court judges. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-beaming-with-confidence-prez President Draupadi Murmu today said India has a "fearless, decisive government today" as she addressed a joint sitting of parliament on the opening of the Budget session. "The government will complete nine years soon. The biggest change today is that every Indian is at the peak of their confidence. Today, India is becoming a solution for the world's problems," President Murmu said in her debut address. https://opinionexpress.in/many-killed-injured-in-blast-at-peshawar-mosque In a tragic incident, more than 45 people were killed and 150 others injured after a blast ripped through a mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar city on Monday, according to officials. https://opinionexpress.in/shiv-sena-thackeray-faction-demands-sebi-investigation-into-adani-matter The Shiv Sena faction led Uddhav Thackeray on Monday demanded an SEBI investigation into alleged stock manipulation by the Adani group and "overexposure" of LIC and SBI funds in shares of the group companies. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-currency-on-a-historical-slide In a developing story, cash-strapped Pakistan's currency depreciated to its lowest against the US dollar in the interbank and open market and closed at 262.6 rupees.At one stage the currency depreciated to 265 rupees in the open market and 266 rupees in the interbank before making a slight recovery by the end of the day. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-threat-forced-india-to-join-quad-pompeo Pointing out a major shift in the foreign policy of India, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that India, which has charted an independent course on foreign policy, was forced to change its strategic posture and join the four-nation Quad grouping due to China's aggressive actions. India and China are locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over 31 months. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-epz-in-egypt-soon Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed confidence that a bilateral trade target of USD 12 billion could be achieved within the next five years by both countries, by diversifying the trade basket and focusing on value addition. https://opinionexpress.in/india-showcase-military-might-at-republic-day-parade The 74th Republic Day parade began from newly laid Central Vista Kartavya Path in New Delhi after a 21-gun salute was performed. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this year's chief guest, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi are among the dignitaries present at the venue. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-may-initiate-legal-action-against-hindenburg-research Post Adani Group's shares took a beating as Hindenburg Research made damaging allegations against it, the group on Thursday said it is examining legal options to take "punitive action" against the US activist investor for its "reckless" attempt to sabotage a share-sale at the conglomerate's flagship firm. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-biotechs-nasal-covid-vaccine-launched-in-india Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh launched Bharat Biotech's nasal Covid vaccine, iNCOVACC, on the occasion of Republic Day today. The world's first made-in-India intranasal vaccine was launched at Mandaviya's residence here. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-lost-few-patrolling-points-in-eastern-ladakh-report In a recently published classified report in almost all the national media, India has lost access to 26 of 65 patrolling points in Eastern Ladakh, a report by a senior police officer in the union territory has said, in a worrying new disclosure amid the country's standoff with China at various flashpoints along their tottery 3,500-km frontier. https://opinionexpress.in/india-egypt-are-strategic-partners India and Egypt today decided to elevate their ties to the level of a strategic partnership with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi vowing to expand ties in areas of defence and security, trade and counter-terror cooperation. https://opinionexpress.in/vc-investments-register-down-tread-in-india In a negative trend, Venture capital (VC) investments in Indian startups plunged over 38 percent in 2022 as economic uncertainty and market volatility affected fundraising and investment activities, GlobalData. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-is-wrong-in-putting-intel-report-public-rijiju With the ongoing conflict over judicial appointments, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju today strongly objected to the Supreme Court making public the government's objections to candidates recommended for judges. https://opinionexpress.in/india-regains-no1-spot-in-odi-wins-series-against-nz-3-0 Regaining ODI NO 1 position, India thrashed New Zealand by 90 runs in the third and final ODI to complete a clean sweep of the three-match series at Indore. https://opinionexpress.in/judges-are-not-elected-but-people-judge-them-from-their-judgements-rijiju Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said that as the judges are not elected, they do not face public scrutiny but people watch them and make assessments about them from the way they deliver justice,  https://opinionexpress.in/big-boss-16-season-will-witness-turmoil Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will be seen blasting at Tina for talking ill about Shalin Bhanot with co-contestant Priyanka Choudhary in the upcoming BB16. . https://opinionexpress.in/major-power-breakdown-in-pak Pakistan faced a major power breakdown on Monday due to a "frequency variation" in the national grid, leaving millions of people in large parts of the country, including the capital Islamabad and financial hub Karachi, without electricity. https://opinionexpress.in/subhash-chandra-bose-a-matter-of-national-conscience-for-the-people-of-india Subhash Chandra Bose: A question of, by, and for the conscience of the people of Bharat. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-to-carry-out-mega-air-exercise-in-northeastern-region To keep the border strong, the Indian Air Force will carry out a mega exercise covering the Northeastern region early next month to check its combat readiness, amid a fresh spike in tension with China along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-initiative-to-cut-visa-application-time-us-embassy The US has launched new initiatives with an aim to cut delays in visa processing in India, including scheduling special interviews for first-time applicants and increasing the strength of consular staff. As part of the multi-pronged approach to cut the visa backlog, the US embassy in Delhi and the consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad conducted "special Saturday interview days" on January 21. https://opinionexpress.in/california-shoot-out-takes-over-nine-human-life In another shootout in the USA, nine people were killed in a mass shooting in the city of Monterey Park, California, late on Saturday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. "Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide detectives are responding to assist Monterey Park Police Department with a shooting death investigation. There are nine deceased," the department said in a brief statement. https://opinionexpress.in/taking-on-govt The Supreme Court seems to have decided to take on the Government over the issue of the appointment of judges. Putting up its communication with the Centre in the public domain, the collegium judges, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, have made it clear that they are not going to take the almost daily badgering from the Centre lying down. Making the communication public was a big decision for them; the top judges reportedly deliberated for four days before taking this unprecedented step. Till the time of writing these lines, there has been no response from the Government to the SC’s communication. This is not a desirable situation; the judiciary and the executive should act in harmony, not in conflict. Owing to differences in perspectives and lines of thinking, there can be occasion friction; this happens elsewhere as well. In the United States, for instance, the differences become pronounced over important matters like gun control and abortion. The tensions, however, cannot be allowed to linger on for longer periods; but, unfortunately, that is what is happening. In 2015, the apex court struck down the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC), the alternative judges’ appointment mechanism. Since then, the Government has been smarting under that ruling. In the last few months, its unease over the collegium system has been articulated by many a personage — from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and Lok Sabha Speak Om Birla. Worse, the articulation has sometimes bordered on abrasiveness. https://opinionexpress.in/india-crush-nz-to-win-odi-series India outplayed New Zealand by eight wickets in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at Raipur.  https://opinionexpress.in/centre-blocks-bbc-documentary-critical-of-pm-modi The Modi government has ordered Twitter and YouTube to take down links to a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tweets and YouTube videos of the documentary titled "India: The Modi Question" no longer appear on microblogging and video-sharing websites. https://opinionexpress.in/new-rules-framed-for-influencers-on-social-media A set of new guidelines named 'Endorsement Know Hows - for celebrities, influencers and virtual media influencers (Avatar or computer generated character) on social media platforms' has been issued by the Department of Consumers Affairs. https://opinionexpress.in/china-is-expanding-pla-despite-a-failing-economy The next great war may come out of some damned foolish thing in the South China Sea or the East China Sea. Alliances are as old as civilisation. Older, actually: almost every hunter-gatherer band that anthropologists have studied, from the New Guinea highlanders to the Yanomamo in the Amazon, made alliances with other groups to try to protect themselves. https://opinionexpress.in/silicon-valley-layouts-continues-unabetted In a series of layouts, the Big Tech league of Amazon, Meta and Microsoft, Google's parent company Alphabet is now laying off 12,000 employees, or about 6 percent of its workforce.  https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-fined-pilot-license-suspended-in-peegate-scandal In a strict measure. Air India has been fined ? 30 lakh and the licence of the pilot-in-charge of its New York-Delhi flight on which a drunk passenger peed on a woman has been suspended for three months by the aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation. "We acknowledge gaps in our reporting and are taking relevant steps to ensure that they are addressed," said the airline after the watchdog's action. https://opinionexpress.in/no-shortcuts-will-work-on-the-fertiliser-subsidy Propelled by the need to return to fiscal consolidation path and targeting fiscal deficit as a proportion of GDP at 5.9 percent for the financial year (FY) 2023-24 (against 6.4 percent for FY 2022-23), the Union government is keen to rein in major subsidies. It wants to slash fertilizer subsidies from the likely actual of around Rs 250,000 crore during the current FY to Rs 140,000–150,000 crore during 2023-24. https://opinionexpress.in/india-wants-peace-with-in-neighborhood Reacting to the Pak PM's appeal of peaceful dialogue to normalise the relationship, India said it always wanted normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan, but there should be an atmosphere free from terror and violence for such ties. https://opinionexpress.in/nz-pm-resigns-on-high-moral-grounds New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Thursday she will resign next month. "For me it's time," she said at a meeting of members of her Labour Party. "I just don't have enough in the tank for another four years." https://opinionexpress.in/run-feast-at-hyd-india-just-manage-to-win A massive knock from Shubman Gill and a four-wicket haul by Mohammed Siraj guided team India to a victory by 12 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Opted to bat first, team India posted a total of 349/8 in 50 overs after Shubman Gill smashed 208 and brought up his maiden double ton. https://opinionexpress.in/elections-2023-underway The Assembly polls will be held in Tripura on February 16 and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27, with the counting of votes scheduled for March 2, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/japans-quick-response-to-chinese-threat India and Japan have common objectives in forging military agreements beyond military exercises and trade https://opinionexpress.in/indias-best-yet-to-come-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked BJP members to reach out to every section of society, including minorities such as Bohras, Pasmandas and Sikhs, without electoral considerations, party sources said here. https://opinionexpress.in/jp-nadda-bjp-prez-till-june-2024 Putting all speculations to rest, BJP president J P Nadda's term was extended till June 2024 at the party's national executive meeting on Tuesday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that it will win the 2024 Lok Sabha polls with a bigger mandate than in 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-anup-gupta-wins-chandigarh-mayor-election BJP nominee Anup Gupta was today elected as Chandigarh's new Mayor defeating Aam Aadmi Party's Jasbir Singh by one vote in the mayoral polls. According to officials, while Anup Gupta secured 15 votes, the AAP candidate got 14. https://opinionexpress.in/makki-designated-a-global-terrorist-by-un In a major development, Pakistan-based deputy leader of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Abdul Rehman Makki has been designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations, subjecting him to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. https://opinionexpress.in/sinking-himalaya-reflects-human-greed Heaven is literally falling to greed. It is just not Joshimath but even Tehri Garhwal, Karnaprayag, and Mussorie that are also sinking and so may be many other parts at the crest of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The Rs 12,000-crore Char Dham (CD) all-weather road projects spurring real estate are gobbling up all. https://opinionexpress.in/china-population-records-declining-trend PRC China has announced its first overall population decline in recent years amid an aging society and plunging birthrate. The National Bureau of Statistics reported the country had 850,000 fewer people at the end of 2022 than over the previous year. It counts only the population of mainland China while excluding Hong Kong and Macao as well as foreign residents. https://opinionexpress.in/how-to-brand-your-company-on-social-media Using social media to promote your business can be a powerful tool in the hands of a savvy marketing professional. Regardless of your company's size or industry, using the platform to your advantage can help improve your brand image and make it stand out from the crowd. The most important thing to keep in mind is to understand which social network your target audience uses, so you can focus your efforts on those that deliver the most bang for your buck. If you have a dedicated social media manager, you should have no trouble executing a multi-pronged social marketing plan. https://opinionexpress.in/income-inequality-has-grown-in-india-oxfam The richest one percent in India now own more than 40 percent of the country's total wealth, while the bottom half of the population together share just 3 percent of the wealth, a new study released by Oxfam on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-roadshow-drives-modi-to-the-centre-stage-of-the-battle-2024 A large number of enthused BJP workers and supporters lined the roads to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his roadshow here as the party's two-day national executive began in Delhi on Monday. In an atmosphere enlivened by music and the cheering crowd, the roadshow started from Patel Chowk and continued till the NDMC convention centre. People showered Modi with flower petals and chanted slogans in his support. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-national-executive-meeting-today The Bharatiya Janata Party's two-day national executive meeting, which is likely to endorse an extension of tenure for party national president JP Nadda and deliberate on its strategy for assembly and general elections, will start this evening in the national capital. Ahead of the big event, JP Nadda will hold a meeting with in-charges and co-in-charges from across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/backdoor-njac Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has written to the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, suggesting that the Supreme Court collegium that decides on judges' appointments should include representatives of the government, sources have said. This is an ongoing government pressure to bring transparency into judicial appointments. In a war of words over judges' appointments, several ministers and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have criticised what they believe is "opaqueness" of the judiciary. https://opinionexpress.in/india-thrashes-sl-by-over-300-runs-to-win-odi-series-3-0 ODI King Virat Kohli with an outstanding 166 not out, his third century in four innings, supported by skipper Rohit Sharma (42 off 49) and Shubman Gill (116 off 97) propelled India to a daunting 390 for five, enabling India to annihilate hapless Sri Lanka with a record 317-run win in the third ODI to sweep the series here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/bsp-to-go-solo-in-coming-elections-mayawati Sulking BSP chief Mayawati ruled out an alliance with any party for the assembly polls in various states and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Ms Mayawati made a strong pitch for the use of ballot papers in elections. Key states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana would go to polls this year, besides states from the northeast. https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-plane-with-72-on-board-crashes-on-runway Nepal has seen another plane crash, questioning the safety manuals of aviation.  A Kathmandu-bound plane carrying about 72 persons crashed in Nepal's Pokhara this morning, Yeti Airlines said. Nepali media reported at least 16 dead bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. There were 68 passengers and four crew members on board the plane that crashed between the old and new airports in the city, located in central Nepal. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-armed-forces-counted-among-best-in-world Indian armed forces is highly professional and counted among the best in the world due to the indomitable courage of the veterans and their sacrifices, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Saturday. Addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen on the occasion of the seventh Armed Forces Veterans Day celebrations here, he asserted that inspired by the contributions of veterans, all the three services of the armed forces, "is ready to face any challenge as a formidable instrument of the nation". https://opinionexpress.in/global-slowdown-hits-vodafone Vodafone Telecommunication's major player is reportedly planning to slash hundreds of jobs, mostly at its London-based headquarters, to cut costs in the global economic slowdown. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-mp-dies-during-bharat-jodo-yatra In an unfortunate incident, Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died of a heart attack during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab this morning. He was 76. Santokh Singh Chaudhary, the party's MP from Jalandhar, collapsed during the foot march in Punjab's Phillaur. He was taken to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance, where he died later. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-nod-to-cbi-to-prosecute-lalu In a major development, the Central Bureau of Investigation has got the Centre's sanction to prosecute former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with the land-for-jobs scam, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/stop-hate-speech-sc Hate speech regular incidents have drawn the attention of the Supreme court; The Supreme Court noted while seeking a report from the police officer probing the matters that "No palpable progress has been made by the Delhi Police in the investigation into cases of hate speeches made at religious assemblies in the national capital in 2021, https://opinionexpress.in/worlds-longest-river-cruised-on-the-ganges A luxury ship has made history while sailing from the Indian spiritual city of Varanasi on a voyage that will help usher in a new age of tourism on the subcontinent. The MV Ganga Vilas luxury ship will travel along the Ganges, India's holiest river, and other waterways through five states in western India, then into neighboring Bangladesh, visiting national parks, UNESCO World Heritage sites, big cities, and tourist destinations along the way. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-diaspora-committed-to-carry-indian-flag-high The doors of Indian institutions are always open for the Indian diaspora who will be equal partners in Amrit Kaal. https://opinionexpress.in/stay-alert-to-face-global-resource-crisis-narendra-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to various global challenges arising out of conflict, war and terrorism among others said that the world is in a state of crisis and it is difficult to predict how long this state of instability will last,  https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-searches-residences-of-former-finance-secretary-arvind-mayaram https://opinionexpress.in/ind-raps-up-the-odi-series-vs-sl Under pressure, KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 64, supported by a crucial knock from Hardik Pandya enabling India to defeat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets in the second ODI at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday. With the win, India secured an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series between the sides. India had won the first game by 67 runs. https://opinionexpress.in/dhankhar-attacks-judiciary-for-activism In another veiliding attack on Judiciary, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said the judiciary striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act in 2015 was "a scenario perhaps unparalleled in the democratic history of the world". He said parliamentary sovereignty and autonomy are quintessential for the survival of democracy and cannot be permitted to be compromised by the executive or judiciary. https://opinionexpress.in/telangana-first-woman-chief-secretary-takes-charge In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, Senior IAS officer A Santhi Kumari took charge as the new Chief Secretary of Telangana from Somesh Kumar on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/things-to-take-into-consideration-when-purchasing-luggage Have you ever shopped for luggage, and looked through the aisles and thought,Guest Posting, where do I start? There is a myriad of sizes, shapes and models of luggage that could the buyer be confused. Making the right choice of luggage is an essential choice for anyone who travels. Not only can a quality item last for a long duration, but it could make your journey much more enjoyable and hassle-free. If you're on the move and away from your home this can mean a lot. Here are some suggestions to take into consideration when purchasing new luggage. https://opinionexpress.in/rrr-conquered-the-event-at-the-golden-globes-pm-congratulates-team-rrr RRR conquered the event at the Golden Globes. SS Rajamouli's blockbuster won Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu, one of the two categories it was nominated in. It missed out on the Best Non-English Language Film which was won by Argentina, in 1985 from Argentina.  https://opinionexpress.in/saudi-arab-explores-ways-to-help-sinking-pakistan All weather friend Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has ordered exploring increasing the kingdom's assistance and investments in Pakistan, a step toward furthering relief to the South Asian nation's economy reeling from deadly floods, bad economy, political instability and gross mismanagement.  https://opinionexpress.in/maharashtra-case-to-be-heard-on-14-feb-2023 The Supreme Court scheduled the hearing of the matter arising out of the rebellion by Eknath Shinde and other MLAs against Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in Maharashtra, on February 14. https://opinionexpress.in/rear-wheel-thar-unleashed-by-mahindra Market leader Mahindra & Mahindra launched new versions of its sports utility vehicle Thar with price starting at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The new range includes rear wheel drive variants (without 4 wheel drive capability) in two engine options with manual and automatic transmissions, the auto major said in a statement. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-tightens-grip-over-terror-funding-in-punjab Indian origin Canada-based Aarshdeep Singh Gill, who has been involved in targeted killings, terror financing and extortion in Punjab, was designated as a terrorist by the government based on the confidential report of NIA. https://opinionexpress.in/pbd-2023-starts-with-a-bang-at-indore The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Madhya Pradesh's Indore was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. The theme of the PBD convention is 'Diaspora: Reliable partners for India's progress in Amrit Kaal,' officials said. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on January 9 to mark the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Mumbai from South Africa on that day in 1915. Since 2015, the convention has been organised every two years to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/protest-in-israel In a developing story, thousands of Israelis took to the streets to protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government that opponents say threaten democracy and freedoms. The protesters gathered in the central city of Tel Aviv days after the most right-wing and religiously conservative government in the country's 74-year history was sworn in. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-is-spiritually-driven-bjp-is-ritual-focused-rahul In an ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants all people in the country should worship him, while the focus of the Congress is “tapasya”. https://opinionexpress.in/pio-manpreet-monica-singh-becomes-first-female-sikh-judge-in-usa In a great achiever list of PIOs, Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh has been sworn in as a Harris county judge, becoming the first female Sikh judge in the US. Ms Singh was born and raised in Houston and now lives in Bellaire with her husband and two children. https://opinionexpress.in/kochhars-set-to-be-freed-by-court In a swift move in the ongoing legal battle, former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar are set to be released after the Bombay High Court said their arrests were not in accordance with the law. They were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on December 23 in a case linked to alleged irregularities in an over ? 3,000-crore loan provided to the Videocon Group when Chanda Kochhar was heading the private sector bank. https://opinionexpress.in/cold-wave-sweeps-north-india The seasonal cold wave sweeping north India continued unabated, with minimum temperatures on Sunday hovering below normal limits at most places. https://opinionexpress.in/re-invented-twitter-to-be-unveiled-soon Twitter is set for big changes in its interface and the long-form text feature may be rolled out early in February, the platform's CEO Elon Musk announced today.In a tweet posted this morning, Elon Musk listed several changes in Twitter's user interface that will be introduced soon. https://opinionexpress.in/varun-gandhi-to-charter-a-new-political-journey By all accounts, BJP MP Varun Gandhi is on his way out of the party. In that event, he could either 're-align with his 'parental party' or would find a ‘third-alternative', write Deepak K Upreti and Dipak Kumar Jha https://opinionexpress.in/india-crush-srilanka-in-t20-series Rajkot: Belligerent Suryakumar Yadav shone with a belligerent hundred as India defeated Sri Lanka by 91 runs in the final T20I to claim the three-match series 2-1 here on Saturday. Suryakumar hit an unbeaten 112 off 51 balls as India posted an imposing 228 for five after opting to bat first. https://opinionexpress.in/digital-technology-is-next-big-revolution-globally It has not just changed the lives of people to a great extent but has changed their way of thinking and learning. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-is-on-a-mission-to-unite-india-jairam-ramesh Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Bharat Jodo Yatra has not been organised to project Rahul Gandhi as a prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, asserting that the foot march has nothing to do with elections. https://opinionexpress.in/up-filmy-dream Yogi Adityanath will have to rein in saffron activists if he wants the film city project to be successful https://opinionexpress.in/indian-gdp-growth-projected-at-7 The first advance GDP estimates, which are used to work out allocations and other fiscal projections for the next Budget due on February 1, proved to be more optimistic than the actual growth in three out of the last four years. https://opinionexpress.in/top-global-universities-to-open-campus-in-india-ugc The first Indian campuses of prestigious foreign universities may come up within two years, the chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC) told the press on Friday, a day after draft rules for the massive move were cleared. "We are trying to create more awareness about the new regulation. We are writing to 55 ambassadors of foreign countries who are located in New Delhi where these top universities are located," M Jagadesh Kumar said. https://opinionexpress.in/banks-should-be-part-of-up-development-yogi UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called upon the country's banking and financial world to become partners in the development of the country's most populous state – Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-assured-by-ag-regarding-judges-appointment The Modi government assured the Supreme Court that it will adhere to the timeline and expedite the judges' appointment process, while the top court pointed out that sending back reiterated names by the Centre was a matter of concern. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-take-years-to-heal-from-scares-of-hatred Senior Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Bharat Jodo Yatra was to take on the divisive ideology to build harmony and it was not an election-winning Yatra. Addressing a press conference here, he said, "I think we are late as we were more focussed on elections and this Yatra should have been earlier because it's battle of ideology and it may take years to nuetralise the poison of hatred spread by RSS." https://opinionexpress.in/ram-mandir-to-be-ready-by-1-jan-2024-amit-shah Senior BJP Leader & Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be ready by January 1 next year. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-destroyed-terror-outfits-in-the-entire-country Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the BJP-led government in Tripura has wiped out terrorism and brought all-around development to the northeastern state. Addressing a public rally here, Shah also said the immense love and faith shown by people towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi clearly indicate that BJP will again form government in Tripura. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-exports-more-crude-to-india-and-china Russia Federation has been sending more crude oil produced in the Arctic region to China and India, and at steeper discounts, after Europe slammed its doors shut on Russian supplies last month, trade sources and data show. Arctic grades Arco, Arco/Novy Port and Varandey do not normally head East but are now finding new homes further afield after the European Union, G7 nations and Australia introduced a price cap on Russian oil in December, on top of an EU embargo on Russian crude by sea. Sellers are selling the Russian crudes at bigger discounts as they absorb higher shipping costs. https://opinionexpress.in/amazon-lays-of-18k-employees In an expectation of ressiioncin 2023, Amazon confirmed it is laying off around 18,000 employees and several teams will be impacted, especially Amazon Stores along with People, Experience and Technology (PXT) organisations. Amazon CEO Jassy said in a statement that they were not done with the annual planning process as earlier mentioned, and "I expected there would be more role reductions in early 2023". https://opinionexpress.in/sm-krishna-hangs-his-boot-from-politics Known as the "modern architect of Bengaluru", he was instrumental in making the city the IT capital of the country, former Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna announced that he was retiring from active politics. His announcement comes just months ahead of the assembly elections in Karnataka. https://opinionexpress.in/extra-central-forces-rushed-to-kashmir The Central government has decided to deploy more troops in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir after the recent terrorist attack on Hindu families in the region. Top government sources say 18 companies of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) -- around 1,800 personnel -- are being rushed to Rajouri, where there is widespread panic following two terror attacks in a span of two weeks. Massive protests have taken place in the district, where many blame the administration for what they call its failure to protect the people. https://opinionexpress.in/nclat-admits-appeal-for-hearing-against-google The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Wednesday directed Google to pay 10 per cent of the Rs 1,337.76-crore penalty imposed on the tech giant by fair trade regulator CCI. https://opinionexpress.in/science-must-serve-the-people-better-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorted the scientists to make innovations in fields related to energy requirements, undertake “Integrated Disease Surveillance” and prepare vaccines for new diseases, maintaining that the scientific community must work to address the needs of the country and make it self-reliant https://opinionexpress.in/pm-connects-with-king-charles Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with King Charles III of the United Kingdom and the two discussed issues such as climate action, conservation of biodiversity and innovative solutions for financing energy transition, the PM's office said. https://opinionexpress.in/any-ministers-statement-cannot-be-attributed-vicariously-to-govt-sc A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice S A Nazeer said no additional restrictions, except those mentioned under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, can be imposed on a public functionary's right to freedom of speech and expression. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-is-a-fighter-priyanka Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today called her brother Rahul Gandhi a "warrior" and said he is not afraid of the might of the government which spent thousands of crores to destroy his image. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-has-rediscovered-himself-with-bharat-jodo-yatra-but-what-next Bharat Jodo Yatra takes a break. It is time they think about the Yatra’s future course and beyond. https://opinionexpress.in/demonitization-fueled-more-cash The value of the currency in circulation (or public holding of cash) stood at Rs 32.42 lakh crore as on December 23, 2022, according to Reserve Bank data. Six years after the shock move to ban 86 percent of the currency in circulation, cash is still the king with official data showing close to doubling of cash with the public. https://opinionexpress.in/freebies-are-a-ticking-time-bomb India has already suffered a great deal of damage because of freebies. Unfortunately, all the regional parties, and to some extent, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, indulge in irresponsible populism and mad welfarism. While there can be justification for free education and healthcare, there can be no justification for the distribution of grinders, washing machines, television sets, laptops, subsidised pilgrimages, free electricity, and farm loan waivers https://opinionexpress.in/new-parliament-building-will-be-operational-by-march-2023 The new Parliament building is likely to be inaugurated in March when the House convenes for the second part of the Budget Session. The officials associated with the development said work was going on in full swing on the Parliament building and is expected to be completed by the end of February. https://opinionexpress.in/china-outbound-travelers-face-strict-curbs-across-the-globe In a further tightening of policy, a dozen countries have slapped fresh travel regulations on travellers from China, as the world's most populous nation faces a surge in Covid cases following its decision to relax strict virus restrictions. Here is a run-down of the countries that have imposed mandatory Covid tests and other rules on arrivals from China: https://opinionexpress.in/up-setting-up-trend-to-attract-investment In an attempt to break the shackle of BIMARU state, Yogi led The UP State Industrial Development Authority has received proposals worth over Rs 1 lakh crores from investors for setting up industrial units in various districts of the state. Of these investment proposals, letters of intent (MoUs) worth Rs 83,000 crore have been signed, the UP government said in a statement issued here. These MoUs will be finalised during the Global Investors Summit to be held in Lucknow from February 10-12, 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/the-black-pearl Best described as poetry in motion, it was Pele’s character on and off the field  that made him a superstar  https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-galaxy-book-2-pro-360-with-snapdragon-8cx-gen-3-processor-up-for-sale Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 with Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 processor was unveiled by the South Korean tech giant on December 28. The new Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 comes with major performance improvements with the new Gen 3 processor, an upgrade from a previously launched laptop with 12th Gen Intel processor. The company first unveiled the Intel-powered Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 back in February. The new model was recently announced in South Korea and will be released on January 16. https://opinionexpress.in/there-is-a-huge-undercurrent-against-bjp-in-country-rahul-gandhi Former president of the Congress party Rahul Gandhi said there was a huge undercurrent against the BJP across the country and urged the opposition to unite to present an alternative vision to the people. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-can-be-a-prime-ministerial-candidate-nitish JD-U Leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made it clear that he had "no problems" with the Congress, his ally in the state, pushing for Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the next general elections. https://opinionexpress.in/rahuls-security-is-breached-multiple-times-congress The Congress party today wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging multiple breaches in the security of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and demanding proper protection for party leader Rahul Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-will-be-the-next-us-prez-medvedev Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, an arch loyalist of Vladimir Putin given a new job this week, predicted war between Germany and France next year and a civil war in the United States that would lead to Elon Musk becoming president. https://opinionexpress.in/presidents-advice-for-value-education-in-the-curriculum Indian President Droupadi Murmu stressed the importance of teaching value education to children to make them good citizens. https://opinionexpress.in/intranasal-covid-vaccine-to-be-launched-in-india Indian Vaccine maker Bharat Biotech's intranasal vaccine for Covid-19, the first in the world, is scheduled to be introduced in the country as a booster dose shortly. The vaccine, iNCOVACC (BBV154), is now available on CoWin, and priced at Rs 800 for private markets and Rs 325 for supplies to the Centre and state governments, the Hyderabad-based company said. https://opinionexpress.in/amitabh-on-freedom-of-speech Amitabh Bachchan airs Bollywood's pain as he talks about censorship and moral policing https://opinionexpress.in/indian-health-administration-is-gearing-up-to-face-the-covid-challenge Indian administrative setup is gearing up for any eventuality arising out of Covid19 crisis. A mock drill will be held across a number of health facilities in several states and Union territories to ensure their readiness to deal with any eventuality related to COVID-19, following an advisory by the Centre. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-government-on-mission-mode-to-avoid-replication-of-covid-horror GOI has issued directives for every state to ensure the readiness of the COVID-19 health facilities to meet the increase in clinical care needs due to any spurt in cases, the Union health ministry has asked the states and Union territories to hold mock drills at all health facilities on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/top-corporate-man-venugopal-dhoot-with-famous-banker-in-cbi-net-for-corruption A big corporate world Venugopal Dhoot, Chairman of the Videocon Group, was today arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the ICICI loan case. This comes days after iconic banker former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar were arrested by the CBI in a case linked to alleged irregularities in an over ? 3,000-crore loan provided to the Videocon Group when she was heading the private sector bank. The Kochhars are being interrogated after being presented in a Mumbai court. https://opinionexpress.in/pushpa-kamal-dahal-prachanda-to-be-the-new-prime-minister-of-nepal Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday appointed CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda' as the new Prime Minister of Nepal. The swearing-in ceremony of the newly-appointed Prime Minister will take place at 4 pm on Monday, according to the President's Office. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-is-back-to-its-peak Destination Goa is witnessing an extra rush on its roads and beaches as holidaymakers from foreign countries are arriving in the coastal state in large numbers to usher in Christmas and New Year. https://opinionexpress.in/india-beats-bangladesh-2-0-in-test-series Shreyas Iyar and Ravichandran Ashwin held the key as India defeated Bangladesh by three wickets in the second Test at Mirpur. With this win, India has clinched the two-match Test series against Bangladesh 2-0. Chasing 145, Team India faced major blows after Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan scalped five and two wickets respectively. Later, Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin stitched a brilliant 71-run partnership and took Team India to victory by three wickets. Apart from them, allrounder Axar Patel also smashed 34 runs. For India, Axar scalped three wickets https://opinionexpress.in/ucc-an-indispensable-step-toward-gender-justice-in-india There are numerous provisions under Muslim personal law that victimize women and do not give them the rights women of other religions enjoy. https://opinionexpress.in/dilemma-of-democracy As a citizen of an independent country, I feel trapped amid the chaos spread by the country’s top 1% especially during the election period. They behave like some authority on humans and try to bet on almost everything that could affect the voting numbers and ultimately win the so-called Democratic election. Candidates are behaving ruthlessly and saying whatever is possibly effective in their lane. From the distribution of candidacy to their vibrant (violent) rampage-like campaigns casteism accelerates shamelessly. Every candidate is organising dialogue meetings with deceptive schemes to persuade people from almost every caste, while simultaneously cramming them in their so-called notorious community halls where selfish decisions are made and separate events and festivities are held in order to capitalise on their centuries-old tendency to appear more civilised than others. Free samosas and tea are served. l have different demands and requirements, and candidates are literally promising them in an old-fashioned way. It feels like diversity within diversity. It is nothing new to know politics divides people, but this is happening again and again in every election. They all have the same approach. From candidacy to policies; caste comes first. Those in the majority nominate their candidate or fight within their caste to establish liaison and lobbying. There is no single discussion about unity or bringing people from all castes and religions together. https://opinionexpress.in/the-need-for-real-time-data-applications-is-everywhere It’s been well-established that Gen Z – those between the ages of 18 and 24 – are “digital natives.” Their lives are driven by tech and they have a low tolerance for user experiences that don’t live up to their expectations of performance and speed.  https://opinionexpress.in/constitutional-and-bureaucratic-reformsthe-urgent-necessity-in-india The last eight years have been momentous in India tumultuous history as an independent nation. They have seen India image soar high in the world and the nation gains geopolitical importance and respect. The Narendra Modi Government has to be complimented for the visionary steps taken to accelerate the nation overall development. But when we see the progress and pace of this process, we feel humbled by the comparison with our neighbouring country China whose economic status was at par with India till 1992 when the per capita GDP of both countries stood at around USD 350. But China rapid progress after 1995 saw its economic growth surge to catapult it to the status of the worlds second-largest economy in less than 30 years. Today China economy is nearly six times that of India and its per capita GDP is also that much higher at around USD 12500.  https://opinionexpress.in/tamil-political-satirist-cho-in-the-shadow-of-dravidian-ideologists Tamil Nadu since independence has been infamous for the Hindi agitation; Kaveri river water dispute; and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi - all these to protect the so-called ‘Tamil culture’. However, this region is also famous for its vernacular ‘Tamil’ cinema. The medium of cinema is an important tool and Tamil cinema has produced thousands of movies with a peculiar genre; and has churned out a considerable number of politicians as well. The comedy tract of Tamil films finds an important place and comedians have been enjoying Tamil people’s patronage. One such Tamil film comedian was ‘Cho’ Ramaswamy. https://opinionexpress.in/incs-plan-of-changing-leadership-seems-hunky-dory-but-may-have-several-repercussions In 1885, with the intent to provide a public platform and facilitate the process of nation-building, the Indian national congress was established. The party continued to receive overwhelming support from the people after independence and assumed the figure of an “umbrella party”, however specially in the past decade the party‘s image has plummeted and has invited a lot of criticism due to the prolonged leadership of Gandhi. The once-called umbrella party is now struggling hard to avert tiny rain showers also. Undoubtedly, the party‘s leadership for the past 24 years has remained in the hands of Gandhi. After Sitaram Kesri‘s tenure, the party has been headed by Sonia Gandhi and for a momentary period of two years by Rahul Gandhi. As a part of the reform, the party has decided to change the president but I argue that this might generate aversive consequences and a “win-win” situation for other political groups.Consequences for this move: https://opinionexpress.in/new-regulations-for-incoming-international-travelers The Indian Health Ministry has given a fresh six-point advisory to the states to face any Covid emergency amid rising cases in neighbouring China. India has reported a handful of the BF.7 strain that's running amok in China. All travellers coming from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand will have to show a negative Covid certificate, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said today. https://opinionexpress.in/ucc The introduction of a private member bill on the implementation of a uniform civil code(UCC) across the country witnessed vociferous protest from the opposition members in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Article 44 of our constitution says that “The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.” And what is constraining to implement UCC in our country are the personal laws. Personal Law is the law by which an individual is governed in respect of various matters such as principles relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption, inheritance, guardianship, succession, etc. These personal laws in India are based on religion. And what UCC is trying to guide is that irrespective of their religion everyone should be governed by the same laws with respect to marriage, inheritance, divorce, adoption etc.  The bone of contravention here is that it may come in way of Article 25 ‘Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion’. And also the cultural rights of minorities. https://opinionexpress.in/are-we-missing-the-wood-for-the-trees All Indians are shocked by the death of Cyrus Mistry, an eminent businessman and scion of Shapoorji Pallonji group in a road accident. It seems that Late Sh Mistry’s car was at a speed of 130 kmph and hit a divider while trying to overtake a vehicle from the left side. It is also suspected that the road was narrowing and the divider was also slightly protruding outside contributing to the accident. The rear occupant not wearing a seatbelt including Sh Mistry, died on the spot, while the rest were seriously injured and hospitalised. There is the huge brouhaha over rear passengers not wearing a seatbelt and the resultant death which though justified to an extent seems to miss a much larger issue” Could we have avoided the accident in the first place”. https://opinionexpress.in/extremely-grim-covid-situation-in-china In a rapidly deteriorating situation in China, half a million people in a single Chinese city are being infected with Covid-19 every day, a senior health official has said, in a rare and quickly censored acknowledgment that the country's wave of infections is not being reflected in official statistics. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-in-delhi-with-bharat-jodo-yatra Hundreds of Thousands of people joined the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra today as Rahul Gandhi marched through Delhi amid calls by the Health Minister to follow Covid protocols.Several party leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja and Randeep Surjewala were seen marching with Rahul Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/the-life-of-mohammad-ali-jinnah Thoughts on the eve of 147th birth anniversary of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan https://opinionexpress.in/lok-sabha-adjourned-sine-die The lower house of the Indian parliament Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, six days ahead of schedule. Before adjourning the House, Speaker Om Birla informed the members that 97 percent of work productivity was clocked during the winter session. https://opinionexpress.in/many-solders-officers-lost-life-in-an-accident-in-sikkim In a major freak accident, sixteen soldiers, including three officers, were killed Friday after the army truck they were traveling in fell into a gorge in Sikkim, the army said in a statement. This fatal truck was part of a three vehicle convoy, said the army, that had moved from Chatten in the morning towards Thangu. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-war-is-proxy-hostility-by-usa-putin The Kremlin accused Kyiv and Washington of turning a deaf ear to its concerns and charged the United States was using Ukraine as a battleground to weaken Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-appeals-for-covid-appropriate-behavior Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged everyone to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded public places, at all times, especially in view of the upcoming festive season, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-is-rattled-by-the-success-of-bharat-jodo-yatra-rahul Rahul Gandhi said the government is coming up with "excuses" to stop the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', days after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya wrote to him to consider suspending the march if Covid protocols could not be followed. The yatra, which started in Kanyakumari on September 7, has covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-fear-in-india Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the situation related to COVID-19 in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-offers-advanced-fuel-for-kudankulam-plant-centre Russian leader Vladimir Putin has offered a more advanced fuel option for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh told Lok Sabha on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/nightlife-gets-a-boost-in-delhi Delhi LG V K Saxena has allowed cafes and restaurants in Siri Fort Sports Complex, Qutub Golf Club and Bhalswa Golf Club here to remain open till 1 am from Wednesday, a move aimed at bolstering the city's nightlife ahead of new year festivities, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-attacks-bjp-ideology Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP, saying while one ideology gives benefits to a select few, another is the voice of the people, farmers and labourers. As the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him crossed over into Haryana from Rajasthan this morning, Gandhi also said that inflation and unemployment are the biggest issues affecting the country. https://opinionexpress.in/make-one-period-on-human-values-compulsory-in-classroom-education-every-day Dr. Hari Prasad Kanoria, Chairman, Kanoria Foundation and Sri Hari Global School, Asansol, has organised an event on Human Values in Education at Srihari Global School, Asansol. The event was part of a series of events on universal human values in the education system between Kanoria Foundation and the International Meditation Foundation. https://opinionexpress.in/quitting-twitter-ceo-job-elon-musk Billionaire Elon Musk said on Tuesday he will step down as chief executive of Twitter Inc once he finds a replacement, but will still run some key divisions of the social media platform."I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software & servers teams," Musk wrote on Twitter. https://opinionexpress.in/china-hit-by-fresh-covid-19-wave Covid cases in China have started surging at an alarming rate forcing the Xi Jinping-led Government to rush to create hospitals. The authorities eased the stringent curbs under the stringent ‘Zero Covid policy’ a couple of weeks ago. China on Tuesday said only Covid-19 deaths from “respiratory failures” will be included in the official death toll, as the country witnessed a massive spike in infections fuelled by new variants of the Omicron strain. https://opinionexpress.in/bank-npa-story-of-twist-and-turn Finally, the NDA Government has shared details of the top wilful defaulters with the nation. The top 50 wilful defaulters collectively owed ? 92,570 crore to Indian banks as of March 31, 2022. A wilful defaulter is a financial term used for borrowers who have the means to pay the loan back but don't. These borrowers are debarred from any facility of banks or other financial institutions. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-lead-the-world-in-tech-sector-pichai Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on Monday that India will be a big export economy and it needs to create a balance between safeguarding citizens and enabling companies to innovate with its framework,  https://opinionexpress.in/england-clean-sweep-3-0-series-win-in-pakistan A relentless England lineup powered to an eight-wicket win in the third and final cricket test on Tuesday to complete a historic series sweep in Pakistan. England started the day needing a further 55 runs for victory and reached 170-2 within 38 minutes to secure its second successive win with more than a day to spare in its first test tour to Pakistan in 17 years. https://opinionexpress.in/l-g-directs-chief-secy-to-recover-funds-from-aap-for-political-advertisements Delhi LG V K Saxena has directed the chief secretary to recover Rs 97 crore from the Aam Aadmi Party for political advertisements it published in the guise of government advertisements, official sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-healthcare-comes-of-age Digital influence and technological intervention are breaking barriers in the Indian healthcare industry, leading to a dynamic transformation. While the telemedicine sector witnessed a 30 per cent spike during the pandemic, the online consultation market is projected to grow at 72 per cent CAGR to reach over 800 million dollars by FY2024, as per the report by Praxis Global Alliance. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-rebuts-rahul-on-china S Jaishankar MoFA strongly objected to the use of the term "pitai" (beating) by former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi while referring to the India-China clash in Tawang, and asserted that our soldiers have stood their ground in Yangtse in Arunachal Pradesh and should be "appreciated and honoured". https://opinionexpress.in/youtube-created-new-world-for-businesses Google-owned YouTube's creative ecosystem contributed over Rs 10,000 crore to the Indian GDP and supported more than 750,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the country in 2021, the company also announced that Courses, a new product to bring a richer learning experience for viewers and a new way to monetise for creators, would begin rolling out in beta in 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/argentina-lifts-fifa-wc-2022 Lionel Messi’s once-in-a-generation career is complete. The Argentina superstar is finally a World Cup champion. Messi scored two goals and then another in a shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties on Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. Now there’s no debate. Messi is definitively in the pantheon of soccer’s greatest-ever players, alongside Pelé - a record three-time World Cup champion from Brazil - and Diego Maradona, late Argentina great with whom Messi was so often compared. Messi has achieved what Maradona did in 1986, dominate a World Cup for Argentina. Messi put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot and played a part in Angel Di Maria’s goal that made it 2-0 after 36 minutes. Mbappé scored two goals in a 97-second span to take the game to extra time, and then Messi tapped in his second goal in the 109th minute. But there was still time for another penalty from Mbappé to take the thrilling game to a shootout. Gonzalo Montiel scored the clinching penalty kick after Kingsley Coman had an attempt saved by Emi Martinez and Aurelien Tchouameni missed for France. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-seeks-modi-government-reply-on-growing-trade-with-china AAP leader & Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for "rewarding" China, instead of punishing it for the incursions along the de facto border, most recently in Arunachal Pradesh. "While Chinese aggression is increasing, border tensions are rising, the BJP government aims to create the narrative that everything is fine. Instead of punishing China, the central government is rewarding them," he said, addressing the national council meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/north-east-states-are-shining-with-success-pm PM Narendra Modi earlier attended the golden jubilee celebration of the North East Council and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects at a public function in Shillong. https://opinionexpress.in/india-thrash-bangladesh-in-the-1st-test-match Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav claimed 8 wickets, including a five-for in the first innings, and Cheteshwar Pujara starred with the scores of 90 and 102 not out as India defeated Bangladesh by 188 runs in the first Test of the two-match series at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The guests had posted 404 runs after KL Rahul won the toss and decided to bat first. India then bundled out Bangladesh for 150, gaining a first-innings lead of 254. Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 5 for 40. The KL Rahul-led side declared its second innings for 258 for 2, setting a 513-run target for Bangladesh. Shakib Al Hasan showed good resilience with his 84-run knock but he lacked support from other ends as India bundled out his team for 324. Axar Patel registered a four-wicket haul in the final innings, while Kuldeep took three.  https://opinionexpress.in/bsf-to-be-impowered-for-border-security Union Home Minister Amit Shah reminded the State Government that apart from the Border Security Force — which comes under the Union Home Ministry — the States too were responsible for inland security, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her reluctance to allow more jurisdictional space to the BSF, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-attacks-rahul-on-his-statement-on-national-issue The BJP launched a fierce counter attack on Rahul Gandhi today for his remark that Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh and said the Congress should immediately expel him from the party. https://opinionexpress.in/a-confrontation-that-can-be-avoided Law Minister Kiren Rijiju seems to have developed a penchant for locking horns with the judiciary on the issue of the collegium. On Thursday he told the Rajya Sabha that the issue will not be resolved until a “new system” on appointments is evolved. The Government’s unease with collegium is well-known and hardly needs any reiteration. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has already agreed to reconsider the collegium system. A writ petition seeking the revival of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) is expected to be listed in due course. This means that the two organs of the State, the executive and the judiciary, can iron out their differences over the matter in a cordial manner. So, taking potshots at the judiciary all the time diminishes both the Government and the Supreme Court. But Rijiju is doing that only. He told the Upper House that there is a feeling among the people of India that the long vacation that the courts obtain is not very convenient for justice-seekers. But vacations are a convention that should not be trifled with at the drop of a hat in a democracy. A few days earlier too, he had slammed the collegium system, claiming that it is “opaque.” Recently, Vice-President and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar had also criticised the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision invalidating the NJAC Act as a “severe compromise” of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the “mandate of the people.” In short, Government functionaries are relentless in their criticism of the collegium system. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-fm-is-almost-mentally-instable-india India has taken strong exception to Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari offensive attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called his remarks a new low even for Pakistan and Bilawal as mentally bankrupt. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-is-gaining-ground-to-defeat-bjp-in-2024-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said no one should underestimate the Congress as it is ideologically driven and is the only party that can bring down the BJP, which he alleged is fascist. https://opinionexpress.in/windfall-profit-tax-on-crude-oil-atf-diesel-cut The central government has slashed the windfall profit tax levied on domestically-produced crude oil as well as on the export of diesel and ATF following a drop in global oil prices, according to an official order. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-be-on-complete-vacation-till-1-jan-cji Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud today said no Supreme Court bench will be available from December 17 till January 1 during the ensuing winter vacations. https://opinionexpress.in/get-ready-to-holiday-in-style-with-60-off-nasher-miles-luggage-sets https://opinionexpress.in/pm-lauds-armed-forces-on-vijay-diwas Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to armed forces on Vijay Diwas, saying the nation will always be indebted to them for their role in keeping the country safe and secure. https://opinionexpress.in/agni-v-with-5400km-range-successfully-tested In a heightened tension with China, India has successfully carried out night trials of the Agni V nuclear-capable ballistic missile which can hit targets beyond 5,400 km. The test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile and has proved that the missile can now hit targets further away than before, they added. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-at-the-centerstage-of-worlds-politics-jaishankar Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly Csaba Korösi and discussed India's tenure in the Security Council as well as the country's goals during its G20 presidency. https://opinionexpress.in/parliament-hots-up-against-chinese-incursion Several opposition parties met in the Parliament House complex and decided to take on the government unitedly on the India-China border issue and are likely to issue a joint statement. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-must-sit-to-resolve-lac-standoff-us The Biden administration in USA has said that it encourages India and China to utilise existing bilateral channels to discuss their disputed boundaries, even as it strongly opposed any "unilateral attempts" to advance territorial claims across the border at the established Line of Actual Control. “We are glad to hear that both sides appear to have quickly disengaged from the clashes. We are closely monitoring the situation,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-closes-gap-to-scale-back-to-power Israel's parliament elected a new speaker closely allied to the country's likely next prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, setting the stage for a flurry of contentious new legislation to appease the former leader's expected coalition partners. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-soldiers-prevented-the-chinese-from-making-a-landgrab-in-ap Defence Minister Rajnath In a statement in both houses said the Indian soldiers prevented the Chinese from making a landgrab in Arunachal Pradesh and "compelled the Chinese troops to return to their posts". https://opinionexpress.in/india-vs-china-lac-clash The trouble refused to blow away, Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed at a location along the Line of Actual Control in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, resulting in minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides, military sources said on Monday. They said the Indian troops resolutely confronted the Chinese PLA soldiers. https://opinionexpress.in/tax-collection-is-at-an-all-time-high According to the finance ministry release, the net direct tax collection grew 24 percent to Rs 8.77 lakh crore in the April-November of the current fiscal. It is a big boost for the current GOI team headed by the revenue secretary and CBDT Chairman's effort to streamline the additional tax collection for the comprehensive growth of the country. Tax collection is an indicator of economic activity in any country.  https://opinionexpress.in/anil-deshmukh-granted-bail-by-hc The Bombay High Court today granted bail to former Maharashtra home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh in a corruption case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Deshmukh, however, won't walk out of jail as the high court has kept the order in abeyance for ten days after the CBI sought time to challenge it in the Supreme Court. https://opinionexpress.in/sukhu-is-a-real-son-of-soil-congress The story of Congress leader Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who took oath as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, is in consonance with the contemporary anti-elitist narrative. The narrative has gained currency primarily because of the spectacular rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also of humble origins, in the Bharatiya Janata Party. In a way, it is an eternally elevating story—a person without many means reaching the top using their skills and diligence only. ‘A self-made person is admired everywhere. Son of a bus driver, Sukhu sold milk in his earlier days. He eventually got a law degree. Along the way, he got active in student politics at Himachal Pradesh University, rising through the ranks in the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India or NSUI and becoming the president of the student organisation. His elevation to the office of the Himachal Pradesh Youth Congress chief, where he remained for a decade, helped him grow as a state leader. He went on to head the Himachal Pradesh Congress from 2013 to 2019, which is a record. Victory from Nadaun in the Assembly election in 2003, his first, was another important point in the rising graph. Since then, he has won every Assembly election, save that of 2012. He can also boast of executive experience, as he served twice as the chief of the Shimla Municipal Corporation. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-hits-at-modi-government-economic-policy Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that demonetisation, wrongly designed GST and faulty economic policies of the Narendra Modi government are the reasons why the country is facing the highest unemployment rate in 45 years, He was addressing a press conference in Bundi district's Laban village, where Bharat Jodo Yatra halted for the morning break after clocking 12.8 km from Baldevpura. https://opinionexpress.in/ayurveda-is-indias-gift-to-the-world Among ancient India’s biggest gifts to the world, we must embrace it emphatically first https://opinionexpress.in/uid-for-jk-citizens The J&K government is planning to create an authentic database of all families in the Union territory with each of them having a unique alpha-numeric code, the objective being easy selection of eligible beneficiaries of various social welfare schemes. The proposed move to allot "Family ID" has been welcomed by the BJP but panned by other parties which raised concerns over personal data safety. https://opinionexpress.in/elections-2022-is-a-mixed-verdict-for-everyone The BJP landslide victory in Gujarat shows that the party could deal with anti-incumbency of any number of years or any pressing issues if the opposition is divided, writes NAVIN UPADHYAY https://opinionexpress.in/bhupendra-patel-will-be-the-gujrat-cm-bjp Gujrat BJP leader Bhupendra Patel will continue as the chief minister of Gujarat for a second straight term with the newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs electing him as the leader of the legislative party during a meeting here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-visa-wait-list-exceeds-1000-days The US administration is aware of the extraordinary delay in visa appointments in India and is working to respond to the "significant demand" for these services, the White House has said, as the wait for visa interviews in the US missions in the country crossed 1,000 days. https://opinionexpress.in/china-remains-enemy-no1 Our Asian neighbour, riding on the might of its economic muscle, doesn't mind being brazenly expansionist even at the cost of global peace https://opinionexpress.in/rti-on-collegium-meeting-non-maintainable-sc Amidst the already tense relationship between government and judiciary, the top Court dismissed a plea seeking to disclose details under the Right to Information of a collegium meeting in which decisions were taken regarding the elevation of judges to the apex court. A bench headed by Justice M.R. Shah said, "Only a resolution drawn and signed by all the collegium members can be said to be the final decision..." https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-another-superpower-in-making-usa Resurgent India has a unique strategic character, and will not be an ally of the US, but another great power, a top White House official has said, asserting there is no other bilateral relationship that is being "deepened and strengthened" more rapidly than between the two countries over the last 20 years. Responding to a question on India during his appearance at the Aspen Security Forum meeting here, Kurt Campbell, the White House Asia Coordinator, said that in his view India is the most important bilateral relationship for the United States in the 21st century. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gets-credit-of-congresss-hp-victory Congress leaders credited party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's campaign in the hill state for the good showing of the party in the assembly elections. Priyanka Gandhi led the party's charge in Himachal Pradesh with several rallies and was also closely involved in strategic planning for the polls. Many local leaders hailed her leadership in securing the win for the party and defeating the BJP's election machinery. https://opinionexpress.in/the-nine-yard-astonishment-of-the-classic-perennial-indian-saree https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-wins-thumping-majority-in-gujrat-congress-crosses-majority-mark-in-hp Gujrat: With the trends in all 182 seats of the Gujarat Assembly coming in, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was seen inching towards an all-time high record of 150+ seats. As per the latest trends, the party was leading in 149 seats, the number of seats that the Congress had won in the 1985 election under the leadership of Madhavsinh Solanki, in what remains a record to date. https://opinionexpress.in/scrapping-njac-bill-by-sc-severe-compromise-of-parliamentary-sovereignty-vp Newly appointed Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar in his maiden speech in the House on Wednesday criticised the judiciary for scrapping the NJAC bill, terming it as an instance of "severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty", and said the government's three organs should respect the "Laxman Rekha". https://opinionexpress.in/sc-seeks-demonitation-papers The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to put on record relevant records relating to the government's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 denomination for its perusal. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-replaces-bjp-in-mcd-elections-after-15-years AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal has won the prestige battle for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), unseating an entrenched BJP. It has won 134 seats, eight above the majority in a House of 250. The BJP, which ran the campaign with PM Narendra Modi's face, has won 104, a reasonable performance after 15 years of continuous rule. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-hikes-lending-rate-by-35-bps-to-625 The Reserve Bank today raised the benchmark lending rate by 35 basis points (bps) - the fifth increase since May - saying it remains focussed on bringing down the inflation to a tolerable limit. The move to raise the rate will make loans including housing, auto and corporate credit expensive. https://opinionexpress.in/voting-percentage-is-dipping-again Low urban turnout in the recent elections reflects disenchantment of  city dwellers with political system https://opinionexpress.in/irans-watershed-moment The notorious morality police, which was crushing the anti-hijab protests, has been disbanded https://opinionexpress.in/nsa-doval-hosts-counterparts-from-central-asia-to-discuss-counter-terrorism NSA Ajit Doval said on Tuesday while hosting his counterparts from the Central Asian region with an aim to evolve a common framework to confront major regional security challenges including a focus on financial support that is the "lifeblood" of terrorism and greater priority should be accorded to counter terror financing. https://opinionexpress.in/president-applauds-yoga-appeals-for-global-dissemination 'Miracles of Face Yoga' book written by Mansi Gulati Appreciated by President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu ji at Rashtrapati Bhavan Delhi. President Madame appreciated the work by saying that Face Yoga has come out at an appropriate time when the world is anxiously looking up for solutions to improve immunity and evolve a holistic lifestyle. The book Face Yoga is a comprehensive work on face yoga written in lucid simple language which can be easily understood by beginners and practitioners alike. Photographs and illustrations have further enhanced comprehension, assimilation, and understanding of the book by the reader. https://opinionexpress.in/no-relief-to-raghav-bahl-in-pmla-case ED has opposed the relief sought by Raghav Bahl in a money laundering case. However, the Delhi High Court granted "last opportunity" to the Enforcement Directorate to respond to a petition by media baron Raghav Bahl to quash a money laundering case against him, and refused to pass an order staying the investigation at this stage. Justice Jasmeet Singh said that the court would take up the petition as well as the application seeking interim relief on January 16. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-a-secular-country-sc We have to strictly follow up the essence of the preamble in our constitution, India is a secular country and everybody has a right to their religion, the Supreme Court said on Monday while dismissing a PIL seeking to declare late religious figure Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandra as 'Paramatma'. A bench of Justices M R Shah and C T Ravikumar imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner for filing a "publicity interest litigation". https://opinionexpress.in/global-warming-environment-change What is Global Warming? https://opinionexpress.in/the-growing-wedge-between-the-judiciary-and-the-executive It was writing on the wall. The day justice DY Chandrachud took the oath of office as Chief Justice of India, the Modi government’s cordial relations with the judiciary were over, and unease set it which is now turning into a cold war. The first indications came when the apex court showed displeasure at the government’s haste to appoint the chief election commissioner. Now it is the collegium system that is under fire from the government. In fact, the law minister Kiren Rijiju has been rather vocal and irreverent in criticizing the collegium system and seeking its constitutional validity on public platforms. The Supreme Court however has not made public its displeasure with the law minister’s remarks. Perhaps it knows that it is not just the law minister who is speaking his mind but lip-synching Modi administration which has subverted most constitutional bodies, bending them with its brute political majority. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court is different. After CJI Chandrachud took over the Supreme Court has not been very supportive of the government's actions and has asked many difficult questions which are embracing for the government to say the least. https://opinionexpress.in/rajendra-prasads-idea-of-bihar-has-completely-collapsed Independent India first President stood for values and ideals for our politicians have little regard for, a tribute on his 138th birth anniversary. https://opinionexpress.in/prior-sanction-required-for-direction-to-register-fir-for-hate-speech-court A session court here has dismissed a plea for registration of an FIR against a person for allegedly making derogatory comments against the Buddhist community, saying prior sanction for prosecution from the competent authority is required for the court's direction. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-ready-for-a-debate-on-hinduism-congress Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath asked the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders to have a discourse on religion and spirituality with Rahul Gandhi, claiming it will prove he has more knowledge about these subjects than them. https://opinionexpress.in/all-indian-are-hindus-rss-chief Mohan Bhagwat’s definition of a Hindu may not go down well with many https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-pitches-for-congress-mukt-gujrat Now Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Yogi Adityanath appealed to people to rid Gujarat of Congress which he said would solve all problems. Yogi was addressing a rally in support of the BJP contestant in Khambhat town of Anand district on the last day of the campaigning for the second and final phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/segregation-of-power-is-clear-in-the-constitution-vp Taking the debate between Legislature and Judiciary supremacy, VP Jagdeep Dhankhar said there was "no whisper" in Parliament after the Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act and described it as "too serious an issue". He also said a law passed by Parliament, which reflects the will of the people, was "undone" by the Supreme Court and "the world does not know of any such instance". https://opinionexpress.in/racism-is-gradually-fading-away-sunak UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed that he experienced racism growing up in the UK but the country has made incredible progress since then in confronting the issue. Today, Britain is a wonderful cosmopolitan country to live in.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-a-shining-example-of-practicing-democracy-kamboj India does not need to be told what to do on democracy, the country's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj has asserted. https://opinionexpress.in/india-rejects-china-plea-of-halting-joint-military-exercise-near-lac A day after China objected to the ongoing India-US joint military exercise claiming it was taking place close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India on Thursday rejected it and said it “exercises with ‘whomsoever’ it chooses and does not give a veto to third countries on this issue”. The exercise called “Yudh Abhyas” is currently underway in Auli, Uttrakhand, about 100 km from the LAC. It is the 18th edition of the India-US joint Army exercise. https://opinionexpress.in/the-church-of-wokeism The Church of WokeismLiberal Arts Becomes Dogmatic https://opinionexpress.in/ministry-of-religious-affairs-in-india-is-the-need-of-the-hour Indians' concept of religious tolerance does not necessarily involve mixing religious communities. https://opinionexpress.in/india-officially-takes-over-as-the-president-of-the-g20-group As India takes over the presidency of the G20 grouping, the forum of the world's largest economies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a "shift in fundamental mindset to benefit humanity as a whole." PM Modi said that India's yearlong G20 presidency will be "inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented". https://opinionexpress.in/indian-business-leader-kirloskar-is-no-more Prominent business leader & Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice Chairperson Vikram S Kirloskar has died due to a heart attack, the automaker said on Wednesday. He was 64. Kirloskar suffered a cardiac arrest on Tuesday morning and was immediately rushed to a private hospital, where he passed away, the company said. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-g20-presidency-will-herald-a-new-world-order-shringla On the eve of assuming the G20 presidency, Harsh Vardhan Shringla made a strong pitch for a new technology order that combines cross-border flows of technology and investment with development and growth apparatus. The G20 comprises the most powerful bock of countries namely Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union. https://opinionexpress.in/china-warned-usa-to-stay-away-from-the-lac-standoff Aggressive China has warned American officials not to interfere in its relationship with India, the Pentagon has said in a report to the US Congress. Throughout its standoff with India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese officials sought to downplay the severity of the crisis, emphasising Beijing's intent to preserve border stability and prevent the standoff from harming other areas of its bilateral relationship with India, the Pentagon said in a report on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-g20-premier-on-1dec-2022 India will assume the presidency of the G-20 -- the premier forum for international economic cooperation -- on December 1 and host a two-day summit next September. It will be the largest-ever international event in the country, sources said.The summit will be held in Delhi in September next year, for which mammoth preparations are in order. There will be more than 200 meetings across 50 cities before the event more than the total number of meets held in China when it hosted the Summit in 2016. The summit is expected to have an ''impeccable and uniquely Indian'' identity and add to Brand India. https://opinionexpress.in/rift-widens-on-appointment-of-judges Modi Government has asked the Supreme Court Collegium to reconsider 20 files related to the appointment of High Court judges, including that of advocate Saurabh Kirpal who has candidly spoken about his gay status, sources said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/gen-z-will-be-driven-by-data-power Organisations need a way to empower their developers, so they need a layer of application programming interfaces of APIs https://opinionexpress.in/demonetisation-was-successful-in-curbing-the-informal-economy Reportedly, there are some 50 petitions pending in the country’s courts protesting the demonetization of currency notes that was implemented on November 8, 2016; we just passed its eighth anniversary. Understandably, this move by the Narendra Modi government continues to generate much talk. In all, I have witnessed three demonetizations and therefore feel qualified to comment on the subject. In 1946, the old 1000-rupee note was demonetized. In 1978, high denomination notes were rendered invalid. We are today debating the 2016 decision. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-deplores-the-law-ministers-remarks-on-collegium The Supreme Court on Monday took strong exception to Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's recent comment on the collegium system of appointing judges, saying it should not have happened. The apex court said if the recommendations were withheld since the law passed by the Centre on setting up the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) could not pass the muster. https://opinionexpress.in/china-witness-rare-public-protests-across-the-nation In brewing trouble for President XI Jinping, China’s rare public protests opposing stringent Covid lockdowns turned political on Sunday with protestors shouting slogans against President Xi Jinping and the ruling Communist Party, as the demonstrations spread to the university campuses in Beijing and Nanjing. Shanghai, where thousands of protestors converged at the Wulumuqi Road — which is named after Xinjiang provincial capital Urumqi — witnessed fresh demonstrations on Sunday despite the heavy presence of police. The protests, which began in the morning, intensified with the participation of hundreds of people by mid-afternoon. According to videos posted on social media about the protests in Shanghai, people were heard openly shouting slogans such as “Xi Jinping, step down” and “Communist party, step down”, a BBC report said. https://opinionexpress.in/make-endless-anarkali-twirls-a-part-of-your-festive-attire https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-have-to-make-a-tough-call-in-rajasthan-jairam-ramesh Amid the power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said if needed, the party will not shy away from taking “tough decisions” to strengthen the organisation in that state. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-shining-star-of-democracy-pm Prime Minister Narendra  Modi on Saturday said the Constitution is a commitment, pledge, and belief that has made India the “Mother of Democracy” and maintained that the judiciary is taking many steps to ensure timely justice. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-win-surprise-all-in-gujrat-kejriwal AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the BJP was agitated because it was staring at defeat, and Congress was nowhere in the picture.  https://opinionexpress.in/covid-protest-rocks-china Protests simmered in Shanghai early on Sunday, as residents in several Chinese cities, many of them angered by a deadly fire in the country's far west, pushed back against heavy COVID-19 curbs nearly three years into the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/pslv-c54-satellite-into-orbit In a continuous quest for space domination, a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle of ISRO on Saturday successfully injected the earth observation satellite (Oceansat) into a sun-synchronous orbit, Indian Space Research Organisation said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/ron-desantis-is-my-prez-candidate-elon-musk Billionaire Elon Musk has said that he would back Florida governor Ron DeSantis of the Republican Party if he contested the 2024 US presidential elections. Ron DeSantis is likely to face Donald Trump in the Republican primaries. https://opinionexpress.in/e-courts-will-reduce-pendency-in-courts PM Narendra Modi said fulfilling fundamental duties should be the first priority of citizens to take the nation to greater heights as it marches ahead towards the centenary of its Independence. Addressing Constitution Day celebrations in the Supreme Court, Modi said the entire world was looking at India which is witnessing rapid development and economic growth. https://opinionexpress.in/collegium-is-imperfect-but-so-are-many-institutions-in-democracy-cji Many institutions in a constitutional democracy, including the collegium, is perfect and the solution is to work out within the existing system, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said on Friday. Speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in New Delhi, he said judges are faithful soldiers who implement the Constitution. Since 2015, November 26 is observed as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Earlier, the day was observed as Law Day. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-instigated-riots-bjp-brought-peace-in-gujrat-amit-shah People responsible for the communal riots in Gujarat were "taught such a lesson" that the state has been peaceful for 22 years, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said at a rally ahead of next week's elections. "During the Congress rule in Gujarat (before 1995), communal riots were rampant. Congress used to incite people of different communities and castes to fight against each other. Through such riots, Congress had strengthened its vote bank and did injustice to a large section of the society," Mr Shah said in Mahudha town of Kheda district. https://opinionexpress.in/nz-thrash-india-by-7-wickets Kane Williamson (94*) and Tom Latham (145*) build a strong partnership as New Zealand defeat India by seven wickets and take 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Earlier, top knocks by Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, guided Team India to 306/7 in 50 overs against New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series, at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday. Put to bat first, Team India started on a brilliant note with Dhawan and Shubman Gill bringing up their respective half-centuries https://opinionexpress.in/history-must-be-corrected-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India was correcting its past mistakes by celebrating its varied heritage and remembering its unsung bravehearts who were lost in the pages of history that were written as part of a conspiracy during the colonial era. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-to-restructure-debt-equity-balance Richest Indian Gautam Adani's plan to raise at least $5 billion in equity aims to shut down two of the most frequent criticisms leveled against the Indian tycoon's swelling empire: high debt ratios and a limited investor base. After four years of eyebrow-raising gains -- some Adani Group shares surged more than 2,000% -- Asia's richest person is embarking on a fundraising campaign that will likely include a local share sale as well as buy-in from large investment funds in the Middle East and Canada. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-alleged-threat-of-life-to-kejriwal In a serious allegation, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to kill Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, fearing poll defeats in Gujarat and the MCD, and alleged Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari's involvement in it. Manish Sisodia, however, asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is not scared of such petty politics. https://opinionexpress.in/baseball-training-drills-for-youth Having a baseball practice can be a lot of fun for young players. It can help them improve their catching and fielding skills, as well as their hand-eye coordination. It also helps strengthen their core and arm strength. Here are some baseball drills for youth that will help them develop these skills. https://opinionexpress.in/rajasthan-congress-in-doldrums-ahead-of-bharat-jodo-rally Ahead of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra entering Rajasthan, factionalism has once again come to the fore in the state Congress. In an interview with NDTV, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched a scathing attack on his former deputy Sachin Pilot, saying "a gaddar (traitor) cannot be the Chief Minister". https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-committed-to-bring-ucc-once-democratic-discussions-are-over-hm The BJP is committed to bringing the Uniform Civil Code after all democratic debates and discussions are concluded, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday. When asked about the UCC, Shah said it is the BJP's promise to the people of this country from the Jan Sangh days. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-attacks-power-station-in-ukraine Russia's onslaught against Ukraine's energy infrastructure plunged the country into wintry darkness, threatening to trigger another refugee exodus and underscoring Kyiv's need for more air defense systems. Temperatures dropped below zero as night fell on Wednesday with millions of Ukrainians without heat, light or water after Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces fired scores of missiles against its neighbour's power infrastructure. https://opinionexpress.in/g20-presidency-will-bring-india-on-the-centerstage-of-the-world In a polarised world, India will set the global agenda with 200 G20 meetings across the country. India takes the first step to assume the G20 presidency for the next year in a world that is increasingly becoming complex. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the presidency in a world that is becoming more difficult to communicate. It is not similar to the Non-Aligned Movement, which was a third-world action of balancing between the two key powers – the US and Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-to-start-fresh-hiring-musk After firing about two-thirds of the micro-blogging platform's 7,500 employees in only three weeks after his take over, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said that the company is done with layoffs and is hiring again. https://opinionexpress.in/marri-shashidhar-reddy-quits-congress-party In a setback to the Congress in Telangana, senior party leader and former minister Marri Shashidhar Reddy, son of former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Marri Channa Reddy, quit the party on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/saudi-arab-stuns-argentina-2-1 Qatar WC continues to spring surprises. Lionel Messi's Argentina stumbled to a shock 1-2 defeat against Saudi Arabia and hence their tournament started on the worst note possible. Just minutes into the second half, Saudi Arabia scored a stunning equaliser through Saleh Al Shehri and then Salem Al Dawsari doubled the lead for his side, courtesy of a brilliant solo goal. Earlier in the first half, Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the spot after VAR intervention saw Argentina earn a penalty against Saudi Arabia. Both Messi and Lautaro Martinez have seen multiple goals being denied by offside flags. https://opinionexpress.in/new-rules-for-incoming-international-travellers The self-declaration forms for Covid vaccination that had to be filled in by incoming international passengers on the Air Suvidha portal, will no longer be necessary, the government has said. The decision will come into effect from midnight. A notice from the Civil Aviation ministry this evening read, "In the light of sustained declining COVID-19 trajectory and significant advances being made in COVID-19 vaccination coverage both globally as well as in India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued revised 'Guidelines for International Arrivals". https://opinionexpress.in/congress-must-get-serious-about-fighting-elections-and-act-accordingly Rahul Gandhi has finally entered the election battle, addressing a rally at Mahuva in Surat district, Gujarat. Even though it’s too late, it may encourage Congress cadres, as its campaign did not have many top leaders, whereas the arch-rival Bharatiya Janata Party is leaving no stone unturned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are leading the battle. The Aam Aadmi Party is also trying hard, with its chief Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders canvassing for votes in the western state. Himachal Pradesh still remains neglected by the Congress top brass. Sonia Gandhi is not there because of health issues. Priyanka Vadra is campaigning but not as much as the state leaders want her to. A few weeks earlier, the BJP’s prospects in the hill state, which is known to change the government every five years, were dim. Apart from anti-incumbency, there is the problem of rebels. A video went viral showing PM Modi beseeching a rebel BJP leader to stand down. BJP detractors were gleeful, saying that the party was so desperate that the PM had to intervene. What they failed to notice was the steadfastness of the BJP: party cadres do get a fillip when they see that the country’s biggest leader is so serious about a state poll. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-shielding-morbi-culprits-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged no action was taken against the "real culprits" behind the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy, which killed 135 people, because they share a "good relationship" with the ruling BJP in Gujarat. https://opinionexpress.in/a-strong-earthquake-jolts-indonesia A major earthquake shook Indonesia's main island of Java, killing over 50 people, damaging dozens of buildings and sending residents into the capital's streets for safety. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 5.6 quake was centered in the Cianjur region in West Java province at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). https://opinionexpress.in/congress-party-to-seek-review-of-sc-order-in-the-rajiv-gandhi-murder-case The Congress will seek a review of the Supreme Court decision to release six convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, senior party leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/cji-chandrachud-has-agreed-to-reconsider-the-collegium-system The Government’s unhappiness over the collegium system of appointing Supreme Court and High Court judges is quite well known. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has struck a conciliatory note by agreeing to reconsider the collegium system. This means that a writ petition seeking the revival of the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) will be listed in due course. This will also bring back the old NJAC versus collegium debate. The NJAC came into being after the Ninety-ninth Constitutional Amendment, 2014. The commission comprised six people—the Chief Justice of India, the two most senior judges of the Supreme Court, the Law Minister, and two ‘eminent persons.’ The eminent persons were to be nominated for a three-year term (with the condition that there would be no re-nomination). A committee consisting of the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha would nominate the two persons. The validity of the commission was successfully challenged in the Supreme Court, where it was struck down by a four-one verdict. The Government’s argument at that time was that judges appoint judges, which was not fair practice. There has been little change in that stand. Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju recently termed the collegium system as “opaque.” In fact, he claimed that a majority of judges agreed with him: “Judges are not happy with the collegium system today.” He went on to assert that when there is a provision for judges selecting judges, there is politics. Worse, he added, “the politics of us politicians is nothing to what goes on in the judiciary.” https://opinionexpress.in/qatar-soccer-wc-witnessed-a-nervous-host-loss-to-ecuador Host Qatar's first ever World Cup match ended in dismay for an overmatched team and with a place in unwanted soccer history. The controversy-laced tournament opened Sunday with Qatar getting outplayed and embarrassed in a 2-0 loss to Ecuador in front of 67,372 fans at Al Bayt Stadium. In 92 years of soccer's biggest event, a host team had never lost its opening game. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-is-for-development-others-are-for-scams-modi PM Narendra Modi said in a poll rally that the BJP has compelled all other parties in the country to talk about development as the main issue during elections. https://opinionexpress.in/india-beats-nz-by-65-runs-in-t20 New look India secures a big win against New Zealand in the 2nd T20I. Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav's unbeaten 111-run knock guided Team India to 191/6 in 20 overs. Suryakumar smashed 111* off 51 balls to keep momentum towards Team India, after the initial fall of wickets. For New Zealand, Tim Southee took a hat-trick in the last over while Lockie Ferguson also scalped two wickets. Apart from Suryakumar, Ishan Kishan also played a knock of 36 runs off 31 balls.  https://opinionexpress.in/kashi-tamil-sangamam-is-unique-modi Throwing light on the tradition of remembering 12 Jyotirlingas after waking up in the morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, said we start our day by remembering the spiritual unity of the country but there had been lack of efforts to strengthen this tradition and heritage of thousands of years. https://opinionexpress.in/winter-session-of-parliament-from-december-7-to-29 The Winter Session of the Parliament will be held from December 7 to December 29, the President's office informed on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-dedicates-first-green-field-airport-to-arunanchal-pradesh The first greenfield facility in Arunachal Pradesh, is inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The airport located at Hollongi, around 15 kilometres from the state capital Itanagar, will link the border state with other Indian cities with commercial flights as well as other parts of Arunachal Pradesh through helicopter services. https://opinionexpress.in/wb-cm-to-attend-pm-convened-meeting-in-new-delhi-on-dec-5 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 5 with chief ministers of all states to discuss the preparatory process for the country hosting the G20 Summit in 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-to-deepen-cooperation-on-counter-terrorism India and Russia have held wide-ranging discussions on issues on the UN Security Council agenda and agreed to deepen cooperation on counter-terrorism at the UN as well as other multilateral platforms. https://opinionexpress.in/private-venture-in-space-mission-kicks-off-with-a-bang In a first of its kind, India successfully placed three satellites into orbit on a rocket completely developed by a four year- old startup, marking the entry of the private sector into space activities, currently dominated by the state-run behemoth ISRO. Skyroot Aerospace-designed Vikram-S, named in a befitting tribute to the father of the country's space programme Vikram Sarabhai, tasted success in its maiden mission. Skyroot Aerospace become the first privately held company in India after the space sector was opened for private players by the Centre in 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-to-run-aviation-biz-with-one-brand-air-india Tata Group is considering a plan to integrate its four airline brands under Air India Ltd., people with knowledge of the matter said, as the sprawling company prepares to rebuild its faltering aviation empire. India's largest conglomerate is also considering scrapping the Vistara brand, which is Singapore Airlines Ltd.'s local affiliate in the South Asian nation, the people said, declining to be identified because the discussions are private. https://opinionexpress.in/my-companies-to-be-run-by-professional-ceo-elon-musk Elon Musk has said that he does not want to be the CEO of any company owned by him, be it Tesla or Twitter. Musk made the comment during a testimony at a trial in the US on Wednesday, challenging his controversial pay compensation package at Tesla. https://opinionexpress.in/2024-elections-will-be-my-last-electoral-battle-naidu The upcoming 2024 elections would be his last if people did not elect the Telugu Desam Party to power, its chief N Chandrababu Naidu has said. In an emotion-filled tone at a roadshow in Kurnool district late on Wednesday night, the former Chief Minister recalled his vow not to step into the Assembly till the TDP returned to power. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-congwoman-tulsi-gabbard-joins-fox-news After leaving the Democratic party, calling it an 'elitist cabal of warmongers', former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has joined Fox News as a paid contributor. A Fox News representative confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that Gabbard signed a deal starting this week, and will start appearing on its programmes next week. https://opinionexpress.in/savarkar-helped-british-against-indian-freedom-fighters-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar helped the British, adding that he wrote a mercy petition to the then rulers. https://opinionexpress.in/republicans-in-control-of-us-house-of-representative Republicans took control of the US House of Representatives from Democrats, networks said, narrowly securing a legislative base to oppose President Joe Biden's agenda for the final two years of his term -- and leaving power in Congress split. The slim Republican majority in the lower house of the US legislature will be far smaller than the party had been banking on, and Republicans also failed to take control of the Senate in a historically weak performance in the November 8 midterm elections. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-g20-presidency-will-heal-the-world-modi To push for a global leadership role: India's G20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking during the closing session of the G20 Summit in Bali, the Prime Minister said: "India is taking charge of the G20 at a time when the world is simultaneously grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rising food and energy prices, and the long-term ill-effects of the Covid pandemic. At such a time, the world is looking at the G20 with hope. https://opinionexpress.in/new-t20-road-map-for-team-india-underway-in-nz Ad hoc T20I skipper Hardik Pandya on Wednesday said the road map for 2024 T20 World Cup starts now, adding that going forward a lot of players will be given chances to stake their claim in the side. India's 2022 T20 World Cup hopes ended with a 10-wicket defeat against eventual champions England in the semifinals. https://opinionexpress.in/buy-best-travel-luggage-bags-india-online Buying travel luggage online can be an easy process if you know where to look. There are numerous brands and styles to choose from, so it's not difficult to find the perfect bag to match your needs. Buying from a direct manufacturer can save you a lot of money, but there are other options as well. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-calls-for-ceasefire-in-ukraine With the Ukraine conflict unraveling tales of horror and triggering economic crises across the globe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday advocated a return to the path of “ceasefire and diplomacy” to resolve the war. https://opinionexpress.in/whats-app-india-head-resigns Abhijit Bose, Head of India, WhatsApp and Rajiv Aggarwal, Director of Public Policy, Meta India -- have resigned, Shivnath Thukral, Director of WhatsApp Public Policy, India has been appointed as Director, Public Policy, Meta India (across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in India), replacing Aggarwal who joined Meta last year from Uber. https://opinionexpress.in/worlds-population-to-peak-at-104-billion-by-2080 The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday announced that the world population meter recorded the eight billion mark. In a statement, the UN attributed the growth to human development, with people living longer thanks to improvements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene and medicine. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-penalised-for-refund-policy The US has ordered Tata-group owned Air India to pay a whopping $121.5 million as refunds and $1.4 million as penalties for extreme delays in providing refunds to passengers due to the cancellation or change in flights, mostly during the pandemic, officials said.  https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-meets-several-world-leaders-in-g20-summit Indian PM Narendra Modi had informal interactions with US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and several other global leaders today on the sidelines of the G20 summit here and exchanged views on a range of issues. https://opinionexpress.in/confused-congress Congress welcomed the EWS quota a few days ago, but it may change its position on the issue now. https://opinionexpress.in/us-congress-in-a-flux-no-clear-road-map-ahead US Congress is returning to an extremely volatile confused post-election landscape, with control of the House still undecided, the party leadership in flux and a potentially consequential lame-duck session with legislation on gay marriage, Ukraine and government funding. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-biden-meets-at-g20-meet-in-indonesia After a long period, US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping shook hands at the start of their high-stakes summit in Bali, Indonesia on Tuesday. Biden smiled as Xi greeted the US leader with a "good to see you", kicking off what is expected to be two hours of intensive talks. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-g20-presidency-to-focus-on-one-earth-one-family-one-future PM Narendra Modi on Monday said he will hold extensive discussions with G20 leaders in Bali on key challenges such as reviving global growth, ensuring food and energy security and addressing issues relating to health and digital transformation. In a statement ahead of his visit to Bali for the G20 leaders' summit, PM Modi said he will also highlight India's achievements and its "unwavering commitment" to collectively address key global issues. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-nomination-guvs-post-dont-befit-ex-cji-justice-uu-lalit A Rajya Sabha nomination or a Governor’s posting is not befitting the status of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the outgoing CJI Uday Umesh Lalit has said. Justice Lalit made it clear that it was his personal view. https://opinionexpress.in/one-class-period-every-day-for-human-values-is-a-must-in-the-education-system Swami Advaitananda Giri Chairman, International Meditation Foundation said that Education is, that which Liberates. Education is that which leads us to the flowering of our utmost potential as human beings. If what we study in our schools and colleges is Education, then education must lead us to a loving, joyful, and peaceful world. However, the reality of education is the other way around. Despite many resources and technological advancement that makes human life much easier, the impact of the present education system is reflected in the increase of stress, anxiety, depression, unhappiness, and heartlessness like what we see in the Ukraine war right now. https://opinionexpress.in/england-beats-pak-to-win-t20-wc In a reasonablly close match, England's Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten 52 off 49 balls to guide England to a 5-wicket win over Pakistan in the final match of T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday. Haris Rauf's 2 for 23 went in vain as England beat Pakistan in the 138-run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-will-be-in-power-in-telangana-soon-pm PM Narendra Modi asserted that the “sunrise is not far and lotus (BJP’s election symbol) will bloom in Telangana” as he pointed to the party’s impressive show in the recent Munugode bypolls, where it lost to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi after a tough fight. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-temple-to-be-completed-within-2023 The construction of a mosque in Ayodhya, being built pursuant to the Supreme Court verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, is expected to be completed by December next year, the trust entrusted with the task has said. https://opinionexpress.in/anand-sharma-sees-a-win-for-congress-in-hp Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Thursday said the party's campaign planning for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls could have been "much better" with the deployment of senior leaders, and rued that his services were not fully utilised. However, Anand Sharma said Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has led a spirited campaign in the state and he was confident that the Congress would win the polls and get a "stable majority". https://opinionexpress.in/gati-shakti-has-accelerated-pace-of-development PM Narendra Modi said that India has become the center point to the world's desires and programmes like PM Gati Shakti were attracting more foreign investments into the country. https://opinionexpress.in/ril-to-build-multi-modal-logistics-park-in-tn Pioneering the pace of building a countrywide state-of-the-art multi-modal infrastructure, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has awarded the first multi-modal logistics park (MMLP) in the country in Tamil Nadu to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-on-upward-trend Equity benchmark Sensex climbed 809.64 points in early trade on Friday, helped by heavy buying in IT counters amid a rally in global markets after encouraging US inflation data. A strong rupee against major rivals and continuous buying by foreign funds added to the momentum, traders said. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-orders-release-of-6-convicts-serving-life-sentence-in-rajiv-gandhi-case-congress-slams-sc The Supreme Court on Friday directed the premature release of six convicts, including Nalini Sriharan and R P Ravichandran, serving life sentence in the assassination case of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna said the judgement of the top court in the case of A G Perarivalan, one of the convicts in the case, is equally applicable in their matter. https://opinionexpress.in/india-slaughtered-by-england-in-wc-2022 India got decimated by England in the semi-final at WC 2022. The long and excruciating wait for a 'World Cup title continues for the Indian team as Rohit Sharma & Co. suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022. Be it the 2019 ODI World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, or the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup, the lack of success in these campaigns continues to haunt the Indian team. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-defers-batch-of-pleas-challenging-demonetisation The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to November 24 the hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the Centre's 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice S A Nazeer adjourned the matter after Attorney General R Venkataramani sought time to file a comprehensive affidavit in the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-two-executives-in-liquor-scam The ED has arrested two private company executives in the money laundering investigation being conducted by it into the now scrapped Delhi excise policy case, official sources said Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-trashed-for-not-arresting-jacqueline A Delhi court on Friday rapped the Enforcement Directorate for adopting a pick-and-choose policy, and asked why the agency had not arrested actor Jacqueline Fernandez despite issuing a lookout circular against her in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekar. https://opinionexpress.in/murthy-seeks-blessing-at-sindhudurg-temple-for-son-in-law-rishi-sunak Social activist, Writer and philanthropist Sudha Murthy on Wednesday prayed for the well-being of her son-in-law and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a temple in coastal Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-thrashed-nz-to-enter-t20-wc-final Unpredictable Pakistan produced a clinical performance to thrash New Zealand by seven wickets in the first semifinal at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to reach the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022. With this win, Pakistan now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between India and England, for the summit clash at MCG on November 13. https://opinionexpress.in/nirav-modi-to-be-extradited-to-india Nirav Modi, the diamond businessman from Gujarat who fled India after allegedly cheating a government bank of over ? 11,000 crore, is a step closer to being extradited to India from the UK.Mr Modi, 51, had appealed against being sent back to India to face trial in the massive fraud case linked to Punjab National Bank, or PNB. https://opinionexpress.in/sanjay-raut-out-of-jail Sanjay Raut out of jail https://opinionexpress.in/remove-governor-mk-stalin In a major escalation, DMK called Governor RN Ravi a threat to peace, Tamil Nadu's ruling party DMK has submitted a memorandum to the President to seek his removal for "obstructing a democratically elected government from serving the people. He instigates communal hatred, the DMK has alleged Governor RN Ravi has violated the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law,” the DMK said in the submission to President Droupadi Murmu. He unduly delays assent to Bills passed by the assembly, it has alleged. https://opinionexpress.in/justice-dy-chandrachud-takes-oath-as-cji Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud was sworn in as the 50th Chief Justice of India today. He was administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. https://opinionexpress.in/zero-rs-2000-notes-printed-from-2019-2022 The RTI revealed from the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran (P) Ltd revealed said that '0' number of Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes was printed in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-likely-to-announce-candidacy-for-2024-us-prez-elections Donald Trump said Monday he would be making a "very big announcement" next week, with the former president expected to jump into the race for the White House in 2024. Trump, who has never accepted the truth of his lost re-election bid in 2020, has hinted for months that he is ready to re-enter the fray. https://opinionexpress.in/sunak-challenges-are-unlimited Brexit has ushered in a period of political instability in the UK. During the last six years, as prime ministers came and went (David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and now Rishi Sunak), economic programs have been on the back burner and overseas investors on tenterhooks writes Gaurie Dwivedi. https://opinionexpress.in/5g-can-improve-the-quality-of-education The 5G rollout may help classrooms gain tools for improved learning https://opinionexpress.in/sbi-beats-ril-to-become-most-profitable-company Big bank SBI has become the country’s most profitable corporate with Rs 14,752 crore of consolidated net income in the second quarter of FY23, beating Reliance Industries having net earnings of Rs 13,656 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-upholds-centres-10-per-cent-reservation-to-ews In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court by a majority view of 3:2 on Monday upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitution amendment providing 10 per cent reservation to people belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs. The court said the quota does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-manish-sisodia-pa Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday claimed his personal assistant was arrested after the ED failed to find anything during the raid on his house and alleged that the BJP was behind the development. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-fire-large-work-force-from-twitter Twitter sacked half of its 7,500-strong staff on Friday as new owner Elon Musk launched his major overhaul of the troubled company just a week after his blockbuster takeover. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-people-are-hardworking-talented-and-visionary-putin Yet again, Russian President Vladimir Putin showered praises on Indians calling them "talented" and "driven" and added India has much potential with no doubts that it will achieve outstanding results in terms of development. https://opinionexpress.in/maruti-suzuki-pushes-for-major-expansion-spree Maruti Suzuki India plans to invest over Rs 7,000 crore this year on various initiatives, including the construction work of its new plant in Haryana and new model launches, according to company CFO Ajay Seth. https://opinionexpress.in/dg-prison-shifted-from-tihar-jail-by-lg-delhi Delhi Lieutenant Governor's office on Friday asked Director General (Prisons), Sandeep Goel, to report to Police headquarters, while the 1989 batch IPS Sanjay Beniwal will replace him. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-directs-cost-cutting-in-twitter-inc World richest person Elon Musk has directed Twitter Inc's teams to find up to $1 billion in annual infrastructure cost savings, according to two sources familiar with the matter and an internal Slack message reviewed by Reuters, raising concerns that Twitter could go down during high-traffic events like the U.S. midterm elections. https://opinionexpress.in/netanyahu-reentry-in-israel Despite serious lacunas in his approach and style,  Netanyahu is likely to return as Israel President https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-attacked-in-a-rally Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was injured after his container was shot at during a protest march in Pakistan's Punjab province. He is out of danger now. Reports said one person has been arrested from the spot. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-win-win-over-100-seats-in-gujrat-kejriwal Post EC announcement , AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was quick to declare that his party would "definitely win", and followed it up with a one-minute "message with love", in Gujarati.   https://opinionexpress.in/gujrat-to-go-on-polls-on-1-5-dec-ec The high-voltage Assembly election in Gujarat will be held in two phases, on December 1 and December 5, the Election Commission announced today. The results for the election will be declared, along with that of the Himachal Pradesh polls, on December 8. https://opinionexpress.in/plea-to-restrain-jus-chandrachud-oath-dismissed SC dismisses plea against Justice Chandrachud, terms it 'misconceived' The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking to restrain its seniormost judge, Justice D Y Chandrachud, from taking oath as the Chief Justice of India on November 9 by terming the entire petition "misconceived". https://opinionexpress.in/india-beats-bangladesh-in-wc-2022 India defeated Bangladesh by five runs in a rain-curtailed T20 World Cup match here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-health-in-focus-or-just-a-propaganda Amist Rumour on health issues, or a western propoganda, Russia President Vladimir Putin's health is in renewed focus after photos showing strange marks and colour appeared online, according to a report in UK-based Express. Many users online claimed that it is an intravenous (IV) track mark. Retired British army officer and member of the House of Lords Richard Danatt talked about the issue of Mr Putin's health while appearing on a programme on Sky News. He told the outlet that it is worth reflecting how healthy - or not - is the Russian President. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-blue-tick-will-be-charged-musk Twitter's new boss Elon Musk has a message for users sulking over his announcement of an $8 monthly fee for a verified badge."To all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8," Elon Musk tweeted as a several influencers and celebrities flagged security concerns, arguing that anyone can now open an account in someone's name, pay the fee and get it verified. https://opinionexpress.in/conman-sukesh-stunning-accusation-against-aap The BJP on Tuesday dubbed the AAP a "maha thug" party after jailed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar claimed its leader Satyendar Jain "extorted" Rs 10 crore from him to ensure his safety in prison. https://opinionexpress.in/oct-gst-152-lkah-crore GST revenues rose 16.6 per cent to about Rs 1.52 lakh crore in October -- making it the second highest collection ever. https://opinionexpress.in/steel-man-jj-irani-is-no-more Jamshed J Irani, known as the steel man of India, died in Jamshedpur late Monday night, Tata Steel said. He was 86. "The Steel Man of India passes away. It is with profound grief that Tata Steel informs of the demise of Padma Bhushan Dr Jamshed J Irani," Tata Steel said in a statement. https://opinionexpress.in/india-defeated-by-poor-show-in-fielding India got defeated by poor fielding against South Africa. Though Suryakumar Yadav played the best knock of his short international career but South Africa exposed India's inadequacies against extreme pace and bounce to win a low-scoring thriller by five wickets in the T20 World Cup here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-is-winning-gujrat-rahul Rally-bound Congress leader Rahul Gandhi exuded confidence that his party will win the Gujarat assembly elections, contending that the Aam Aadmi Party has only created a buzz in the state purely on the basis of advertisements and had no support on the ground. https://opinionexpress.in/administrative-negligence-is-the-reason-of-gujrat-bridge-tragedy The collapse of the bridg in Gujrat is a clear reflection of the poor administartion and corruptionin the state of Gujrat. The renovator of the century-old bridge that collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi city had not taken a fitness certificate from the authorities before reopening it, according to the local municipal body's chief. Over 150 people were killed after the bridge snapped. Eighty are in hospital with serious injuries and some 200 are missing, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/what-exactly-is-a-laptop-trolley-bag Trolley bags serve the same functionality as a laptop bag, but have they also have additional features that are available. The major difference is that the space inside a laptop roller bag. https://opinionexpress.in/jack-dorsey-to-start-a-new-social-media-platform Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is beta-testing a new social media application. A few days before Musk took control of the company on Thursday, Dorsey announced that his decentralized social app Bluesky is seeking beta testers. https://opinionexpress.in/major-avoidable-tragedy-in-seoul-kills-over-150-people A tragedy that could have been avoided but it happened in Seoul. At least 151 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a stampede at a prominent market in South Korea's capital Seoul, where a massive crowd had gathered for Halloween. https://opinionexpress.in/uniform-civil-code-in-motion The outgoing Cabinet of the Gujarat government has today moved a proposal to constitute a committee, along the lines of the one in Uttarakhand, under a retired High Court judge, to evaluate all aspects of implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/know-the-right-way-to-coach-baseball-player There are many ways to teach a child how to throw a baseball. One of the most basic is through repetition. You can begin by having your child practice throwing without runners. Then, have them practice throwing with runners while using different positions. After a few times, your child should begin to throw with proper technique. https://opinionexpress.in/choose-your-cm-kejriwal AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal launched a crowdsourcing campaign to select the party's Chief Ministerial candidate for the Gujarat elections as part of its efforts to trump the BJP in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. The "Choose Your Chief Minister" campaign is the latest push by the Delhi Chief Minister who has been campaigning aggressively in the state, holding rallies and town halls and making a host of pre-poll promises such as free electricity, better education and healthcare facilities. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-to-engage-with-the-west Xi re-election spell trouble for India, world https://opinionexpress.in/key-conspirators-and-planners-of-2611-are-protected-by-pak-jaishankar India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said key conspirators and planners of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks continue to remain protected and unpunished. https://opinionexpress.in/finally-elon-musk-eats-up-twitter World richest man Elon Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter Inc., according to people familiar with the matter, putting him in charge of the struggling social network after six months of public and legal wrangling over the deal. Among Musk's first moves: changing the leadership. Departures include Twitter Chief Executive Officer Parag Agrawal; Vijaya Gadde, the head of legal, policy and trust; Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal, who joined Twitter in 2017; and Sean Edgett, who has been general counsel at Twitter since 2012, according to people familiar with the matter. Edgett was escorted out of the building, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isn't public. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-heaps-praise-for-modi-governance-independence-and-vision Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his annual address to the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think tank, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's independent foreign policy, saying that a lot has been done under his leadership in India as he called him a patriot of the country, according to Reuters translation of the former's statement which he said in Russian. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-accuses-nato-of-playing-dirty-games-in-ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the West was playing a "dangerous, bloody and dirty" game over Ukraine but that the United States and its allies would ultimately have to talk to Russia. There is no escape for NATO but to keep Russia engaged in the ongoing crisis.  https://opinionexpress.in/big-projects-raining-in-gujrat Gujarat has landed a huge new deal - Tata and Airbus will manufacture transport planes for the military in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. The cost of the project is a walloping 22,000 crore, or 2.66 billion dollars. "This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. The total cost of the project is 21,935 crore. The aircraft can be used for civilian purposes as well," said Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-is-b-team-of-bjp-rss-says-cong The Congress lambasted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his demand of printing images of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi on currency notes. https://opinionexpress.in/new-congress-prez-forms-committee-working-groups New Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday set up a 47-member Steering Committee that includes former prime minister Manmohan Singh and the party's ex-presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/course-correction-is-a-must-to-stop-freebies Consensus among political parties is needed to avert the financial disaster that freebies will lead to in the long run https://opinionexpress.in/new-british-prime-minister Rishi Sunak happens to be Hindu by faith, but this fact is unlikely to make him pro-India https://opinionexpress.in/mallikarjun-kharge-is-in-charge-of-congress-party Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge offially took over as Congress president today and said the party will break the "system of lies and hatred" prevailing under the current government. https://opinionexpress.in/taxpayers-fume-at-revdi-culture-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi raked up the issue of “revdi culture” yet again as he sought to distinguish between his Governments free ration scheme, which the Opposition parties have termed a freebie, and those by the others, with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal being the main target of his indirect attack. He asserted a large section of the country is gearing up to rid the country of revdi culture. https://opinionexpress.in/rgf-irregularities-likely-to-be-probed-by-cbi The Centre has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), non-government organisations associated with the Gandhi family, over alleged irregularities in foreign contributions, officials said. The government is said to investigate alleged irregularities in RGF and RGCT is likely to be handed over to the central probe agency CBI. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-jinping-tightens-grip-on-power-in-china PRC President Xi Jinping has strengthened his power as a leader and elevated his status within the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) history, with major political resolutions announced on the final day of a key political meeting. The CCP congress approved amendments to its constitution, including the so-called "Two Establishes" and "Two Safeguards", aimed at enshrining Xi as being at the core of the party and his political thought as its underpinning ideology. A list of reappointed delegates also confirmed Premier Li Keqiang would be retiring from politics, as well as several other senior party figures. The President started his closing speech, while party officials announced the confirmation of the amendments, which all but confirmed that the President will remain in power for another term. https://opinionexpress.in/google-levied-heavy-fine-by-cci US Major google on Friday said it will review Competition Commission’s (CCI) decision to impose a `1,338 crore penalty for alleged anti-competitive practice, and termed the order a “major setback” for Indian consumers and businesses. https://opinionexpress.in/rishi-sunak-emerges-as-the-frontrunner-for-uk-pm Amist serious political turmoil, British Conservative politician Rishi Sunak has reached the minimum threshold to run for party leader, as former prime minister Boris Johnson targeted an audacious comeback. Cabinet member Penny Mordaunt became the first to formally declare her candidacy after the UK's ruling party was forced into a second leadership contest following the dramatic resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss. https://opinionexpress.in/major-hotspots-are-free-from-anti-national-activities-amit-shah Home Minister Amit Shah said most of the "hotspots" in the country are almost free from anti-national activities now and the situation in major security theatres has improved over the last eight years of the Narendra Modi government. https://opinionexpress.in/india-test-fires-medium-range-ballistic-missile India scientists successfully test-fired indigenously-developed new generation medium-range ballistic missile Agni Prime from the Odisha coast, DRDO sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/gut-health-has-impact-on-immunity-ageing-and-skin Most of us are aware of the concept of gut health and understand its importance to our overall wellbeing, but what exactly does having a healthy gut mean? Our gut is home to millions of microorganisms, with about 1,000 distinct species, including various types of viruses, bacteria, yeast and other fungal bodies. Some of these microorganisms are harmful to our health and the others are very beneficial and important for a healthy body. Studies on people who have lived to be 100 years old in Blue Zones around the world have also shown that the structure and function of the gut microbiome determine whether or not a person will live to be 100 years old in good health. These people also appear to have high populations of good bacteria. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-at-kedarnath PM Narendra Modi morning offered prayers at Uttarkhand's Kedarnath shrine, donning a 'Chola Dora' outfit gifted to him by women of Himachal Pradesh's Chamba. https://opinionexpress.in/liz-truss-resigns-chaos-turmoil-in-british-politics Recently elected Liz Truss resigned as UK prime minister after a brief and chaotic tenure that saw her announce a massive package of unfunded tax cuts before unwinding most of it in the face of a market rout. https://opinionexpress.in/congresss-plan-of-changing-leadership-seems-hunky-dory-with-several-repercussions In 1885, with the intent to provide a public platform and facilitate the process of nation-building, the Indian national congress was established. The party continued to receive overwhelming support from the people after independence and assumed the figure of an “umbrella party”, however especially in the past decade the party‘s image has plummeted and has invited a lot of criticism due to the prolonged leadership of Gandhi’s. The once-called umbrella party is now struggling hard to avert tiny rain showers also. https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-trading-at-all-time-low-against-usd The Indian rupee hit a new record low of 83.08 against a resurgent dollar, after breaching the 83-mark for the first time ever in the previous session as investor concerns about an impending recession reduced risk appetite. Bloomberg quoted the rupee at 83.0663 per dollar after opening at 82.9825, compared to its record low of 83.0838. https://opinionexpress.in/roger-binny-elected-bcci-president World Cup winner Roger Binny was elected as the 36th president of the BCCI, taking over from Sourav Ganguy to run the world's richest cricket board but the sports body's AGM concluded without any discussion on the ICC Chairmanship. https://opinionexpress.in/kharge-to-revive-congress-fortunes-rahul-gandhi The Congress today declared veteran Mallikarjun Kharge its new chief, the first non-Gandhi to lead the party in 24 years. He will take charge on October 26. Mallikarjun Kharge, 80, widely seen to be the "Gandhi-approved" candidate in a contest against Shashi Tharoor, won 84 percent of the votes cast in the recently concluded elections.  https://opinionexpress.in/uk-to-process-visa-application-faster The United Kingdom is on track to get back to processing Indian visa applications within its standard 15-day period, said Alex Ellis, the British High Commissioner to India.   https://opinionexpress.in/freebie-is-a-recipe-for-a-sure-disaster Freebie culture is blamed on political elites only however, bureaucrats drafting policy are left scot-free. The Judicial system conveniently ignores its responsibility to correct the course since it will displease the political class and off course, the media will never discuss the issue since the government advertisement inflow will be hurt. The poor taxpayers of the country enjoy the visual site of watching their own elected government ripping hard-earned money to be distributed to large sections of the population seeking the comfort of sitting at home since the government has no vision to generate employment for a dignified living. It is all about failed governance and bribing voters to overcome this monumental failure.   https://opinionexpress.in/dbt-without-middlemen-is-the-new-rule-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi said benefits of government schemes were availed of by few aware citizens and middlemen in the past but now the government delivers such benefits at the doors of the eligible people. https://opinionexpress.in/history-of-indian-embroideries The art and history of a nation are among those fascinating topics that never cease to attract our interest. We present one of the oldest traditions of our nation "The embroidery" which is a part of different parts of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/sjm-seeks-stern-action-against-ngo-for-putting-wrong-hir-2022 https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-shining-with-fdi-rains India has optimistic growth prospects for foreign investments with a potential to attract FDI flows of USD 475 billion in the next 5 years, according to a CII-EY report. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-blames-bjp-government-for-all-round-governance-failure Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre over India slipping down to 107th position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 and asked when the RSS-BJP will work to "weaken" India by misleading the people from reality. https://opinionexpress.in/india-hopes-for-reversal-of-fortunes-in-t20-world-cup India hasn't won the T20 world title since the very first in South Africa and has only reached the final once in the six subsequent editions. India is aiming to replicate the first T20 tournament success and forget the disappointment of the subsequent T20 WC editions.  https://opinionexpress.in/indias-g20-presidency-will-reshape-the-financial-world-order-fm Host India is preparing to focus on several key issues like multinational development banks, debt situation and climate change during its G20 presidency next year, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-anticipates-conspiracy-in-cbi-summons-to-sisodia AAP Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has been summoned by the probe agency Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday at 11 in the morning for questioning in the controversial Delhi excise policy case. In a press conference soon after the summons, Aam Aadmi Party's senior leader Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed Sisodia will be arrested tomorrow, adding that the summons is linked to the upcoming Gujarat elections where the BJP and AAP "are in the direct contest". https://opinionexpress.in/speedy-justice-system-is-the-urgent-need-of-the-hour-pm-modi PM Narendra Modi said the delay in getting justice is one of the major challenges faced by the people of the country and added that a sensitive judicial system is essential for a capable nation and a harmonious society. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-is-the-most-dangerous-nation-on-planet-joe-biden US President Joe Biden described Pakistan as "one of the most dangerous nations" in the world with holds "nuclear weapons without any cohesion. The US President made these remarks at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Reception in Los Angeles, during which he berated both China and Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/5g-will-take-india-to-next-level-of-development-fm India has launched its indigenously developed 5G infrastructure and is ready to share it with other countries as well, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday. "The story (India's 5G) is yet to reach the public," FM Sitharaman said in her interaction with students at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-economy-needs-structural-changes-to-achieve-10trillion-mark India has emerged as “a bright spot” when the world is facing imminent prospects of a recession, the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, however, India needs key structural reforms in order to achieve the ambitious target of being a USD 10 trillion economy. https://opinionexpress.in/prominent-saints-pledges-for-universal-peace A national conference highlighting the contribution of saints in the preservation of nature and culture was organized at Raj Bhawan, Uttarakhand. Governor of Uttarakhand Lt. General (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh hosted the “National Conference on Contribution of Saints in the Preservation of Nature and Culture”. https://opinionexpress.in/the-president-of-india-is-welcomed-in-a-unique-style-by-tripura-police In a special gesture, President Droupadi Murmu was on Wednesday accorded an all-women Guard of Honour by the Tripura Police on her arrival here. This unique gesture to honour the first citizen of the country was planned by DGP Amitabh Ranjan on her maiden trip to the state after becoming the president. https://opinionexpress.in/amtek-auto-bank-fraud-under-scrutiny-in-sc The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to assure  security to a journalist who has filed a petition against  financial frauds and insolvency related illegalities by Amtek Auto Limited. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-is-aware-of-its-limits-judges The Supreme Court said on Wednesday it is aware of the "Lakshman Rekha" on judicial review of government policy decisions but will have to examine the 2016 demonetisation decision to decide whether the issue has become a mere "academic" exercise. A five-judge bench headed by Justice S A Nazeer said when an issue arises before a constitution bench, it is its duty to answer. https://opinionexpress.in/tulsi-gabbard-quits-democratic-party-in-protest Former US Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard announced her exit from the Democratic Party, blaming the party for racializing every issue in the nation and denouncing it as the "elitist cabal of warmongers." Gabbard made the announcement in an approximately 30-minute video posted on her social media account, as she attacked the institution for its practices. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-warns-of-prolonged-recession Global growth is expected to slow further next year, the IMF, downgrading its forecasts as countries grapple with the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, spiraling cost-of-living and economic downturns. The world economy has been dealt multiple blows, with the war in Ukraine driving up food and energy prices following the coronavirus outbreak while soaring costs and rising interest rates threaten to reverberate around the globe. https://opinionexpress.in/justice-dy-chandrachud-will-be-the-next-cji Chief Justice of India UU Lalit has recommended Justice DY Chandrachud as his successor for the top judicial post amid a whirlwind of developments over the appointments of judges in the Supreme Court. https://opinionexpress.in/global-warming-and-its-fallout What is Global Warming? https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-probe-tax-evasion-for-swiss-acs Indian government has received the fourth set of Swiss bank account details of hundreds of its nationals and organisations under the annual automatic information exchange through which Switzerland has shared particulars of nearly 34 lakh financial accounts with 101 countries. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-regain-its-lost-glory-kharge AICC presidential poll candidate Mallikarjun Kharge stated that he believed in "collective leadership" and would work with all members to take the party to new heights. Addressing Congress members of the northeast here, Kharge said that his primary aim would be to implement the 'Udaipur Declaration' and bring in 'fresh leaders' to the party by appointing people less than 50 years of age, including women and those belonging to OBCs, SCs and STs. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-hit-by-several-russian-missiles-putin-wows-for-more-action Russian military forces launched a barrage of fatal bombardments across Ukraine early on Monday and President Vladimir Putin vowed even more "severe" retaliation against Kyiv. The biggest wave of strikes across Ukraine in months killed at least 11 people nationwide and was apparent retaliation for an explosion this weekend that damaged a key bridge linking Russia to the Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula. https://opinionexpress.in/inr-may-hit-84-85-per-dollar The Indian rupee could drop to 84-85 to the dollar by March due to rising crude oil prices, high trade deficit and depleting foreign exchange reserves, Elara Global Research said in a note Monday, when the currency hit a record low of 82.6825. https://opinionexpress.in/veteran-politician-mulayam-singh-yadav-dies-at-82 Neta-ji aka Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party founder and three-time Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, died this morning after weeks in hospital. He was 82. The Samajwadi Party quoted Mulayam Singh's son Akhilesh Yadav as saying: "My respected father and everyone's Neta-ji has died." https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-kumar-acts-are-shameful-deplorable-rs-prasad Ex Law Minister & BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Nitish Kumar for defending his new ally, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, and his family members after the CBI filed a charge sheet against them, saying it is "shameful" and "unfortunate" how the Bihar chief minister has turned a blind eye to the issue of corruption. Addressing a press conference here, the former Union minister said Kumar is "compromising the core of his life's savings" by defending Lalu Prasad and his family members in the corruption case. https://opinionexpress.in/britain-could-face-blackouts-this-winter-report British households could face blackouts this winter if there are reduced European electricity imports and insufficient gas supplies in the country, a report warned. https://opinionexpress.in/brs-primary-target-is-ge-2024-k-t-rama-rao The ruling TRS in Telangana has been rechristened as BRS, after the party decided to go national. The BRS would work in Maharashtra in view of farmers' suicides and the alleged crisis in agriculture, he indicated, in an informal interaction with the media here. The BRS is counting on the support of JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Karnataka. In a trenchant attack on BJP and the NDA government at the Centre over its politics of 'hatred' and attack on federalism, K Rama Rao said the BRS would like to present the successful 'Telangana model" of welfare and development to the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-free-to-buy-oil-from-anywhere-minister-puri The Indian government has a moral duty to provide energy to its citizens and it will continue to buy oil from wherever it has to, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday, asserting that no country has told India to stop buying oil from Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-to-launch-e-rupee-soon-on-pilot-basis The Reserve Bank of India today said it will soon commence the pilot launch of digital Rupee or e-Rupee for specific use cases as it tests digital currency in India. https://opinionexpress.in/government-seeks-cji-nod-for-the-next-cji-appointment-in-sc To set in motion the process of appointing the next head of the Indian judiciary, the government on Friday wrote to Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit to recommend his successor. Justice Lalit will retire as the CJI on November 8 after a brief tenure of 74 days. https://opinionexpress.in/dusshera-in-toronto Toronto (Canada): 6 October 2022: The largest Bhagwad Gita Park outside India has been set up at Brampton City in Canada. Navratri & Dusshera were celebrated at various temples and community centers in Toronto and other cities of Canada. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-threat-of-nuclear-weapon-is-real-biden US President Joe Biden said the world risks nuclear "Armageddon" for the first time since the Cold War and that he is trying to find Russian President Vladimir Putin's "off-ramp" in the Ukraine conflict. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis" in 1962, Biden said at a Democratic party fundraising event in New York. https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-at-all-time-low-against-usd The rupee plunged to close at an all-time low of 82.33 against the US currency in early trade due to a surge in US bond yields, risk-averse sentiment among investors, and firm crude oil prices. At 10 am, the home currency was trading at 82.30 a dollar, down 0.5% from its previous close of 81.89. The currency opened at 82.19 and touched an all-time low of 82.33. https://opinionexpress.in/freebie-culture-can-shake-the-foundation-of-any-nation Freebie culture is blamed on political elites only however, bureaucrats drafting policy are left scot-free. The Judicial system conveniently ignores its responsibility to correct the course since it will displease the political class and off course, the media will never discuss the issue since the government advertisement inflow will be hurt. The poor taxpayers of the country enjoy the visual site by watching their own elected government ripping hard-earned money to be distributed to large sections of the population seeking the comfort of sitting at home since the government has no vision to generate employment for a dignified living. It is all about failed governance and bribing voters to overcome this monumental failure. https://opinionexpress.in/uddhav-thackerays-brother-ditches-brothers-party-pledges-support-to-shinde Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's claim of being the leader of the real Shiv Sena suffered yet another blow on Wednesday when his brother Jaidev Thackeray said "his full support" was with rival Eknath Shinde. https://opinionexpress.in/global-forex-reserves-shrink-by-over-1-trillion In a first of its kind, Global foreign-currency reserves are falling at the fastest pace on record, as central banks from India to the Czech Republic intervene to support their currencies. Reserves have declined by about $1 trillion, or 7.8 percent, this year to $12 trillion, the biggest drop since Bloomberg started to compile the data in 2003.  https://opinionexpress.in/pdp-chief-mehbooba-mufti-claims-she-is-under-house-arrest PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday claimed that she has been placed under house arrest to prevent her from visiting north Kashmir's Pattan town. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-seeks-population-control-bill-to-correct-imbalances RSS chief Mohan Bhagwant speaking on the Vijay Diwas celebrations address said India needs a population control law, and cited "religion-based imbalance" and "forced conversions" to raise the specter of the country breaking apart "if such necessary steps are not taken". He cited Kosovo and South Sudan as examples of new countries that emerged because of "imbalance" among religions in a population. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-says-there-can-be-no-military-solution-for-the-ukraine-conflict Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and asserted that there can be no military solution to the Ukraine conflict while underlining that the endangerment of nuclear facilities could have catastrophic consequences. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-ruined-pakistan-society-economy-foreign-affairs-pak-pm Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accused former premier Imran Khan of being the biggest liar on the face of the earth, alleging that the PTI chief has ruined the country's economy. https://opinionexpress.in/lg-orders-enquiry-plan-to-transfer-power-subsidy-to-consumers-through-dbt-in-delhi Delhi LG V K Saxena has directed the chief secretary to conduct an inquiry over the alleged non-implementation of power subsidy payment to consumers through DBT as was ordered by the DERC in 2018, sources at the LG office said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/government-action-on-pfi-is-fully-justified Fans of psychological thrillers rate Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as one of the best novellas ever written. The story published in 1886 by RL Stevenson is about Dr Jekyll, a gentleman, and Mr Hyde a murderous criminal, and a series of murders that shook society. It turns out that Jekyll and Hyde are the same person with Jekyll transforming into Hyde with the help of a chemical concoction. A real-life drama of the Jekyll and Hyde genre is being staged in India with the Popular Front of India and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) as the main characters. The SDPI is the political face of PFI, a terrorist organisation that is responsible for murder and mayhem in the many States of India. Nobody was surprised when the National Investigation Agency and Enforcement Directorate swept down on the leaders of the PFI and SDPI across the country on Thursday and arrested nearly 100 prominent faces of these outfits. The PFI called for a hartal in Kerala last Friday to protest against the raids and arrests of its establishments and leaders respectively. Unlike the previous hartals, the one on Friday turned out to be the most violent. https://opinionexpress.in/nobel-prize-in-medicine-awarded-for-research-on-evolution-is-with-svante-paabo This year's Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to Swedish scientist Svante Paabo for his discoveries on human evolution. Thomas Perlmann, secretary of the Nobel Committee, announced the winner Monday at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. https://opinionexpress.in/jio-5g-across-india-by-dec-2023 Reliance Jio, the nation's biggest telecom firm, will expand 5G telephony services offering ultra high-speed internet connectivity to every part of the country by December 2023, Jio had in September 2016 made an entry into the telecom sector, offering free voice calls and dirt-cheap data, forcing the competition to either match or fold up/consolidate. https://opinionexpress.in/liz-trusss-1st-policy-u-turn-on-tax-reforms Great Britain scrapped plans to axe its top bracket income tax rate just 10 days after a debt-driven budget sparked turmoil on markets and fierce criticism during a cost-of-living crisis. On the second day of the ruling Conservative Party's annual conference, finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng tweeted he was "not proceeding" with the removal of the top 45-percent income tax rate, adding it had become a "distraction". The latest announcement marked the first major policy U-turn under new British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took office less than one month ago. "It is clear that the abolition of the 45 percent tax rate has become a distraction from our overriding mission to tackle the challenges facing our country. As a result, I'm announcing we are not proceeding with the abolition of the rate. https://opinionexpress.in/india-beat-sa-in-to-clinch-1st-t20-bilateral-series Indian frontline batters were at their ruthless best with Suryakumar Yadav and opener KL Rahul leading the charge as they defeated South Africa by 16 runs despite David Miller's unbeaten century in the second T20I to clinch the thee-match series here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-raises-red-flag-on-the-economic-policy The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP, gave a report card of the country today in terms of poverty, unemployment and economic disparity -- subjects the Opposition cites regularly in its attacks on the government. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's focus was on the condition of the poor, who, he said, comprise 20 crore people. He blamed the situation on the economic policies of the last several decades. He also said several steps have been taken in the last few years to address this challenge. https://opinionexpress.in/greatest-sports-tragedy-unfold-horror-story-in-indonesia At least 174 people were killed and around 180 injured at a soccer match in Indonesia after panicked fans were trampled and crushed trying to flee during a riot, authorities said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/indore-is-the-cleanest-town-in-india Indore was adjudged India's cleanest city for the sixth time in a row, while Surat and Navi Mumbai followed it on the next two spots in the Central government's annual cleanliness survey, the results of which were announced Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/freebie-is-the-recipe-of-aap-govt-success-in-delhi The State of Delhi stands out for all the ills plaguing the politics of freebies across the country, for many people have been deprived of basic amenities https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-launch-5g-services-for-a-greater-digital-india-roadmap Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches 5G services while inaugurating the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/india-abstain-in-unsc-vote-against-russia-over-illegal-annexation-of-ukraine-territory Yet again at UN, India has abstained on a draft resolution tabled in the UN Security Council which condemned Russia's "illegal referenda" and annexation of four Ukrainian territories and called for an immediate cessation of violence while underlining the need to find pathways for a return to the negotiating table. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-collegium-recommends-three-new-chief-justices-for-hcs-transfers-two-judges The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of two Chief Justices of high courts and elevation of three judges as Chief Justices of three high courts. https://opinionexpress.in/four-regions-of-ukraine-annexed-by-russia-will-be-part-of-us-putin Russia confirmed today that it will formally annex parts of Ukraine where occupied areas held Kremlin-orchestrated living under Moscow rule that the Ukrainian Government and the West denounced as illegal and rigged. Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a ceremony on Friday in the Kremlin when four regions of Ukraine will be officially folded into Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-prez-kharge-vs-tharoor Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has entered the race for Congress president as the choice of the Gandhis, sources say. another Veteran leader Digvijaya Singh has opted out, leaving Shashi Tharoor as the only other candidate. https://opinionexpress.in/major-crackdown-against-drug-cartels-by-agencies In a major crackdown against drug peddlers, CBI led an operation in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau and police of multiple states, arresting 175 people and seizing a huge quantity of drugs, officials said Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ashok-ghelot-withdraws-from-congress-prez-election Ashok Gehlot has pulled out of the race for the post of the Congress chief with profuse apologies to Sonia Gandhi. It does not appear to have settled the question of his current job as the Rajasthan Chief Minister, which was at the centre of the huge chaos and rebellion by his loyalist MLAs. A decision on that will be "taken in a day or two", shortly after Ashok Gehlot met Sonia Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/data-the-king Not only was I born and raised in India, but my passion for technology started there too. I was wandering through the British Council Library in Calcutta when I came across a book called the Little Kingdom. It was a true story about Apple founders, and I was immediately interested. I thought This is going to change the way we live and the way we work.” From then on, I knew two things: I wanted a career in tech and I had to work for Steve Jobs. https://opinionexpress.in/looking-back-at-the-abortion-laws The Roe vs. Wade decision, which declared abortion to be a constitutional right, was overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States by a 6-3 decision. With its most recent ruling, the pro-life vs. pro-choice argument has been brought up not just in the United States but also across the globe. Joe Biden, the president of the United States, has also publicly denounced the Supreme Court's decision. Now, some could argue that Joe Biden's comments were just a little bit motivated by politics. as Donald Trump appointed the Supreme Court justices who made the decision. However, the folks' rage is genuine. https://opinionexpress.in/rishi-sunak-loses-because-customs-werent-british Liz Truss wants to create a different image of her country by keeping it away not only from Europe but also from the shadow of America https://opinionexpress.in/secularism-in-the-twenty-first-century-india The word secularism has been imported into India from the west. In Indian tradition and civilization, there is no parallel word for secularism. No word is found in our historical texts or literature or scriptures precisely equivalent in meaning to this word. The reasons for this are not far to seek. The Indian culture is intrinsically secular, in the working sense of the word. Our accounts of the long periods of ancient history gleaned from texts or folklores also suggest the absence of discrimination among peoples on the basis of religion in the functioning of the governments. https://opinionexpress.in/judicial-activism-not-life-only-a-life-support The want to write this piece started a few days back while reading an article titled; A new Judicial Device for complete justice, which talked about the role of the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court to provide criminal justice to litigants. Consequently, I saw a few videos on related issues during breakfast, as its always good to have a few more opinions. In the afternoon during lunch, as the YouTube algorithm works, it suggested to me a debate show on a news channel, where the panel members were arguing over a Supreme Court justice’s remark in https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-internationalisation-are-we-all-set The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a mechanism to facilitate international trade in rupees. Now the import and export payments may be settled through a special Vastro account, while the banks with prior approval from the RBI can act as authorised dealers for such transactions. There is no doubt that this is a great step in the right direction considering the limitation of using the US dollar as the medium of international transactions, especially with counties under sanctions. This would also help reduce exchange rate risk on traders and pressure on the Indian rupee. https://opinionexpress.in/kashmir-files In Kupwara, Bashir Dar, a trader, and Pervaiz Butt, an ophthalmologist, confided that youngsters of Kupwara, Lolab Valley, Tithwal and Trehgam  are not interested in seeing; Kashmir banega Pakistan; anymore. Some teenagers still think Azadi is a viable option. But a majority of older youth have reconciled to being a part of the Indian union. I recalled that twenty-six years ago, when I first visited Kupwara bazar, pro-Pakistani youth were in majority. During my second visit, ten years ago, young people favoured the independence option. So, what made youngsters shift their opinion? https://opinionexpress.in/what-it-means-to-be-free-as-a-citizen-in-todays-india What is the true meaning of freedom, only a person suffering the brunt of exile can know better? A soldier standing on the border can know or he/she who has lost thirty-six springs of his/her life imprisonment. The air we breathe in a free country, and our safe borders of ours are the only (true meaning) of this 'freedom'. But, if we turn into a relaxed zone and feel thinking that it is our innate right, then we are far from understanding the philosophy of 'freedom'. Every citizen of India must commit to keeping it intact. Thinking it then stops on some 'on', why the need for words like borders and security! Why we have not been able to implement the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' till now? In this journey, many words have lost their meaning and layers of dust have settled on many. We will have to remove them or at least have to start turning on that track of new India in this Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava. As we all are celebrating glorious 75 years of our Independence from Colonial rule and entering into 76th year of independence, we all have a common as well as an individual responsibility that on one hand, we are celebrating our Azadi (freedom) as Amrit (Nectar element), but on the other, we as a nation have to combat with Vish (poison) persistent in our country in various forms of irregularities, corruption and others maladies which combined pushing us away from our duties/fundamental duties which is not only an integral part of Azadi but also a true companion of fundamental rights. https://opinionexpress.in/after-eight-years-xi-visits-xinjiang Last week, amid rising concerns over the Chinese state's detention of thousands of Muslim ethnic minority groups, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping paid an unannounced visit to the North-Western region of Xinjiang. According to New York Times report, the four days visit aimed at projecting Xinjiang as a stable and united region under his administration. https://opinionexpress.in/reality-check-does-india-need-a-population-control-law On the occasion of Population Day, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath made a statement regarding population control. Yogi said that the population control program should proceed successfully but the situation of demographic imbalance should not arise. He said that it should not happen that the population of the original denizen decreases and on the other hand the population of any one section keeps on increasing. He expressed concern over an adverse fallout of disparity in the religious demography of India. https://opinionexpress.in/a-silicon-valley-view-of-india Not only was I born and raised in India, but my passion for technology started there too. I was wandering through the British Council Library in Calcutta when I came across a book called. The Little Kingdom. It was a true story about Apple founders, and I was immediately interested. I thought This is going to change the way we live and the way we work. From then on, I knew two things: I wanted a career in tech and I had to work for Steve Jobs. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-grand-design-to-capture-africa-unveiled China initiated trade relations with African countries way back in 1970. Their motive was primarily strategic, i.e., creating new allies and expanding its global influence against the west, mainly the United States. African countries are the perfect victims of China's predatory lending policies. They are capital-poor and are desperate for an influx of investments to grow and compete with the Western world. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-imperative-to-support-greater-african-representation-under-its-g20-presidency For all the historical anecdotes, common anti-liberation struggles, diasporic linkages, and the common aim of prioritising the voice of the Global South, the India-Africa partnership is set to face a crucial test. As India is on the verge of taking over the Group of 20 (G20) Presidency from Indonesia from 1 December 2022 till 30 November 2023, it must work to ensure the African Union (AU); comprised of 54 diverse, sovereign, and innovative economies - is formally admitted to the G20 as a permanent, full-time member, thereby making the G20 a G21. https://opinionexpress.in/hackathon-for-5g-technology-and-its-challenges The hackathon for 5G technology is all set to roll out its wings from October this year marking an important pathway for digital transformation. Poststructural adjustment reforms in 1991, technology has become an inevitable ingredient for infusing global interconnectedness in terms of faster communication and revitalizing the global economy. As the world is progressing, there are also challenges that have to be addressed in a sustainable manner. An emerging threat in the 21 century was marked by the coming of Covid-19 that initially started in Wuhan city in December 2019 and within a few months engulfed the entire globe. In these testing times, when social distancing became the new norm and lockdown was imposed, technology remained the only medium to cope up with the global economy, psychological trauma and distress education. https://opinionexpress.in/pfi-social-media-platforms-erased-by-agencies The Twitter, FB, YouTube accounts of PFI, the Islamic group banned by the government, and several of its leaders have been withheld in India by the social media platform. Its Facebook page and Instagram profile are no longer available either.   https://opinionexpress.in/plea-to-restrict-criminal-from-contesting-elections The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission on a plea to debar persons against whom charges have been framed in serious offences from contesting elections. https://opinionexpress.in/india-gets-a-new-cds Lt General Anil Chauhan (retd) was appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff, more than nine months after the post fell vacant following the death of Gen Bipin Rawat. https://opinionexpress.in/pfi-banned-for-five-years After two rounds of nationwide raids and arrests of over 240 members of the Popular Front Of India (PFI) in a week, the centre last evening banned the outfit for five years over alleged terror activities. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-goes-live-to-create-history At a first, the Supreme Court began live-streaming its constitution bench proceedings On September 27, 2018, the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra delivered the landmark judgment on the live telecast or webcast of important proceedings in matters of constitutional importance, saying sunlight is the best disinfectant https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-stressed-against-dollar The rupee plunged 58 paise to close at an all-time low of 81.67 against the US dollar as the strengthening of the American currency overseas and risk-averse sentiment among investors weighed on the local unit. https://opinionexpress.in/pfi-targeted-by-nia-in-a-national-wide-raids The National Investigation Agency was conducting raids in over eight states and at multiple locations linked to the Popular Front of India (PFI) members today. Sources said that more than 50 people have been detained and the arrests will depend on their questioning. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-mocks-congress-for-the-rajasthan-mess Arvind Kejriwal led AAP took a swipe at the Congress over the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan and said it should first take out a 'Congress Jodo Yatra' instead of continuing with its 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. https://opinionexpress.in/us-stocks-freefall-continues-recession-looms-large In a stark warning for Wall Street players: Stocks are in free fall and bearish sentiment is far from getting exhausted -- especially with hawkish central bankers rattling recession-obsessed markets like this. The S&P 500 just sank to the lowest since December 2020, bringing this month's losses to nearly 8 per cent, as the pound weakened to records while commodities buckled under the weight of a hulked-up dollar. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slides-deep-in-a-continues-decline-trend BSE Benchmark indices fell sharply in early trade, with the Sensex tumbling nearly 817 points amid weak global market trends and foreign fund outflows. https://opinionexpress.in/it-is-all-over-for-congress-in-rajasthan On expected lines, more than 90 Rajasthan Congress MLAs loyal to him threatened to resign tonight, Ashok Gehlot reportedly told the party's central leadership that it was "not in his hands". The MLAs want either Ashok Gehlot or his pick to be Chief Minister instead of Sachin Pilot, who is believed to be the central leaders' choice. They told the Speaker that they were ready to quit even if it meant the government falling. https://opinionexpress.in/india-beats-aus-to-clinch-the-series-2-1 World No 1 India defeated Australia by 6 wickets in the third and deciding T20I in Hyderabad. Virat Kohli scored 63 while Suryakumar Yadav hit 69 as India chased down a 187-run target on the penultimate ball of the game. India was tottering at 30 for 2 at one stage but the Kohli-Suryakumar duo added 104 runs for the third wicket to keep the side in the hunt. After the wicket of Suryakumar, Kohli took the charge but he also fell in the last over before Hardik Pandya could give the finishing touch. India needed four runs to win off the final two balls when Hardik hit a boundary to cap off the game. https://opinionexpress.in/rajiv-bahl-appointed-icmr-director-general Dr Rajiv Bahl was on Friday appointed as Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary of the Department of Health Research for a period of three years. https://opinionexpress.in/t8-game-won-by-india-at-nagpur Indian Skipper Rohit Sharma blazed away to an unbeaten 46 as India registered a series-levelling six-wicket win over Australia in the second T20I here on Friday. Chasing Australia a total of 91, Rohit scored 46 off 20 balls which included four boundaries and as many sixes to take India over the line with four balls to spare in the rain-affected game. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-will-ditch-laloo-to-grab-higher-political-positions Accusing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of backstabbing the BJP to join hands with RJD and Congress to become Prime Minister of India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed political adversaries in Bihar.  https://opinionexpress.in/dr-doom-predicts-long-reccession-in-2022-23 World famous Economist Nouriel Roubini, who correctly predicted the 2008 financial crisis, sees a "long and ugly" recession in the US and globally occurring at the end of 2022 that could last all of 2023 and a sharp correction in the S&P 500. https://opinionexpress.in/no-gandhi-to-head-the-congress-rahul First of its kind in the 21st century, there will be no Gandhi to head the Congress party. Ashok Gehlot, the frontrunner for Congress president, said today that Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that no one from the Gandhi family should become the party chief. The Rajasthan Chief Minister met with Rahul Gandhi in Kerala, where he joined his Bharat Jodo Yatra last evening. https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-usa-to-develop-next-generation-weaponry In a significant shift of strategy, the United States and India will co-develop drones, a senior Pentagon official announced, as Washington seeks closer ties with Delhi as a way of countering China. India will build these aircraft and export them to other countries in its region. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-strictly-follow-one-man-one-post The Congress presidential polls round the corner, party leader Rahul Gandhi said decisions, including that of one-man, one post, taken at the chintan shivir at Udaipur in Rajasthan earlier this year are expected to be followed. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-holds-meet-to-discuss-action-against-pfi India Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting of top officials, including NSA Ajit Doval, and is believed to have discussed the searches at premises linked to the Popular Front of India and action against terror suspects, officials said. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, and Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) Dinkar Gupta were among the top officials who attended the high-level meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-target-punjab-gov-for-turning-down-request-to-convene-assembly-session Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has turned down the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's demand for a special session of the assembly to introduce a confidence motion. The Governor has withdrawn the order to summon a special session of the Punjab assembly on September 22. Gov decision has triggered a massive point-counterpoint between all the major political parties in the state -- AAP, BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-arrests-abg-founder-chairman-in-rs-22k-crore-bank-fraud-case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had booked Agarwal, a former chairman of the company, and others for the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and abuse of official position under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, https://opinionexpress.in/fintech-industry-will-lead-the-next-revolution-in-india-pm-modi PM Narendra Modi urged the fintech sector needs to work relentlessly on safety and reliability to uphold the trust of the people. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-warns-to-escalate-ukraine-war Russia President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's first mobilisation since World War Two and backed a plan to annex swathes of Ukraine, warning the West he was not bluffing when he said he'd be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia.  https://opinionexpress.in/french-prez-lauds-modi-for-peace-initiative-in-the-ukraine-war French Prez has a word of praise for Indian PM Narendra Modi for initiating peace in the ongoing Ukraine war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was right when he said that the time is not for war, France President Emmanuel Macron said at the ongoing 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time is not for war. It is not for revenge against the West, or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges we face," he said. https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-courts-constitution-bench-hearings-to-go-live-for-public The Supreme Court will Livestream all Constitutional Bench hearings from September 27, which means anyone can watch the proceedings in cases such as the challenges to the Citizenship Amendment Act and the revocation of special status under Article 370 to Jammu and Kashmir, and the quota to Upper Castes on an economic basis.  https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-continues-upstream-movement Sensex ended higher for the second straight session on Tuesday, with the Nifty rallying over 1 percent, helped by across-the-board buying and recovery in the overseas markets. Foreign fund inflows also added to the momentum. https://opinionexpress.in/old-pension-scheme-will-be-restored-if-elected-to-power-in-gujarat-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the BJP of making the elderly dependent by abolishing the old pension scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/international-gita-mahotsav-celebrated-at-canadas-parliament International Gita Mahotsav was celebrated in Canada from 16-18 September 2022. It started in Canada’s Parliament on 16th September 2022. On day two it was celebrated at the Living Art Center of Mississauga. It ended on Yonge-Dundas Square in the downtown Toronto community on day three with a Shobha yatra parade. https://opinionexpress.in/shashi-tharoor-to-run-for-congress-prez Congress leader, G23 member, and Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor have got the go-ahead from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to run for the post of the party president, sources told NDTV. Shashi Tharoor has been part of the group of 28 leaders who have been pressing for reforms. https://opinionexpress.in/how-to-choose-a-best-backpack While most people love shopping, not all of them know how. Shopping is an art. Shopping is an art, especially when there are so many options. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-special-court-extends-rauts-judicial-custody-for-14-days PMLA special court here on Monday extended the judicial custody of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut by another 14 days and took cognisance of a supplementary charge sheet in which he has been named as an accused in a money laundering case. https://opinionexpress.in/raghav-appointed-aap-co-incharge-for-gujrat-elections The AAP announced the appointment of Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP, as co-incharge of the party's unit in Gujarat, where Assembly elections are scheduled for this year. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-is-indias-most-valued-conglomerate-overtakes-tatas-ril Gautam Adani, the world's 2nd richest person led The Adani group of firms' overall market capitalisation on the BSE at over ? 22 lakh crore makes it the most valued in India, overtaking the Tata-led conglomerate. Based on Monday opening, the market valuation of all BSE listed stocks of Adani Group, totalling nine firms, including the recently acquired Ambuja cement and ACC LTD, stood at over ? 22 lakh crore, surpassing 27 of Tata Group of firms listed with a market capitalisation (market cap) of more than ? 20 lakh crore. Mukesh Ambani's group of nine companies stood third on the list with a market capitalisation of more than ? 17 lakh crore. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-targets-bjp-on-freebie-culture AAP introduced the culture of free revdi ( FREEBIE) for the first time in Indian politics which is neither being eaten nor swallowed by them (BJP), said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while addressing the party's first-ever Rashtriya Janpratinidhi Sammelan . https://opinionexpress.in/modi-is-captain-cool-of-team-new-india Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Captain Cool of Team New India, who sticks to his plan for the country without being distracted by whatever is hurled at him by the opposition parties and the ideological baiters. There is much to learn from the personality of PM Modi, for his image remains that of a well-composed person even in the face of crises of unprecedented scales. The youth in the country will find many virtues in studying PM Modi personality and they would find that staying calm and composed even in the eyes of adversities is the true hallmark of leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/adoption-of-technology-will-facilitate-transparency-in-the-courts-experts The fury of COVID-19 pandemic has "taught us to adapt, change and modernise ourselves", Chief Justice of India U U Lalit said while stressing "assimilating the advantages of technology in our lifestyle." Speaking at the inauguration of paperless courts in 30 districts in Odisha, CJI Lalit said there are many advantages of technological advancement and now a common man sitting in the remotest part of the country can have access to justice. https://opinionexpress.in/sardar-patel-uprooted-nizam-from-hyderabad Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is credited for 'liberating' Hyderabad, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today took a swipe at those who had "turned back" on celebrating the day due to vote bank politics and the "fear" of Razakars -- a private militia who defended the erstwhile Nizam rule in Hyderabad. https://opinionexpress.in/mission-cheetah India in the past was home to Asiatic cheetahs, but the species was declared extinct domestically by 1952. The big cats are being brought to India from Namibia as part of an intercontinental translocation project called Project Cheetah. This will be the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project, the Prime Minister's Office has said. https://opinionexpress.in/prime-minister-narendra-modi-is-a-role-model-for-the-nations-youth With his equanimity and poise in the face of adversity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a role model for the nation’s youth https://opinionexpress.in/kejiwal-blames-congress-for-the-bjp-electoral-success Arvind Kejriwal today hit out at Rahul Gandhi and the Congress as he dismissed the allegation that his party acts as "the B-team of the BJP". He also slammed the BJP, accusing it of spending "thousands of crores" on buying MLAs and toppling governments. Arvind Kejriwal spoke to a national tv town hall meeting on a range of subjects and also responded to the Congress charge that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) "claims to fight the BJP" but ends up weakening the Congress. https://opinionexpress.in/capt-amarinder-singh-to-sail-on-bjp-boat-in-punjab Punjab Lok Congress chief, Ex CM and Maharaja of Patiala Amarinder Singh will join the BJP next week, Singh will also merge his newly formed party with the BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-battered-yet-again-on-black-friday The S&P BSE Sensex was trading 887.88 points (1.48 per cent) lower at 59,046.13 and the Nifty 50 was at 17,602.55, down 274.85 points (1.54 per cent). Both the indices had opened around 0.5 per cent lower and skid further as the trade progressed. https://opinionexpress.in/achieving-the-full-benefits-of-5g-both-mobile-and-fixed Today, India has the second largest cell phone user population in the world. At the turn of the millennium, India was at an inflection point. The initiative to connect people with mobile technology accelerated adoption exponentially and improved the quality of life across the population. The stage is now set again for India to provide super-fast broadband service to areas including homes, villages, schools, and enterprises. By making spectrum available, civic leaders can provide another round of growth to improve education, healthcare, and business for all citizens. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-survives-assassination-bid ussian President Vladimir Putin’s limousine was attacked in an alleged “assassination attempt” amid Moscow’s raging war against Ukraine, a report said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-the-manufacturing-hub-of-the-world-by-2030-modi Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India speaking at the SCO summit said that he wants to transform India into a manufacturing hub. The second day of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit kicked off with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin in attendance, among others. https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-adani-is-world-no2-richest-person-on-planet Gautam Adani is now the second richest person in the world, according to Forbes, as the tycoon surpassed Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Louis Vitton's Bernard Arnault. He is currently worth $154.7 billion, showed its real-time billionaires list.Elon Musk remains the richest person with a net worth of 273.5 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-kumars-big-promise-for-ge-2024 All backward states in the country will be granted special status if non-BJP parties form the government at the centre after the 2024 general election, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced today.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-bhutan-are-eternal-friends-pm-modi Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck met Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed bilateral ties and the ways to further strengthen them. https://opinionexpress.in/high-tech-tools-ai-to-be-implemented-by-fin-min-to-monitor-leakages Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said revenue department officials will soon be trained to use modern technology tools to plug leakages. She also said that better utilisation of artificial intelligence tools and data deep dives can help officials detect revenue leakages. Stating that financial thugs are gaming the system by claiming wrong refunds or creating shell companies to cause a loss to the exchequer. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-seizes-gold-sliver-worth-several-crore-from-secret-lockers-of-firm The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday seized 431 kg of gold and silver worth over Rs 47 crore from secret lockers of a Mumbai-based bullion company as part of a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged bank loan fraud case. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-to-meet-putin-in-sco-event Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, the foreign ministry informed. The Prime Minister will reach Samarkand Thursday evening for the summit. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-allows-amendment-to-bcci-constitution The Supreme Court allowed the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) plea in connection with the amendments proposed to its constitution to relax the cooling-off period requirement. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-coup-majority-congress-party-legislature-are-in-bjp After Maharasyra coup, Goa is out of Congress to reach. The Congress accused its then Leader of Opposition (LoP) Michael Lobo of plotting a defection of its MLAs along with senior party leader and former chief minister Digambar Kamat, Lobo returned to deal a blow to the grand old party again, as he along with seven other party MLAs, including his wife Delilah Lobo and Kamat, jumped ship and joined the ruling BJP Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-modi-to-discuss-russia-india-cooperation-in-un-g20-kremlin Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan this week and discuss issues of strategic stability, the situation in the Asia Pacific region and bilateral cooperation within the UN and G20, the Kremlin has announced. https://opinionexpress.in/voice-of-a-silent-film Japanese director Akira Kurosawa on Satyajit Ray, “Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon"-  https://opinionexpress.in/crypto-currencies-bumpy-roadmap-ahead Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the parliament; RBI is of the view that crypto currencies should be prohibited. Cryptocurrencies are by definition borderless and require international collaboration to prevent regulatory arbitrage. Therefore, any legislation for regulation or for banning can be effective only after significant international collaboration on evaluation of the risks and benefits and evolution of common taxonomy and standards.” https://opinionexpress.in/lehengas-with-a-twist From Kareena Kapoor’s shimmery peach lehenga in Bole Chudiyan to Alia Bhatt’s pink and silver glittery lehenga in Radha, lehngas have always been a part of festive occasions and grand parties. https://opinionexpress.in/india-needs-strong-government-policy-on-poverty-inequality-and-gender-equality India ahead of the 75th year of Independence could not have asked for a better gift than going past the UK to become the fifth largest economy ahead of its erstwhile colonial masters. The Bloomberg report, which informed us about this fact, is based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) data. It is further predicted that the Indian economy is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2029. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-protest-in-kolkata-turns-violent Several BJP leaders in West Bengal, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, were detained by the police today when they were marching to state secretariat 'Nabanna' in Kolkata, as part of a huge protest over alleged corruption by the ruling Trinamool Congress government. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-will-sweep-gujrat-amit-shah BJP leader & Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that BJP will once again romp to power in Gujarat with a huge majority in the upcoming Assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-squad-for-wc-t20 Premium pace spearheads Jasprit Bumrah and death overs specialist Harshal Patel were back as the national selection committee didn't spring any surprise in the 15-man India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia starting October 16. India will play their first match against Pakistan at the MCG on October 23. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-crackdown-on-emerging-nexus-of-narco-terror-dons The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted searches at as many as 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi/NCR to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers/traffickers based in India and abroad. Some of those raided were also allegedly involved in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. https://opinionexpress.in/gyanwapi-court-order-is-disappointing-to-be-challenged-in-hc-owaisi Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of AIMIM said the order of the Varanasi court allowing a petition from some Hindu women for year-long worship on the premises of Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque should be challenged in the High Court. "I was hoping that the court will nip these issues in the bud. Now it appears that more such litigations will be coming and this is going the way the Babri Masjid legal issue went."  https://opinionexpress.in/varanasi-court-dismisses-the-challenge-by-the-masjid-committee-says-civil-suits-maintainable The Varanasi district and sessions court Monday dismissed the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee’s challenge against the civil suits that questioned the Gyanvapi mosque’s title and the land surrounding it. https://opinionexpress.in/sl-lifts-asia-cup-2022 Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the final of 2022 Asia Cup T20 tournament which was played at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/face-elections-to-run-credible-government-aditya Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray has dared the rebel MLAs who have joined the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to resign and face elections. https://opinionexpress.in/kcr-to-announce-a-national-party Telangana Rashtra Samithi Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said he would soon launch a national party and the work is on to formulate policies. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-a-global-research-superpower-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for concerted efforts to make India a global centre of research and innovation and urged state governments to frame modern policies in the fields of science and technology. https://opinionexpress.in/stress-and-depression-may-escalate-due-to-long-covid Most of those who went through psychological distress like anxiety, depression, worry, and perceived stress before Covid-19 struck them, happened to develop Long Covid, a study published in The JMMA Psychiatry said, suggesting that physical health conditions like smoking, asthma, and other health behaviours were not only the main reasons for Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-faces-reverses-in-the-ukraine-war-zelenskiy Russian army abandoned its main bastion in northeastern Ukraine in a sudden collapse of one of the war's principal front lines after Ukrainian forces made a rapid advance. The sudden fall of Izium in Kharkiv province was Moscow's worst defeat since its troops were forced back from the capital Kyiv in March. This can prove a decisive turning point in the six-month-old war, with thousands of Russian soldiers abandoning ammunition stockpiles and equipment as they fled. https://opinionexpress.in/charles-named-king-at-royal-ceremony Prince Charles III is now King Charles III, he is formally proclaimed Britain's new king by the Accession Council in a history-laden ceremony following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. The council, televised for the first time, is a centuries-old formality to recognise the new king's sovereignty even though he automatically became monarch after the queen's passing. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-meets-delhi-lg-to-improve-working-situation Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday met V K Saxena for the first time since the CBI raid at Manish Sisodia's residence and said whatever happened was "unfortunate" while hoping the situation would improve. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-prez-elections-will-be-held-as-planned-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he has made the decision whether he wants to become the next party president or not and asserted he will give his reasons if he does not contest the upcoming elections. Rahul was asked a slew of questions at a press conference on whether he would assume the mantle of the party president and he repeatedly said he would give an answer if he does not enter the fray, indicating that the likelihood of him sticking to his stance of not taking up party chief's post is more. https://opinionexpress.in/new-ogilvy-chief-joins-list-of-indian-origin-ceos Global major advertising and public relations agency Ogilvy has named India-born Devika Bulchandani as its Global Chief Executive Officer. https://opinionexpress.in/data-the-new-oil-of-the-21st-century Data pilferage is a big issue in the cyber world; to contain it, a composite approach with technical and political acumen is called for https://opinionexpress.in/queen-elizabeth-ii-passes-away-prince-charles-is-the-new-king Queen Elizabeth, the longest-serving monarch in British history, died at her Scottish Highland retreat on 8 Sep 2022. The eldest of the Queen's four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 was the oldest heir apparent in British history, became king immediately. Royal officials confirmed he is now known as King Charles III -- the first king of that name to sit on the throne since 1685. https://opinionexpress.in/colonialism-symbol-rajpath-is-history-now-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Path — the stretch of road from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate known as Rajpath earlier and he said the symbol of colonialism has been erased for the next generation.  https://opinionexpress.in/apple-new-iphones-an-instant-hit Latest line-up of iPhones will boast better cameras, faster processors, and a longer lasting battery — all at the same prices as last year's models, despite inflationary pressure that has driven up the cost of many other everyday items. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-30-billion-economy-by-2047-goyal India goods and services exports have already crossed USD 675 billion in the last fiscal year and the country is now aspiring to take international trade to USD 2 trillion by 2030, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said while interacting with faculty, researchers, and students at the Stanford University. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-hits-the-road-for-congress-unity-march Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with several party leaders, embarked on the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from here on Thursday, marking the beginning of a challenging journey through which the party is seeking to reach out to people and rejuvenate its organisation. https://opinionexpress.in/vedant-patel-shines-in-the-white-house-as-press-secretary Vedant Patel, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State has scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American to hold the daily State Department press briefing, earning plaudits from senior White House officials for his utmost professionalism and amazing debut https://opinionexpress.in/it-raids-at-delhi-thinktank-centre-for-policy-research Searches by the Income Tax Department are underway at Delhi-based independent thinktank Centre for Policy Research. The action is "connected to" simultaneous raids in Haryana, Maharashtra and Gujarat, among other places, "over funding of more than 20 registered but non-recognised political parties", sources have so far told NDTV. No response has yet been received from the CPR. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-kick-starts-congress-bharat-jodo-yatra Rahul Gandhi was received by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajya Sabha MP K C Venugopal as he arrived in Kanyakumari from where he will be kicking off the Bharat Jodo Yatra this evening. Earlier in the day, Rahul attended a prayer gathering at the memorial of his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-minister-moloy-ghataks-raided-by-cbi The CBI raided several residences of West Bengal minister Moloy Ghatak in connection with its probe into a coal smuggling scam, an officer said. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths conducted raids at three houses of Ghatak in Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district and one in Lake Gardens area of Kolkata. https://opinionexpress.in/pawar-baramati-constituency-part-of-bjps-maharashtra-mission-fadnavis Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the Baramati constituency, the pocket borough of NCP president Sharad Pawar, falls under the Bharatiya Janata Party's "Mission Maharashtra". https://opinionexpress.in/ex-nse-head-ravi-narain-arrested-in-money-laundering-case The ED arrested former NSE CEO and MD Ravi Narain in a money laundering case, officials said. His role is being investigated by the federal probe agency as part of two criminal cases linked to the bourse – the alleged co-location 'scam' case and the purported illegal phone tapping of employees. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-knocked-out-of-asia-cup-by-successive-defeats Sri Lanka defeated India by 6 wickets in the Super 4 match. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Captain Dasun Shanaka kept Sri Lanka ahead in the hunt towards the end to take them through. Earlier, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin brought India back in the game. While Chahal has claimed three wickets to open up the match. This happened after the opening partnership between Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka kept India at bay for a long. https://opinionexpress.in/priti-patel-resigns-from-home-secretary-post Priti Patel may resign as the UK Home Secretary and plans not to serve in the cabinet of the newly-elected Prime Minister Liz Truss. In a letter to outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Patel wrote, "It is my choice to continue my public service to the country and the Witham constituency from the backbenches, once Liz  Truss formally assumes office and a new Home Secretary is appointed." https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-pm-in-india-for-4-days Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday arrived here on a four-day visit after a gap of three years.  She will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday even as the two sides will review the entire spectrum of their bilateral ties, including defence, trade and river water sharing during the summit. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-no5-biggest-economy-imf Surpassing the UK to become the world's fifth largest economy is special because India has left behind those who ruled it for 250 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/liz-truss-is-the-new-uk-pm Liz Truss on Monday was elected as Britain's new Prime Minister, defeating Rishi Sunak. She has also been named as the leader of the governing Conservative Party. https://opinionexpress.in/rains-batter-silicon-city-bengaluru-yet-again Heavy rains continued to batter Silicon city Bengaluru on Monday and authorities crossed their fingers as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert till September 7 for Bengaluru inundating many residential areas and arterial roads. https://opinionexpress.in/jkhand-chief-minister-hemant-sorens-majority-test-today Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, whose job is in trouble over allegations of corruption, will take a test of his majority today amid allegations by the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition that the BJP of trying to topple the government by engineering defections. https://opinionexpress.in/rip-mr-cyrus-mistry Cyrus Mistry, who succeeded Ratan Tata as chairman of Tata Sons but was later ousted in India's most high-profile boardroom coup, was killed in a car accident in Maharashtra's Palghar on Sunday, said police. He was 54. He was travelling from Ahmedabad to Mumbai in a Mercedes car, it added. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-attacks-modi-led-govt-on-price-rise-unemployment-and-hate-crimes In a major renwed attack on Narendra Modi led BJP government, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said today from the stage at the Congress's mega rally against price rise that's underway at the Ramlila ground in Delhi. He said people are afraid -- about their future, inflation, and unemployment -- and that's turning them towards hate. "BJP and RSS are dividing the country," he added. The ''Mehangai Par Halla Bol rally'' by the grand old party witnessed huge crowds amid tight security arrangements. Several senior party leaders addressed the audience before Mr Gandhi stepped in with his no holds barred attacks against the PM and ruling BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-become-third-largest-economy-by-2030 After India overtook the United Kingdom as the fifth largest economy in the world, experts suggest that by 2030 India will become the third largest economy globally. India is moving up the power scale and according to my earlier forecast by 2028 - 2030, we will become the third largest economy in the world,"  https://opinionexpress.in/major-payment-gateway-companys-raided-by-ed ED conducted raids at premises of online payment gateways such as Razorpay, Paytm and Cashfree in Bengaluru as part of a money laundering case against some instant app-based loan dishing entities "controlled" by Chinese persons. The searches that started Friday as part of an ongoing probe are still underway, the agency said this evening. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-throws-open-challenge-to-bjp-in-gujrat The BJP is fearful about losing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state in the elections later this year, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday, claiming that people were "very angry" about the "rising hooliganism" demonstrated by a recent attack on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. Six crore people of Gujarat who learning about the attack on Manoj Sorathiya are very angry. They cracked his head in front of God. This is not the culture of our country. This is not Hindu culture. This is not the culture of Gujarat," the AAP chief said at a news conference in Rajkot. https://opinionexpress.in/google-to-focus-on-computer-skill-upgradation With a focus on developing computer skills, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced a $20 million grant to impart computer science education to 11 million students in the US. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-5th-largest-economy India marched past the UK in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth-biggest economy. The calculation is based in US dollars, and India extended its lead in the first quarter, according to GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-grants-interim-bail-to-activist-setalvad The Supreme Court granted interim bail to social activist Teesta Setalvad, arrested on June 25 for allegedly fabricating evidence to frame "innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-commissions-indias-1st-indigenous-aircraft-carrier-ins-vikrant Prime Minister Narendra Modi today commissioned the INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier, at the Cochin Shipyard Limited here. After the unveiling, the Prime Minister said India has now joined the select club of nations that have developed indigenous aircraft carriers. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-all-time-high Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection rose 28 per cent to Rs 1.43 lakh crore in August, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/action-against-corrupt-to-continue-unabated-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that action against corrupt people in the country has resulted in a new polarisation in national politics with certain political groups openly trying to get organised into a unit to save those facing graft charges. https://opinionexpress.in/rishi-sunak-closes-uk-pm-campaign Rishi Sunak struck a personal note in the final hustings event before the election for a new Conservative Party leader and British Prime Minister concludes, as he thanked his parents and wife Akshata Murty for their support. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-flexes-iit-muscle-calls-bjp-party-leaders-uneducated-and-corrupt Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, targeting the BJP as a "corrupt party" compared to his "kattar imaandar (hardcore honest)" Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), flexed his IIT education and that of his children in his speech before a confidence vote that he won. "I am an ordinary person. I belong to an ordinary, middle-class family. I went to IIT, and did mechanical engineering. Today, whatever I am is because of the opportunity I got," said the Delhi Chief Minister, addressing the special Delhi Assembly session. https://opinionexpress.in/drawer-will-be-responsible-in-138-cheque-bounce-case-sc The Supreme Court has observed that a cheque drawer is liable even when another person fills in the details. The observation of a two-judge bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna came while allowing an appeal in a cheque bounce case, reported LiveLaw. https://opinionexpress.in/dwarkeshlalji-mission-peace-gets-flip-in-usa The Honorable Governor of Georgia - Brian Kemp, welcomed HDH Goswami Shashth Pithadhishwar 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharjshree along with Gokuldham Atlanta temple’s devotees as well as members of Bhartiya American Chamber of Commerce at the State Capitol. https://opinionexpress.in/s-jaishankar-visits-site-of-abu-dhabis-first-hindu-temple External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday visited the site of the under-construction Hindu temple - the first in Abu Dhabi - and described it as "a symbol of peace, tolerance and harmony." S Jaishankar, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a three-day visit to the Gulf nation on Wednesday, also praised the efforts of Indians in building the temple. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-mlas-hold-dharna-outside-cbi-office The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members sat on a dharna outside the CBI headquarters for more than an hour in the national Capital on Wednesday after they went to meet the central agency’s Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal to demand a probe into alleged attempts to topple non-BJP Governments and were unable to meet him. https://opinionexpress.in/kcr-pitches-for-third-front-with-nitish Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao popularly known as KCR, sharing dais with Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar today, took on the BJP, tweaking its slogan of "Congress-mukt Bharat". "What we need now is BJP-mukt Bharat (BJP-free India)," said KCR, who has been trying to formulate a non-Congress non-BJP front for several years. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-lg-to-sue-aap-for-defamation Delhi LG VK Saxena today threatened to sue Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including MLAs Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, for "highly defamatory and false" corruption allegations against him. https://opinionexpress.in/finmin-undertakes-performance-review-of-psu-banks The Finance Ministry on Tuesday reviewed the performance of public sector banks (PSBs) in the backdrop of the first quarter numbers and asked them to step up lending to productive sectors of the economy. https://opinionexpress.in/jkhand-mlas-shifted-to-chhattisgarh-to-prevent-bjps-poaching-bid The ruling UPA coalition in Jharkhand is shifting its MLAs to neighbouring Chhattisgarh to prevent the BJP's alleged attempt to poach its legislators during the ongoing political crisis in the state, sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/jdu-to-walk-out-of-alliance-with-bjp-in-manipur Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) will soon withdraw support from BJP-led government in Manipur, sources have said. This is not likely to be a threat to the Biren Singh government, BJP sources have said. The final decision on this will be taken at a crucial meeting of the Manipur unit of the party with JDU national leaders during the upcoming national executive meet in Patna on September 3-4. https://opinionexpress.in/anna-hazare-disappointed-with-arvind-kejrewal-style-of-politics Anna Hazare showed his extreme disappointment towards AAP style of politics. "Like liquor, power too intoxicates - You are intoxicated by power, it seems." This is one of many scathing lines in social activist Anna Hazare's letter to his former mentee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, over his government liquor license policy, which was withdrawn in July after a corruption case. https://opinionexpress.in/jharkhand-mlas-flown-to-raipur-amid-poaching-fears Jharkhand's ruling JMM-Congress coalition has moved its MLAs to neighbouring Congress-ruled  Chhattisgarh after alleged poaching attempts by the BJP. Sources said the MLAs are being lodged at the Mayfair resort in Raipur. Jharkhand is undergoing a political crisis already with the opposition BJP seeking Chief Minister Hemant Soren's disqualification from the assembly in an office of profit case. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-mlas-demands-probe-against-delhi-lg Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs will stay overnight at the Delhi Assembly premises, demanding a probe against Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena for allegedly changing banned currency notes during his term as the KVIC chairman, party sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-adani-is-the-3rd-richest-person-on-this-planet First Asian person has broken into the top three of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index -- Mukesh Ambani and China's Jack Ma never made it that far. With a $137.4 billion fortune, Gautam Adani has overtaken France's Bernard Arnault and now trails just Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos of the US in the ranking. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-equity-investors-wealth-falls-by-rs-239-lakh-cr-as-markets-sink Investors' wealth fell by Rs 2.39 lakh crore on Monday in line with a weak trend in the global equity markets. The BSE Sensex tanked 861.25 points or 1.46 per cent to settle at 57,972.62. During the day, it tumbled 1,466.4 points or 2.49 per cent to 57,367.47. https://opinionexpress.in/usibc-geared-up-to-be-part-of-indias-vision-to-become-30-trillion-economy India is embarked on a journey to restore itself to the top of the global leadership tables in terms of economy and prosperity, the head of an India-centric American business group has said, underlining that US companies are geared up to be part of the country's ambitious vision to become a USD 30 trillion economy. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-prez-elections-on-oct-17 The Congress on Sunday delayed the election to pick a new full-time president by almost a month and announced that the poll would now be held on October 17. https://opinionexpress.in/hardik-the-superstar Redeemed Hardik Pandya showed nerves of steel to steer India to a thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in an Asia Cup Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium. Chasing a target of 148, Hardik hit three boundaries and a six in the last two overs to take India home with two balls to spare. Pandya remained unbeaten on 33, while both Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja played knocks of 35 each to give India a decent platform. Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya starred with the ball as India bowled out Pakistan for 147 in the Asia Cup clash in Dubai. Bhuvneshwar picked four for 26, while Hardik also returned with figures of three for 25 after India invited Pakistan to bat at the Dubai International Stadium. The Indian pacers targetted Pakistan batters with short ball. Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India the perfect start by picking up the big wicket of Babar Azam. Avesh Khan then removed the dangerous Fakhar Zaman within the powerplay to put Rohit Sharma's team in a great position. Bhuvneshwar and Hardik cleaned up the Pakistan tail. Rizwan top-score with a fine 43, before Shahnawaz Dahani and Haris Rauf took Pakistan to a respectable total. https://opinionexpress.in/block-bluster-match-at-dubai-today India is ready to settle scores with Pakistan in the marquee Asia Cup match today, while Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the two pillars of India's white-ball team for the past decade but having received a rude jolt at this very venue 10 months back during the T20 World Cup, the duo exactly know where it stands and what it need to do to turn the tables. https://opinionexpress.in/noida-supertech-twin-towers-demolished The illegal twin towers of Noida were demolished on Sunday in a nine second procedure. https://opinionexpress.in/justice-uu-lalit-sworn-in-as-49th-chief-justice-of-india President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday administered the oath of office to Justice U.U. Lalit as the 49th Chief Justice of India (CJI) with effect from August 27, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/manish-tewari-slams-congress-coterie-culture A day after Ghulam Nabi Azad quit the Congress blaming party leader Rahul Gandhi, another G-23 leader Manish Tewari on Saturday slammed the grand-old party for its "coterie culture". https://opinionexpress.in/congress-party-under-rahul-has-no-future-capt-amarinder-singh Post GN Azad's exit from the party, Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Friday targeted the Congress, saying the party under the current leadership is "doomed beyond redemption". His statement came on a day senior Congress leader quit the party, terming it comprehensively destroyed and accusing the leadership of committing fraud in the name of "sham" internal polls. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-is-a-constitutional-court-priority-to-fix-larger-legal-issues New Chief Justice of India-designate Justice UU Lalit highlighted three areas on which he intends to work during his 74-day tenure as the head of the judiciary and said he would strive hard to ensure that at least one constitution bench is functioning in the Supreme Court throughout the year. Justice Lalit, who will become the 49th CJI on Saturday, said the other two areas are -- listing cases for hearing in the top court and mentioning urgent matters. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-directs-listing-of-pleas-on-political-parties-promising-freebies The Supreme Court on Friday directed listing of pleas, which have raised the issue relating to the practice of political parties promising freebies, before a three-judge bench. https://opinionexpress.in/gn-azad-quits-congress-blames-rg-for-the-mess Ghulam Nabi Azad, a Congress veteran leader, and former Union Minister, quit his party of more than five decades today with a scalding attack on Rahul Gandhi, ripping into him for "childish behaviour", "glaring immaturity" and for letting a "coterie of inexperienced sycophants" run the party. In a lacerating resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, he blamed her son Rahul for the Congress's defeat in the 2014 national election - a turning point for the party that has been struggling to win elections since. The Congress was "comprehensively destroyed" and had reached a point of no return, he declared, and slammed a "remote control model" in which Sonia Gandhi is "just a nominal figurehead" while important decisions are taken by "Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs (personal assistants)". https://opinionexpress.in/india-pips-china-becomes-2nd-largest-smartwatch-market-globally-for-1st-time Riding on homegrown brands, India has piped China to become the second largest smartwatch market globally for the first time, growing 347 per cent (year-on-year), a new report showed on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ec-recommends-sorens-disqualification-to-jharkhand-governor The Election Commission has sent its response to the Jharkhand Raj Bhavan on Chief Minister Hemant Soren's office of profit issue. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-rises-over-300-points-in-early-trade-nifty-nears-17700 Equity benchmark Sensex rallied over 300 points in early trade on Thursday, tracking gains in banking, finance and metal stocks amid a firm trend in global markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 305.74 points to 59,391.17 in early trade. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 85.05 points to 17,690. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-notice-to-centre-on-plea-seeking-review-of-pmla-verdict-which-upheld-eds-powers The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a plea seeking a review of the PMLA verdict which upheld the Enforcement Directorate's powers, including those relating to arrest, and sought response from the Centre on the issue. https://opinionexpress.in/cwc-meeting-to-decide-new-congress-president-on-29-aug A high-profile meeting of the Congress Working Committee has been convened on August 28 to decide on a schedule for the election to the party president’s post, amid growing buzz that Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot may be picked for the top job in the wake of Rahul Gandhi’s reluctance to assume responsibility. https://opinionexpress.in/government-did-not-cooperate-in-pegasus-investment-sc Over 29 phones were examined and malware was found in five phones but there's no conclusive proof of Pegasus spyware, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana said today, adding that the committee informed the court that the Indian government did not cooperate in its probe. "Centre has not cooperated," it said. The Supreme Court is scrutinising a report submitted by a technical committee it set up on the alleged use of Pegasus spyware to snoop on phones of politicians, activists and journalists. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-democracy-needs-government-and-stronger-opposition Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strengthened himself in the last eight years to such an extent in his party and outside that the gap in popularity between him and other probable prime ministerial aspirants has become huge. He is all set for a third term in 2024. https://opinionexpress.in/mercedes-benz-bullish-on-electric-vehicles-growth-in-india-schwenk German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz expects 25 per cent of its sales in India to come from electric vehicles in the next five years, a senior company official said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/up-is-the-best-ruled-state-law-and-order-has-become-model-for-country-yogi Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted on Wednesday that Uttar Pradesh has completely transformed and the state's law and order have become a model for the rest of the country and the world. https://opinionexpress.in/bihar-nitish-led-alliance-wins-trust-vote Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance won the trust vote in the state legislative assembly on Wednesday, as the Opposition BJP staged a walkout. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-20-crore-to-join-aaps-charge-against-bjp The Aam Aadmi Party today took on the Narendra Modi-led union government, accusing it of trying to topple the Delhi government "by hook or crook". The BJP is using central investigation agencies against its leaders, the party claimed. Five senior AAP leaders in a press conference today slammed the BJP for allegedly trying to lure AAP MLAs with cash and threats. The BJP has denied the charge and accused AAP of trying to "deviate and deflect" from questions around alleged corruption in the liquor policy for which Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was recently raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation.  https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-stakes-claim-over-ndtv-in-a-hostile-bid The announcement to acquire the channel by the Adnai group came as a surprise to the founders of NDTV, veteran journalists Radhika Roy and Prannoy Roy. . https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-raids-rjd-leaders-in-bihar CBI raids RJD leaders in Bihar in land for jobs case on day of Nitish Govt’s floor test. Sources said the raids are being carried out at the premises of RJD treasurer and MLC Sunil Singh as well as two Rajya Sabha MPs from the party. CBI officials, however, did not disclose the identity of these leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-suspends-telangana-mla-thakur-raja-singh BJP suspends Telangana MLA Thakur Raja Singh for remarks against Prophet. The Hyderabad police arrested BJP MLA T Raja Singh Tuesday morning for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet in a video posted on social media, amid protests against his comments across the city, said officials. https://opinionexpress.in/no-order-on-sena-poll-symbol-till-final-sc-judgement The Supreme Court today referred the case relating to the claim over Shiv Sena to a constitution bench. It framed eight questions for the larger bench to decide in the battle between Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on claim over the party. https://opinionexpress.in/ajay-mishra-ridicules-tikait Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son is in jail over allegations of running over farmers, talks about "dogs barking and chasing his car" in an apparent reference to protesting farmers in a controversial speech live-streamed by his supporters. https://opinionexpress.in/german-history-has-a-lesson-to-absorb The German dossiers give a vivid account of how its apolitical military was turned into a political weapon before WW2, rest as they say is history https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-charm-the-lot-with-traditional-attire-emotional-connect-at-jantar-mantar-protest Among the hundreds of farmers who began their demonstration at the Jantar Mantar over a slew of issues, 64-year-old Sriaj Kodyuriv from Kerala garnered the most attention with his adivasi attire https://opinionexpress.in/all-is-well-in-bjp The elections to the president and vice-president are done and dusted. The celebration of 75 years of Independence is almost concluded. Opposition parties are working out permutations and combinations to mount a credible challenge, with fresh enthusiasm following the developments in Bihar. And Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to embark on a march across the country, which the party hopes may finally infuse some life into its dispirited ranks. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-on-mission-south-india-meets-jr-ntr Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday evening met popular actor Jr NTR in Hyderabad. Mr Amit Shah, who is on an official visit to Telangana, termed the RRR star as "the gem of Telugu cinema" and a "very talented actor". https://opinionexpress.in/satpal-malik-blasts-nda-government-over-msp While attacking NDA government on the issue of implementation and legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers’ produce, Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik said the country’s farmers cannot be defeated and will continue to protest till their demands were met. https://opinionexpress.in/anand-sharma-questions-gandhi-leadership-in-congress Congress party needs to think beyond the Gandhis, senior party leader Anand Sharma asks a question. The leadership question has been thrown wide open after Rahul Gandhi reiterated his negative to the top post of the party over the weekend. Mr Shama, who after Ghulam Nabi Azad, stepped down from a key party post, declared that it was a number of leaders who had kept the party afloat after Indira Gandhi was expelled in 1978. "Those were people like us... This party belongs to all of us," he said. There was no reason why the list should be confined to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he said. "Is the Congress only confined to these two names? Are we not ridiculing the history of the Congress party," he added. https://opinionexpress.in/rakhi-special-for-every-age-group Celebrations have no age. The day of festivity is enjoyed by everyone and brings tales from every age group. Hence, the designer studio Moledro carefully curates each piece that can serve your entire family.  https://opinionexpress.in/manish-sisodia-hits-back-at-bjp-says-no-scam Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today said that he was being targeted by the CBI because the centre was furious over the shout-out to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), at home and abroad, for its "commendable" work in education and healthcare sector. Manish Sisodia, who has been named an accused in a First Information Report filed by the CBI on liquor policy violations, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "misusing" the central investigating agencies against political rivals. https://opinionexpress.in/anand-sharma-quits-himachal-congress-post Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Sunday said he was resigning as chief of the "steering committee" of the party's Himachal Pradesh unit, days after a similar move in Jammu and Kashmir, led by veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad. https://opinionexpress.in/india-can-ill-afford-to-continue-with-elections-freebies Hearing public interest litigation (PIL), filed by advocate Ashwani Dubey, seeking directions against a euphemism for benefits distributed by political parties using public money for garnering votes on August 3, 2022, the bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli sought suggestions from all stakeholders. https://opinionexpress.in/iit-expansion-list-includes-uk-gulf-countries-and-more A committee set up by the Centre for the global expansion of IITs has, in consultation with Indian missions abroad, identified UK, UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia and Thailand as prospective locations for offshore campuses under the “Indian International Institute of Technology” brand name, The Sunday Express has learned. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-is-the-kingpin-in-delhis-liquor-scam-bjp BJP on Saturday sharpened its attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with Union Minister Anurag Thakur describing him as the "kingpin" of the "liquor scam" in the capital. https://opinionexpress.in/us-china-tensions-will-boost-indian-manufacturing-base The Indian economy has the world’s most remarkable growth rate and is projected to grow at 7.1-7.6 per cent in 2022. The rising fuel prices caused by the Russian-Ukraine war have created instability worldwide. The South Asian nations like Sri Lanka and Pakistan are already experiencing the consequences, and even Bangladesh is now requesting a bailout loan from the IMF. https://opinionexpress.in/india75-unshackle-political-bondages Last month, the YSR Congress elected Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy as its chief for lifetime. In China, Xi Jinping has such credentials. India is a democracy. China is a one party nation and a totalitarian state. What kind of democracy the YSR Congress fosters is not just the business of Jagan Mohan Reddy, but also of those who have stakes in the Indian democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/selling-public-sector-banks-is-no-solution For some time now, the talk of privatization of public sector banks has been gaining momentum in the policy circles. Significantly, under the banking reforms, the Central government has reduced 27 public sector banks to just 12 in just three years after a merger exercise. However, the government has also said that banking will continue to be recognized as a strategic sector. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-excise-minister-has-become-excuse-minister-anurag-thakur Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday dubbed Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as an “excuse minister” after the latter claimed he was “paying the price for honesty” as the CBI searched his premises in connection with the excise scam. https://opinionexpress.in/the-idea-of-india-has-always-been-inclusive May the inclusive idea of India be on the march on the celebrated occasion of the 75th anniversary of independence. https://opinionexpress.in/saving-fertiliser-subsidy-with-dbt The Government should stop routing subsidies through manufacturers and give these as direct benefit transfer. https://opinionexpress.in/holistic-education-is-a-must-for-india-75 Nelson Mandela has rightly said that education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world; It is a stairway to the growth and development of humankind. The right to education must be universal so that everyone can pursue prospects of a better future. However, the right to education is not only the right to access education. It is also about receiving a quality education. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-raids-manish-sisodia-at-multiple-locations The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday searched 21 locations, including the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy. In his first reaction, Sisodia, in-charge of the department, said the central agency was “welcome” to do so. https://opinionexpress.in/india-survives-and-thrives-75 India has proved the doomsayers wrong; it has progressed a lot in the last 75 years, but it has to do a lot more https://opinionexpress.in/ib-blocks-several-youtube-news-channels-in-india The Central government blocked eight YouTube channels, seven Indian and one from Pakistan, one Facebook account, and two Facebook posts for promoting fake news against the country. The blocked channels had a cumulative viewership of over 114 crore, and were subscribed by over 85 lakh users, a statement by the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting read. https://opinionexpress.in/sharad-pawars-party-jabs-bjp-for-dropping-nitin-gadkari The Nationalist Congress Party Wednesday took a dig at the BJP over Union minister Nitin Gadkari's ouster from its parliamentary board, saying the party removed him from the panel due to his rising stature as an "astute politician". https://opinionexpress.in/nsa-ajit-doval-russian-counterpart-meet-in-moscow-for-security-related-talks National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Wednesday held talks with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow, focusing on bilateral, regional and global issues.Both sides discussed issues relating to bilateral cooperation in the areas of security as well as topical issues on the regional and international agenda, according to a Russian readout. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-throws-an-open-challenge-to-modi-for-ge-2024 Launching the “Make India Number 1” campaign, Kejriwal appealed to the country’s 130 crore people to join the “national mission” on five projects – education, health, employment, women rights and sustainable farming. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-witness-60-increase-in-hospitalisation-for-covid The covid third wave has escalated Hospitalisations in Delhi are up by over 60 per cent since August 1 as the city reports a surge in coronavirus cases with a positivity rate of 19.20 per cent, the highest in over 200 days, data show. At least 90 per cent of those admitted have not taken booster shots, according to the Delhi government. https://opinionexpress.in/gadkari-shivraj-chouhan-dropped-from-bjp-parliamentary-board In a major organisational reshuffle, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday dropped Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from its parliamentary board, the party’s highest decision-making body. https://opinionexpress.in/universal-wellbeing-is-key-to-ram-rajya We all know that India attained its political independence on August 15, 1947. During the period of struggle for independence, the toiling masses of India bared their chests to the volleys of bullets and shed their blood and sacrificed their property and family-life for the emancipation of Mother India. Many mothers lost their sons and many wives lost their husbands. https://opinionexpress.in/new-panchsheel-for-india-75 PM Modi thrust for five tenets is not only bold but timely as unshackling us from the colonial mindset https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-gears-up-for-a-solo-fight-in-bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his new Cabinet after joining hands with the RJD in Bihar, the BJP central leadership asked its state leaders to gear up for an aggressive fight – Sadak se Sadan – for Mission 2024, during a meeting with the core group members of its Bihar unit at the party headquarters on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-allows-chinese-surveillance-ship-to-dock-at-hambankota The Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship Yuan Wang 5 arrived Tuesday morning at Hambantota port, a strategically important deep sea port in southern Sri Lanka, China said the activities of its vessel will not affect the security of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party, reference to India and its security concerns. https://opinionexpress.in/were-managing-government-not-running-it-karnataka-minister A Karnataka minister's comments, leaked to the press early this morning, caused new embarrassment to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who today confirmed that the comments are authentic but taken out of context. "We are not running the government, we are just managing it," Karnataka Law Minister JC Madhuswamy is heard saying in the audio clip. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-semiconductor-output-dips-17-in-july-amid-us-threat China suffered a sharp fall in semiconductor output in July amid supply chain disruptions due to strict Covid measures in place, the media reported on Monday, as the US doubles down on domestic chip manufacturing with help from allies like South Korea. https://opinionexpress.in/will-congress-be-dented-by-aaps-growing-presence-in-gujarat This time there will be a triangular contest on many seats in the Gujarat assembly elections. After almost three decades a third force is emerging in the state with good numbers. But even after the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) entry into the state politics, there will be a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP on a majority of the seats, say political analysts. https://opinionexpress.in/trinamool-insiders-informing-central-agencies-about-financial-embezzlements BJP Lok Sabha member from Bishnupur constituency in Bankura district of West Bengal, Saumitra Khan, on Monday claimed that several Trinamool Congress insiders including senior office bearers are informing central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) of the financial embezzlements carried out by different party leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/debate-on-freebies-is-welcome-ex-rbi Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor D. Subba Rao has welcomed the current political debate over the issue of providing freebies to the people. https://opinionexpress.in/us-south-korea-to-stage-preparatory-military-drills-before-major-exercise South Korean and US troops plan to hold preliminary drills this week in advance of their annual combined training involving field manoeuvers, officials said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/har-ghar-tiranga-created-nationwide-movement-of-intense-patriotism-rss Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sar Karyawah (All India General Secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale has said that the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' call has created a nationwide movement of intense patriotism. https://opinionexpress.in/vikas-singh-seeks-serious-reforms-in-quality-of-legislators-and-appointment-of-judges Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh on Monday claimed that Collegium members, at the high courts level, are more interested in elevating judges whom they know rather than trying to find the best names. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-rejects-involvement-in-attack-on-salman-rushdie Iran has denied any involvement in the attack on Indian-born writer Salman Rushdie in the US last week. "There is no connection between Iran and the perpetrator," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/up-now-most-preferred-investment-destination-yogi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday hoisted the Tricolour at the Vidhan Bhawan for the sixth consecutive year. https://opinionexpress.in/insider-trading-compliance-is-being-track-by-nse The National Stock Exchange (NSE) last week shared compliance certificate on insider trading with companies, who have to give declaration as they have control over the sensitive information and they are are tracking it at their end. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-hits-out-at-parivaarwaad-bhai-bhatijawad-in-i-day-speech As India celebrates 75 years of Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hoisted the Tricolour at the Red Fort and addressed the nation on the occasion. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-be-a-developed-nation-in-25-years-pm-modi Addressing the nation for the 9th time from the historic ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for moving India forward with five pledges to achieve the dreams by 2047. https://opinionexpress.in/respect-women-support-nari-shakti-pm-modi-in-i-day-speech Addressing the nation for the ninth time from the historic ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a 'change in the mentality' towards the woman. https://opinionexpress.in/rakesh-jhunjhunwala-backed-nazara-tech-now-a-leading-gaming-company As the Indian game developers begin to expand their global footprint, shares of ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed online gaming company Nazara Technologies surged 20 per cent after the firm reported a 22 per cent rise in net profit for the June quarter this year. https://opinionexpress.in/kt-jaleel-pakistani-spy-let-him-live-there-kerala-bjp-chief BJP's Kerala unit president K. Surendran on Sunday said former minister and Left-backed MLA, K.T. Jaleel is a "Pakistani spy, and he must go and live there". https://opinionexpress.in/europes-rivers-run-dry-as-drought-could-be-worst-in-500-years Across Europe, drought is reducing once-mighty rivers to trickles, with potentially dramatic consequences for industry, freight, energy and food production - just as supply shortages and price rises due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine bite, local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/digital-and-economic-independence-is-the-need-of-the-hour The 75th anniversary of India’s freedom remains a milestone in the life of this nation. Collectively, the laurel for India is manifold but so are the fault lines. One such fault line is the reluctance to accept, appreciate and enshrine our own indigenous culture. India technically became free in 1947 but the stigma of colonial imperial regime still remains deep within the collective psyche of our nation. Be it economic, social, and political or technical; almost in all aspects India seems to be aping or is forced to follow the west. https://opinionexpress.in/family-rule-corruption-centres-bias-to-dominate-telangana-polls Family rule, alleged corruption and discrimination by the Centre are among the key issues that are likely to dominate the Assembly elections in Telangana scheduled next year. https://opinionexpress.in/heidi-klum-tips-for-youthful-appearance Supermodel Heidi Klum jokes that the secret to her youthful appearance is "sucking" her husband's "young blood". https://opinionexpress.in/salman-rushdie-off-ventilator-and-talking-following-stabbing-in-us Author Salman Rushdie has been taken off his ventilator and is talking as he recovers from being stabbed in the US. https://opinionexpress.in/iranian-fm-warns-us-against-using-language-of-threat  Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned Washington against using "language of threat" against the Islamic republic. https://opinionexpress.in/political-arrogance-behind-the-downfall-of-partha-chatterjee-anubrata-mondal Partha Chatterjee and Anubrata Mondal, both currently in the news after their arrest by central agencies on corruption charges, hail from two completely different social and cultural backgrounds. https://opinionexpress.in/top-broker-rakesh-jhunjhunwala-passes-away-at-62 Top broker-investor and founder of the recently-launched Akasa Air Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, passed away here on Sunday morning, a close friend said. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-urged-to-review-decision-to-include-ed-in-pil-on-trinamool-leaders-asset Three ministers of the West Bengal cabinet approached the Calcutta High Court on Friday with a plea to review and reconsider the court's earlier decision directing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to be party to a public interest litigation (PIL) on the growth of assets of 19 Trinamool Congress leaders including a number of state government ministers. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-spending-taxpayers-money-to-waive-loans-of-super-rich-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday weighed in on the freebie debate and raised doubts over the Central government's finances while questioning its policies. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-outbreaks-in-tibet-owing-to-chinese-tourism-influx-report The reported Covid-19 outbreaks in Tibet may be the result of Chinese tourism encouraged by the government in Beijing, according to observers inside Tibet, that shut down all Buddhist venues including the iconic Potala Palace. https://opinionexpress.in/300-tiktok-bytedance-employees-worked-for-chinese-state-media-report At least 300 employees of TikTok and its parent company ByteDance employees worked for the Chinese state media publications, and more than a dozen still do, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-premises-searched-for-papers-related-to-nuclear-weapons The FBI agents were looking for documents relating to nuclear weapons, among others, in the unprecedented search they conducted of the premises of former US President Donald Trump earlier this week in Florida, according to a stunning news report. https://opinionexpress.in/india-expresses-concern-over-shelling-near-ukraine-nuclear-plant India has expressed concern over the shelling near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, the biggest in Europe and among the world's largest, as Moscow and Kiev traded charges over the incidents and the international atomic agency head warned of "serious consequences". https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-aims-to-boost-foldables-to-half-of-total-smartphone-sales-by-2025 Samsung Electronics aims to raise the ratio of foldable phones to half of its total smartphone sales by 2025, a top executive has said, after the tech giant unveiled its latest foldable smartphones in an online event. https://opinionexpress.in/ashraf-ghani-blames-us-others-for-talibans-takeover-of-afghanistan Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has broken his silence around a year after the collapse of his government to give an interview blaming the US, politicians in Kabul and others for the Taliban's takeover of the war-torn country. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-growth-for-2022-23-to-be-strongest-among-largest-economies Over 2022-23, Indias growth will average 7 per cent, the strongest among the largest economies, contributing 28 per cent and 22 per cent to Asian and global growth, respectively, Morgan Stanley said in a report. https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-adani-gets-z-category-security-after-home-ministry-acts-on-ib-report The Central government has decided to give 'Z category' security to the country's top industrialist Gautam Adani. This decision has been taken on the basis of a report sent by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). https://opinionexpress.in/denmark-sees-highest-inflation-since-1983 Denmark's consumer price inflation rose to the strongest level since early 1983, largely driven by higher food, fuel and utility costs, the country's statistical office said. https://opinionexpress.in/keshav-maurya-is-new-leader-for-bjp-in-legislative-council Uttar Pradesh BJP state president and minister for Jal Shakti Swatantra Dev Singh has resigned as leader of Legislative Council. https://opinionexpress.in/sunil-bansal-replaced-by-dharamveer-in-up-bjp In a major development, BJP's organisation secretary for Uttar Pradesh, Sunil Bansal, has been shifted out of the state.BJP President J.P. Nadda has given Bansal the charge of West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana. Bansal has been replaced by Dharmveer, who till now held charge of Jharkhand.Bansal will be remembered as one of the most powerful leaders in UP BJP whose organisational abilities made him an all-important leader. https://opinionexpress.in/dgca-removes-price-cap-on-air-fares Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday announced the removal of lower and upper limits on air fare in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-kumar-to-take-oath-as-bihar-cm-for-8th-time-in-22-years After moving out of NDA, a day later on Wednesday Nitish Kumar is all set to take oath as Bihar's chief minister again, the eighth time since he was first sworn-in as the CM of the state in 2000. https://opinionexpress.in/in-a-bold-move-yogi-police-books-prominent-seer-for-fraud-cheating A seer, former head of a prominent temple in the state capital, has been booked for usurping huge donations, valuable manuscripts, and account book of the temple. https://opinionexpress.in/nato-is-closer-more-united-than-ever-before-biden US President Joe Biden underlined the strength of NATO as Finland and Sweden join the alliance, amid altered security architecture in the West following Russia's continued war against Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-tejashwi-to-be-sworn-in-cm-deputy-cm Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan on Tuesday invited Nitish Kumar to form the government in Bihar again after the JD-U leader staked his claim and submitted the list of 165 MLAs supporting him. https://opinionexpress.in/brad-pitt-has-secret-list-of-actors-he-will-never-work-with-again Hollywood star Brad Pitt has a 'secret list' of Hollywood actors he won't work with, according to his 'Bullet Train' co-star Aaron Taylor-Johnson. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-fintech-market-to-reach-1tn-in-aum-200-bn-in-sales-by-2030 The Indian fintech market is expected to log 10 times growth to achieve $1 trillion in assets under management (AUM) and $200 billion in revenue by 2030, a new report showed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/treachery-by-bjp-claim-jdu-has-forced-us-to-part-away-from-nda As the crucial meeting of JD(U) begins at the chief minister's residence here, sources have said that the top leadership of the party has prepared a plan to expose the BJP in case Nitish Kumar shifts out of NDA and joins the Mahagathbandhan. Sources have said that the Janata Dal (United) top leadership has more than six audio recordings where its MLAs and a minister were given lucrative offers to rebel against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. https://opinionexpress.in/taiwan-says-china-preparing-for-invasion China is using its large-scale military exercises around Taiwan to prepare for an invasion of the self-governed island, Taipeis Foreign Minister Joseph Wu claimed on Tuesday https://opinionexpress.in/msme-powerloom-units-oppose-proposed-power-tariff-hike-in-tn The MSME units and the powerloom units in Tamil Nadu have strongly objected to the proposed power tariff hike. https://opinionexpress.in/people-in-no-mood-to-accept-family-based-parties-shah People are in no mood to accept the politics of nepotism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Monday, adding the family-based parties would either have to change themselves or be ready to face electoral defeats, https://opinionexpress.in/trumps-florida-home-raided-by-fbi Former US President Donald Trump has said that his home in Florida has been "raided" by the FBI. https://opinionexpress.in/the-untold-story-of-jagdishwar-nigam-and-indian-independence On the completion of 75 years of independence, the country is celebrating it as Amrit Mahotsav. In this episode, the book "The Administrator - Jagdishwar Nigam vs British Raj 19 August 1942" was released at ITC Maurya Hotel in Delhi. The book was released by Indresh Kumar, a senior pracharak of the Sangh and a founding member of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch. On the release, the Sangh leader said that it is a matter of great pride that we are getting an opportunity to remember such revolutionary officers on the elixir of freedom. He said that the memories of Jagdishwar Nigam have been brought alive in the book Administrator. The Sangh leader said that even though the country got independence in 1947, Ballia became independent only in 1942 due to the revolutionary Jagdishwar Nigam. https://opinionexpress.in/legislation-to-ease-return-of-nawaz-sharif The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is considering relevant legislation to ease the return of its supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, who is in a self-imposed exile in London on medical grounds, to Pakistan, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/the-rationale-for-indian-companies-needing-their-own-5g-networks While millions of smartphone and internet users in the country anxiously wait for better speed with 5G roll-out, the country equally needs higher efficiencies in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, education, agriculture, financial inclusion and many others to accelerate the process of digital transformation, which can best be achieved only through the use of private captive 5G networks on the premises. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-forex-reserves-rises India's forex reserves rose around $2.4 billion during the week ending July 29, after falling for last four consecutive weeks, on back of positive inflows by foreign investors in the Indian equity market. https://opinionexpress.in/senate-democrats-clear-first-hurdle-on-healthcare-climate-bill US Senate Democrats advanced their long-delayed health care, tax and climate bill following months of uncertainty over whether the major legislation could be passed before the November mid-term elections. https://opinionexpress.in/on-its-maiden-flight-indian-rocket-sslv-puts-the-nation-in-suspense The maiden launch of India's brand new rocket is keeping the country in suspense as to its fate on Sunday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/jagdeep-dhankhar-elected-16th-vice-president-of-india Former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday was elected as the 16th Vice-President of India. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-agricultural-processed-food-products-exports-up-by-31 Exports of agricultural and processed food products rose by 31 per cent in the first three months of the current financial Year 2022-23 (April-June) in comparison to the corresponding period of FY 2021-22, as per government data. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-govt-lg-lock-horns-over-dirty-water-supply-to-montenegro-consulate Amid the ongoing standoff over the contentious liquor policy, a new issue has cropped up between the Delhi government and the LG after the Montenegro consulate complained to the latter about dirty water supply. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-to-send-50-bank-accounts-linked-to-partha-chatterjee-for-forensic-audit The Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the multi-crore teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal has come across as many as 50 banks accounts held individually or jointly by prime accused Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee. https://opinionexpress.in/china-halts-co-operation-with-us-on-key-issues Amid escalating tensions between the US and China following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier in the week, Beijing said that it was halting co-operation with Washington in several key areas, including climate change and military talks, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/jail-term-certain-for-sonia-rahul-in-national-herald-case-subramanian-swamy Slamming interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi over the National Herald case, former Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy accused the Gandhi family of being involved in money laundering. https://opinionexpress.in/france-experiencing-worst-drought-ever-pm French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has activated an inter-ministerial crisis team, saying on Friday that her country was experiencing the worst drought ever recorded. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-detained-during-protest-against-centre Rahul Gandhi along with several other senior leaders of the Congress were detained by the police while protesting against the Central government on price rise and unemployment in the national capital on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/era-of-dictatorship-what-was-built-in-70-yrs-destroyed-now-rahul After the Congress was denied permission to hold protests in the New Delhi district, where the police has imposed section 144, Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that 'this was an era of dictatorship and whatever was built in the past 70 years has been destroyed in the past eight years'. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-ups-policy-rate-to-540-to-contain-inflation Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday announced the rise of policy rate or repo rate by 50 basis points (bps) to 5.4 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-enterprises-iia-sign-mou-to-develop-cutting-edge-tech-solutions Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), the business incubation arm of the Adani Group, has signed an MoU with the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), the premier public-funded agency overseeing Israel's innovation policy, for cooperation in technological innovation between Israeli entities and the Adani Group. https://opinionexpress.in/french-parliament-votes-to-abolish-national-broadcasting-licence-fee France will abolish its broadcasting licence fee, after the Senate approved a corresponding bill on the supplementary budget on Thursday evening. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-files-chargesheet-in-yes-bank-dhfl-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday filed a chargesheet running over 90 pages in connection with a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) pertaining to the Yes Bank-DHFL scam before a special PMLA court. https://opinionexpress.in/taiwanese-president-calls-chinese-military-drills-irresponsible Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has called China's military exercises off the coast of the self-governing island "irresponsible not only for Taiwan, but also for the international community". https://opinionexpress.in/direct-appointee-from-the-bar-set-to-become-the-chief-justice Outgoing Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Thursday recommended the name Justice U.U. Lalit as his successor, paving the way for a direct appointee from the Bar to become the Chief Justice after a gap of 49 years. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-in-ktaka-asks-leaders-to-assuage-concerns-of-angry-party-workers Union Minister for Home and Co-Operation Amit Shah on Thursday took the Karnataka BJP leadership to task and directed them to assuage the angry party workers and focus on the upcoming Assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/kuldeep-bishnoi-joins-bjp Former senior Congress leader from Haryana Kuldeep Bishnoi on Thursday joined the BJP along with his wife Renuka Bishnoi. https://opinionexpress.in/cji-ramana-recommends-justice-lalit-as-his-successor-to-law-minister Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Thursday recommended the name of Justice Uday Umesh Lalit as his successor to the Union Minister for Law and Justice. https://opinionexpress.in/pmla-judgment-bestowing-unbridled-powers-on-the-government The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 https://opinionexpress.in/centre-to-withdraw-personal-data-protection-bill-bring-sharper-one he government on Wednesday said it will withdraw contentious Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill 2019 that has seen 81 amendments in the past three years, and will introduce a new, sharper bill that fits fit into the comprehensive legal framework and protect the data of billions of citizens. https://opinionexpress.in/skorean-assembly-speaker-meets-pelosi-amid-heightened-china-us-tensions Speaker of South Korea's National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo met visiting US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing in the wake of her high-profile visit to Taiwan. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-in-karnataka-to-discuss-cabinet-expansion Union Minister for Home and Co-operation Amit Shah arrived in Bengaluru in the early hours of Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-industries-ranked-104-in-fortunes-global-500-list Reliance Industries maintained its highest ranking among Indian private sector companies in the latest Global 500 list published by Fortune for 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-list-swamys-plea-to-declare-ram-sethu-national-heritage-monument The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will list a plea by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking a direction to the Central government for declaring 'Ram Sethu', a national heritage monument. https://opinionexpress.in/bharatpe-appoints-new-cfo-amid-high-profile-exits Fintech platform BharatPe on Wednesday said it has appointed former SBI Card CFO Nalin Negi as its new chief financial officer, as it prepares for its initial public offering (IPO). https://opinionexpress.in/india-gave-a-breath-of-life-sri-lankan-president Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday thanked India, saying the closest neighbour has given 'a breath of life' to the country that was economically ailing with major shortages of essential items such as food, fuel, medicine and many more. https://opinionexpress.in/swirl-around-in-not-your-usual-saree Saree and its grace are unparalleled. Perfect for occasions, be it weddings or festivities, sarees give that oomph look that we all want to achieve. Moreover, you want to know the other charm of this beautiful Indian attire, the versatility. Yes, you can don them for occasions and also for formal events. In all cases, sarees do not disappoint you.  https://opinionexpress.in/income-tax-finds-unaccounted-transactions-over-rs-1k-cr-during-searches The Income Tax Department on Tuesday said it had carried out a search and seizure operation on July 20 on the premises of a prominent business conglomerate engaged in diversified fields of textiles, chemicals, packaging, real estate and education. https://opinionexpress.in/spicejet-in-discussion-with-foreign-carrier-for-possible-stake-sale Low cost carrier SpiceJet is said to be in active discussion with a Middle Eastern carrier for a possible stake sale. https://opinionexpress.in/allahabad-university-to-offer-courses-in-hindu-astrology-rituals The department of Sanskrit in Allahabad University (AU) is introducing a new course in Hindu astrology and rituals with the aim of conserving the rich legacy of the religion. https://opinionexpress.in/china-to-begin-military-drills-around-taiwan Within minutes of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landing in Taiwan on Tuesday night, China said it would immediately begin "a series of joint military operations around the island", including using long-range live ammunition in the Taiwan Strait, a media report said. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-accuses-us-of-direct-role-in-ukraine-war Russia has accused the US of direct involvement in the war in Ukraine for the first time, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-enters-industrial-5g-space Adani Data Networks Ltd (ADNL), the digital connectivity solutions arm of the Adani Group, has acquired the right to use 400MHz of spectrum in the 26GHz millimetre wave band. https://opinionexpress.in/nobody-is-in-denial-about-price-rise-sitharaman The Indian economy, compared to the situation prevailing in many of our peer groups and in many of the developed economies, is definitely much better, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while responding to the short-duration discussion on the rising prices of essentials in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-house-speaker-pelosi-arrives-in-taiwan US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, despite stern warnings from Beijing, making her the highest-level US official to visit the island in 25 years. https://opinionexpress.in/attempt-to-interfere-with-administration-of-justice-ag-seeks-contempt-against-maha-wakf-board A Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, on Tuesday expressed its discontent with Maharashtra Wakf Board for attempting to replace Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, as counsel in the case, in the middle of a hearing on an important question - whether all land donated by Muslims for charitable work would come under Wakf. https://opinionexpress.in/us-kills-top-al-qaeda-leader-al-zawahiri-in-drone-strike The US killed top Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Afghanistan over the weekend dealing the terrorist group a major blow, confirms President Joe Biden. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-collection-in-july-second-highest-ever GST collection in July stood at Rs 1,48,995 crore, second highest since introduction of GST. The collection for July is 28 per cent higher than the GST revenues recorded in the same month last year of Rs 1,16,393 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/one-gulf-state-paid-imran-khan-to-derail-cpec President of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Maulana Fazlur Rehman has claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan was paid by a Gulf state to derail the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and sink the Gwadar Port project. https://opinionexpress.in/nancy-pelosi-begins-asia-trip-no-mention-of-taiwan Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi has embarked on a trip to Asia which will take her to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, her office said in a statement, but did not mention of a stop in Taiwan. https://opinionexpress.in/shiv-sena-mp-gives-suspension-notice-in-rs-over-arrest-of-sanjay-raut After the arrest of Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raut in a land scam case, party MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday gave suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 citing the Centre's "misuse" of investigative agencies for political agendas and detaining opposition leaders in a bid to silence them. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-unlock-trade-potential-with-central-asia-through-chabahar-sonowal India will be unlocking trade potential with the Central Asian region through the use of Chabahar Port in Iran, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/sanjay-raut-detained-by-ed The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in connection with an alleged money-laundering case in the Patra Chawl land scam, here on Sunday evening. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-5g-auction-hits-20-billion The 5G spectrum auction has crossed Rs 1.5 lakh crore after 30 rounds and the auction will continue for a few more days, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-suspends-3-mlas-fir-filed-for-conspiracy-to-topple-jharkhand-govt Congress on Sunday suspended its three Jharkhand MLAs- Dr. Irfan Ansari, Naman Vixal Kongadi and Rajesh Kachhap- who were caught with a large amount of cash in Howrah district of West Bengal, for anti-party activities. https://opinionexpress.in/in-politics-people-should-have-courage-to-tell-truth-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that in politics, people should have the courage to tell the truth but some states try to avoid it. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-tests-positive-for-covid-19-in-rebound-case US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 in a "rebound" case, days after ending isolation and treatment, according to his doctor. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-ideology-is-anti-tribal-arjun-munda Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has said that Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's comment on President Droupadi Murmu establishes that the Congress ideology is anti-tribal and its love and affection for the community is only a drama. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-swoops-on-sena-mp-sanjay-raut A day before the Supreme Court hearing on MLAs disqualification issues, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooped on Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/thevar-community-for-ops-sasikala-to-take-control-of-aiadmk The powerful Thevar community of South Tamil Nadu has come together and want O. Panneerselvam and estranged former interim general secretary, V.K. Sasikala to reclaim the AIADMK which is mired in internal tussle. https://opinionexpress.in/vibgyor-marvels-to-globalize-make-in-india-projects-and-services The Vibgyor Marvels Monsoon Convention (VMCC) was held on 27th July 2022, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Based on the theme, ‘Diplomacy, Diversity, Development’, the event was anchored by Vibgyor Marvels Private Limited (VMPL) a collaborative consortium platform which brings together exclusive members across public, private, and social sectors with the aim of maximizing value creation by collaboration and complementarity. VMCC brought together members of Vibgyor Marvels (VM) with high level diplomats. Shri. Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs was present at the VMMC as Guest of Honour. Ambassadors, High Commissioners and senior diplomats from Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Bhutan, Lao PDR, Senegal and Zimbabwe participated in the Convention. About 150 members of VM and other organizations, including the CMD of NBCC, senior officer of NTPC and Vice Chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU) also participated at the event. https://opinionexpress.in/scorsese-dicaprio-to-team-up-for-1740s-shipwreck-thriller The inimitable combination of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, who have just wrapped up the film adaptation of the award-winning journalist and bestselling author David Grann's non-fiction book, 'Killers of the Flower Moon', for Apple Original Films, are already onto their next project, says 'Hollywood Reporter'. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-musk-court-battle-to-start-soon The US judge in the Twitter vs Elon Musk legal battle over cancellation of the $44 billion takeover deal has set October 17 as the beginning date of the high-profile trial. https://opinionexpress.in/india-sees-5g-spectrum-bids-worth-rs-149855-cr-reliance-jio-leads The 5G spectrum auction saw bids worth Rs 1,49,855 crore after 23 rounds on Friday, with the government saying the bids will continue on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/lavrov-blinken-discuss-situation-in-ukraine-over-phone Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the situation in Ukraine during a phone conversation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. https://opinionexpress.in/kcr-akhilesh-deliberate-on-national-politics-other-issues In the national capital on a 3-day visit, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. https://opinionexpress.in/a-quick-insight-into-the-challenges-faced-by-foreign-companies-while-establishing-businesses-in-india Since the 1990s, India has been a favored destination for foreign multinational corporations. India has a lot of potential for growth because of its large and growing population, favorable demographics, and high level of domestic demand. https://opinionexpress.in/us-economy-contracts-again-amid-fears-of-recession The US economy shrank again in the second quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said on Thursday, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-xi-discuss-taiwan-during-phone-call Amid simmering tensions, US and Chinese Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping discussed the Taiwan issue during which the American leader said Washington strongly opposed any unilateral moves to change the island's status, while his counterpart warned that "whoever plays with fire will perish". https://opinionexpress.in/indian-stock-markets-takes-upstream-jump he Indian stock indices went up on Thursday with the BSE Sensex gaining 1,041.47 points and the NSE Nifty 287.80 points. https://opinionexpress.in/my-flats-used-as-storehouses-of-illegal-cash-arpita-mukherjee In the wake of the two consecutive recoveries of massive amounts of cash and gold from two of her residences in Kolkata's Tollygunge and Belgharia, Arpita Mukherjee on Thursday confessed to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that she was forced by West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee to allow her houses to be used to store the illegal cash. https://opinionexpress.in/us-fed-tries-to-control-inflation-genie-with-a-75-bps-rate-hike Expectedly, the US Federal Reserve jacked up its benchmark overnight interest rate by 75 basis points in an effort to tamp down the bristling inflation genie virtually bursting out of the bottle. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-says-israel-linked-spies-seek-to-bomb-sensitive-defence-centre The Iranian Intelligence Ministry has said that the arrested members of an "Israel-linked spy network" had sought to carry out a bomb attack in one of Iran's sensitive defence industry centres, official news agency IRNA reported. https://opinionexpress.in/global-pc-shipments-see-largest-decline-since-q2-2013 Global PC shipments fell 11.1 per cent (on-year) in the second quarter this year to reach 71.2 million units, the decline since Q2 2013, a new report said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankas-sc-extends-overseas-travel-ban-on-mahinda-rajapaksa-basil Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the overseas travel ban till August 2 on former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. https://opinionexpress.in/not-mandatory-for-ed-to-supply-ecir-disclosing-ground-of-arrest-enough-sc The Supreme Court on Wednesday said supply of a copy of Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in every case to the person concerned is not mandatory, while holding it is not equivalent to an FIR. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-hits-back-at-rahul-says-no-misuse-of-agencies Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark that India is turning into a police state. https://opinionexpress.in/gotabaya-rajapaksa-to-return-to-sl-minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former Sri Lankan President who secretly fled the country on July 13 amid violent protests in the wake of the island nation's ongoing economic crisis, is set to return, a Minister said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/dalai-lama-consecrates-learning-centre-in-leh Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has consecrated the newly constructed Thiksey Library and Learning Centre, a project here for which he conducted the ground-breaking ceremony in July 2018. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-hires-chip-expert-from-rival-apple South Korean tech giant Samsung has reportedly roped in semiconductor expert Kim Woo-pyeong from Apple, who will serve as the company's director for a new packaging solution center. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-files-supplementary-charge-sheet-in-dhfl-yes-bank-alleged-loan-fraud-case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday filed its supplementary charge sheet in connection with the Rs 3,700 crore Yes Bank-DHFL loan fraud case. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-preferred-destination-for-khalistani-terrorists Canada is fast becoming a safe haven for Khalistani terrorists and gangsters, who are involved in a number of criminal activities in India, including murders, sources in the intelligence agencies said. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-lg-forwards-civil-societys-complaint-on-liquor-licenses-to-chief-secretary Delhi Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena has forwarded a complaint of a civil organisation to the Chief Secretary in connection with irregularities in awarding liquor licenses. https://opinionexpress.in/pmla-and-fema-cases-record-substantial-rise Cases taken up for investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and recorded under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have seen a substantial jump in the last few years. https://opinionexpress.in/sunak-to-unveil-curbs-on-china-as-uks-biggest-long-term-threat China is the biggest long-term threat to Britain, Prime Minister contender Rishi Sunak will say on Monday as he unveils plans to curb the countrys soft power by closing all of its 30 Confucius Institutes, which promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture in the UK. https://opinionexpress.in/droupadi-murmu-takes-oath-as-15th-president-of-india Droupadi Murmu on Monday took oath as the 15th President of India. https://opinionexpress.in/7-hitting-drills-every-youth-baseball-player-should-know Hitting drills are extremely important for a baseball player to master. This article will discuss the swing through it drill, the soft toss drill, and the One-Hand isolation drill. In addition to these drills, every youth baseball player should practice one of the four following: https://opinionexpress.in/indian-short-video-apps-to-reach-600-mn-users-by-2025 Indian short-form apps are expected to double their monthly active user base to 600 million (67 per cent of all smartphone users) by 2025 and have a monetisation opportunity of $19 billion by 2030, a new report has shown. https://opinionexpress.in/rumour-mills-agog-as-spicejet-sits-over-march-end-results Budget carrier SpiceJet with a fleet size of 95 planes reported a net profit of Rs 23.28 crore in the quarter ended December in FY2022. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-dattatreya-hosabale-raises-concern-over-rising-food-prices Expressing concern over the ever-increasing inflation and rising food prices in the country, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has advised serious consideration on the issues. https://opinionexpress.in/world-athletics-championships-neeraj-chopra-elated-with-historic-silver Tokyo Olympics javelin throw champion Neeraj Chopra, who clinched the historic silver medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, is elated from his performance and thanked everyone for the support, adding that the challenging final was a good learning experience for him. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-to-sell-assets-in-desperate-attempt-to-prevent-default In a desperate attempt to save the country from default through emergency sale of state's assets to foreign countries, the Pakistan federal cabinet has approved an ordinance to bypass all the procedures for the process and also abolished regulatory checks including the applicability of six relevant laws, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/droupadi-murmu-is-a-passionate-teacher-disciplinarian-social-worker President-designate of India Droupadi S. Murmu is not new to records and several are already to her credit in a dizzying political career spanning barely a quarter century, zooming from a Municipal Councillor in 1997 to the country's First Citizen in 2022, for which she will take the oath on Monday (July 25). https://opinionexpress.in/wbssc-scam-partha-chatterjee-arrested-by-ed West Bengal Commerce & Industries minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee is upset over not being able to communicate with party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee since his arrest on Saturday morning by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials probing the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment irregularities scam. https://opinionexpress.in/brain-health-clinic-inaugurated-by-dr-k-sudhakar Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Friday inaugurated a Brain Health Clinic under the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KaBHI) here at Jayanagar Government Hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-reaches-238-mn-users-globally-amid-legal-battle-with-musk Despite posting $270 million net loss in its second quarter (Q2) this year, Twitter has reached 237.8 million users which is a significant growth amid the controversial Elon Musk takeover. https://opinionexpress.in/top-crypto-exchange-blockchaincom-cuts-25-of-its-workforce Leading cryptocurrency exchange Blockchain.com has laid off 25 per cent of its workforce, nearly 150 employees, amid the global economic meltdown. https://opinionexpress.in/chief-justice-nv-ramana-slams-media-trials Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Saturday hit out at electronic and social media 'trials', saying that media run 'kangaroo courts' at times on issues and even experienced judges find it difficult to decide. https://opinionexpress.in/domestic-air-traffic-records-6673-growth-in-jan-june-period Aviation traffic in the country is growing continuously, with DGCA data showing that passengers carried by domestic airlines grew 66.73 per cent from 343.37 lakh to 572.49 lakh in the January to June period. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-lg-recommends-cbi-probe-into-aap-govts-excise-policy Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has recommended a CBI probe into the Arvind Kejriwal government's Excise Policy 2021-22. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankas-tryst-with-china-india Even after the Sri Lankan Parliament elected Ranil Wickremesinghe as the eighth President of the island nation, street protests have continued, this time against Wickremesinghe himself. https://opinionexpress.in/upgrad-acquires-edtech-platform-harappa-education-for-rs-300-cr Higher education platform upGrad on Friday announced it has acquired online learning institution Harappa Education for Rs 300 crore (about $38 million). https://opinionexpress.in/droupadi-murmu-is-indias-next-president Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening met President-elect Droupadi Murmu after her victory in the Presidential poll. https://opinionexpress.in/demi-moores-determined-to-stay-sexy-as-she-turns-60 Hollywood icon Demi Moore is gearing up to celebrate her 60th birthday in November. Said she is determined to remain 'desirable' and 'sexy' as she grows older. https://opinionexpress.in/sl-president-vows-to-crackdown-on-protesters Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sworn in as Sri Lanka's eighth President before the https://opinionexpress.in/national-herald-case-ed-grills-sonia-for-3-hrs Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, who appeared before the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to the National Herald paper, left the agency's office after three hours of questioning. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-releases-ios-156-ipados-with-new-features-bug-fixes Tech giant Apple has released iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 that bring new live sports features, storage bug fixes and more. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-ed-appearance-heavy-police-deployment-outside-cong-ed-office There was a heavy deployment of police personnel around the Congress headquarters and the Enforcement Directorate office here ahead of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi's questioning in the National Herald case. https://opinionexpress.in/sunak-liz-truss-to-face-off-for-uk-pms-post Former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday won the final Westminister vote to succeed Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party. https://opinionexpress.in/india-extended-concessional-loans-of-over-123-bn-to-africa-jaishankar Being a trusted partner in the journey of socio-economic development, India has extended concessional loans of over $12.3 billion to Africa, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/raisi-putin-vow-to-expand-iran-russia-cooperation-ensure-regional-security Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have held talks here, agreeing to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation to ensure security in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/cruel-to-raise-taxes-when-cpi-inflation-is-over-7-jairam-ramesh The Congress on Wednesday denounced Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for defending the hike in GST rates and questioned the timing saying its "cruel" to hike the rates when CPI is over 7 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/two-up-ministers-face-the-heat-over-transfers Two ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government are facing the heat over transfers in their respective departments. https://opinionexpress.in/no-gst-on-food-items-when-sold-loose-clarifies-sitharaman Following uproar in the Parliament over GST on food items, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday defended the imposition of 5 per cent GST on food articles such as cereals, rice, flour and curd, which are pre-packaged and labelled, saying that it was a unanimous decision of the GST Council last month in which even non-BJP ruled states were present. https://opinionexpress.in/mygov-to-organise-big-event-to-celebrate-eight-years-of-journey The government's citizen engagement platform MyGov has planned a big celebration on the occasion of completing eight years of its journey on July 26.A large on-ground event will be organised to showcase the milestones achieved by MyGov towards its vision of attaining 'Surajya' and acknowledge the contribution of MyGov 'Saathis', who have actively engaged with the digital platform. https://opinionexpress.in/instagram-to-let-shoppers-pay-for-products-via-dm Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram has announced that it will allow shoppers in the US to be able to pay for products directly in messages. https://opinionexpress.in/british-govt-wins-confidence-vote-in-parliament-dodges-snap-election Lawmakers in the House of Commons, the lower house of the British parliament, backed outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government in a confidence vote. https://opinionexpress.in/un-chief-calls-for-bold-coordinated-responses-to-global-food-crisis UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for bold and coordinated responses to solve the ongoing global food crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/eknath-shinde-in-delhi-to-discuss-obc-reservation-in-maha Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has arrived in the national capital to discuss Other Backward Class (OBC) reservations in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/top-indian-batters-weak-against-left-arm-pacers They need to play to left arm (pace bowling) a little bit better. History tells you that Shaheen Shah Afridi blew them away one evening in Dubai, Mohammad Amir blew them away one afternoon at the Oval in a final, and Reece Topley has blown them away here (at Old Trafford)," were former England captain Nasser Hussain's words during the ODI series decider match on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/china-starts-work-on-worlds-first-deep-space-radar-to-tackle-asteroids In a bid to boost defence against near-Earth asteroids, China has started construction of the world's most far-reaching radar system, Global Times reported. https://opinionexpress.in/7813-complaints-against-digital-lending-apps-recovery-agents A total of 7,813 complaints have been received against banks and NBFCs pertaining to digital lending apps and recovery agents under the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme of RBI during the period April 1, 2021 to March 3, this year. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-jolts-nawaz-zardari-maulana-fazl-trio-in-polls PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman spoke over the phone to discuss Pakistan's political situation after PML-N's humiliating defeat in the Punjab by-elections held a day earlier, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-protests-in-rs-for-discussion-on-gst-other-issues The Rajya Sabha, on the first day of the Monsoon session on Monday, witnessed strong protests by opposition benches demanding discussions on Agnipath, hike in GST rates and other issues, leading to the house being adjourned for the day. https://opinionexpress.in/self-reliance-in-defence-forces-important-for-india-of-21st-century-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed a seminar titled 'Swavlamban' organised by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation organisation (NIIO) wherein he underlined India's goal of self-reliance in defence forces. https://opinionexpress.in/monsoon-session-important-as-nation-will-elect-new-prez-v-p-modi Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged all the MPs to follow parliamentary procedures saying the session is important as the nation is going to elect a new President and Vice-President. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-bjp-puts-operation-kamal-behind-it-to-stay-in-power-on-its-own-in-2022 The Bharatiya Janata Party's ambition of attaining power in south India still remains a distant dream. Though the saffron party has been successful in grabbing power through Operation Kamal, so far all its attempts to gain a simple majority on its own in Karnataka have failed. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-adopts-wait-and-watch-policy-on-power-tussle-within-ally-aiadmk Keeping a beady eye on the recent developments in Tamil Nadu's AIADMK, the BJP is following a wait and watch policy on the ongoing power tussle in the regional party. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-fraudsters-on-the-prowl-to-scam-indians-using-fake-loan-apps In February this year, a complaint was lodged at the IFSO unit of the Special Cell by a woman alleging that she was being abused and threatened by some unknown persons who were sending her morphed and vulgar photographs to her family, friends and relatives through social media. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-picks-bengal-guv-jagdeep-dhankhar-for-vice-president West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the NDA candidate for Vice Presidential polls. https://opinionexpress.in/dalai-lama-arrives-to-a-rousing-reception-in-ladakh After making an overnight halt at Jammu, Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in Leh on Friday where he was accorded a rousing reception, as scores of people queued up on either side of the road to welcome him from the airport to his Choglamsar residence. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-inaugurates-bundelkhand-expressway Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Bundelkhand Expressway at Kaitheri village in Orai tehsil of Uttar Pradesh's Jalaun, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-aims-to-make-big-tech-pay-for-using-content-from-news-publishers The Indian government is planning to make Big Tech pay publishers for using their content on their respective platforms, as other countries aim to create a revenue-sharing bridge between internet companies like Google and Facebook and digital news publishers. https://opinionexpress.in/constitutional-provisions-values-being-openly-violated-yashwant-sinha The joint opposition candidate for the Presidential election, Yashwant Sinha on Saturday said the Constitutional provisions and its values were being openly violated by certain people in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/ahmed-patels-daughter-ridicules-sit-charges Late Congress leader Ahmed Patel's daughter Mumtaz Patel on Saturday refuted Gujarat SIT's charges against him and alleged that his name is being used to malign the opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/once-bitten-in-the-ajit-pawar-snafu-now-bjp-got-its-coup-right In one of the most brazen political coups in recent years, the 31-month-old unique experimental alliance of the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress 'Maha Vikas Aghadi crashed in 10 days flat, peaking a sneaky but defiant drama by rebels, spanning 3 states.. https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-could-break-rs-80-mark-against-dollar-next-week The Indian rupee will trade between Rs 79.50-Rs 80.50 against the US dollar next week, a senior official of LKP Securities said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-saudi-crown-prince-repair-rupture-ties US President Joe Biden ended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans "pariah" status with a fist-bump when they met for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/24-new-bills-to-be-introduced-in-monsoon-session New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) As many as 24 new bills will be introduced in the upcoming monsoon session of the Parliament, including Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2022. "The Bill seeks to replace the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867 by decriminalisation of the existing Act, keeping the procedures of the extant Act simple from the view point of medium/small publishers and uphold the values of Press Freedom". https://opinionexpress.in/ranil-wickremesinghe-sworn-in-as-interim-president-of-sri-lanka Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as the interim President https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-china-agree-to-activate-bilateral-mechanism-to-resolve-border-dispute In order to resolve the border dispute and sign a new boundary protocol, Nepal and China have agreed to activate bilateral mechanisms. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-remembers-k-kamaraj-on-his-birth-anniversary Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday remembered K. Kamaraj, an Indian independence activist and former chief minister of erstwhile Madras State, now Tamil Nadu, on his birth anniversary. https://opinionexpress.in/blochchain-platform-5ire-raises-100-mn-becomes-105th-unicorn-in-india Blockchain startup 5ire on Friday said it has raised $100 million in Series A funding from UK-based conglomerate SRAM & MRAM, taking its valuation to $1.5 billion and becoming a new unicorn in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-warns-india-of-potentially-catastrophic-consequences-on-kashmir While admitting to a "fragile" food situation in his country, Pakistan's Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has thrown a warning that India's policies in Kashmir could have "potentially catastrophic consequences" from another conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/crypto-lending-platform-celsius-network-files-for-bankruptcy Cryptocurrency lending company Celsius Network, that recently laid off 150 employees, has now filed for bankruptcy in the US amid extreme market conditions. https://opinionexpress.in/as-sri-lanka-crisis-deepens-un-chief-calls-for-addressing-root-casuses-of-conflict As Sri Lanka crisis deepened, UN Chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday said it is important to address root causes of the conflict and protesters' grievances. https://opinionexpress.in/india-in-transitional-phase-towards-self-reliance-in-defence-rajnath India is witnessing a transitional phase towards self-reliance in defence sector and active and collective efforts are central to realise the dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-inflation-hits-40-year-high-at-91-per-cent-in-june Fuelled by an increase in the prices of oil, shelter and food, the inflation rate in the US rose to 9.1 percent in June. https://opinionexpress.in/inflation-unemployment-high-govt-in-deep-slumber-cong The Congress on Wednesday attacked the government over rising prices and unemployment and asked for steps taken to bring relief to the common Indian. https://opinionexpress.in/eus-largest-economy-germany-is-likely-to-slip-into-recession For many in Germany, a warm water bath could soon become a luxury. One of the country's main port cities, Hamburg, has already warned its citizens that it may have to resort to rationing hot water as the energy crisis intensified. The going for Germany, Europe's largest economy will get tougher as sanction-hit Russia has decided to weaponise energy. Not only will the citizens have to brace for a cold and dark winter after Moscow choked supplies, its industry-driven by manufacturing -- is also staring at uncertainty. Though just a month ago Germany's central bank Deutsche Bundesbank in its report drastically slashed GDP growth projections for this year to 1.9 per cent from the earlier estimated 4.2 per cent, many observers opine that actually the country could slip into a recession. https://opinionexpress.in/bumrahs-619-helps-him-usurp-spinner-kuldeep-yadavs-record India pacer Jasprit Bumrah's career-best 6/19 in the first One-day International against England at The Kennington Oval saw him break quite a few records, with the most notable being usurping spinner Kuldeep Yadav's 6/25 against England in Nottingham in 2018.Bumrah's sensational performance helped India bowl out England for a paltry 110 in 25.2 overs after winning the toss and opting to bowl first in bowling-friendly conditions. The 28-year-old became the first India pace bowler to take six wickets in an ODI in England.Bumrah's magical bowling followed by a solid unbeaten opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan led India to a crushing 10-wicket win over England and take 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Bumrah also registered the third-best figures by an Indian bowler in ODIs, now only behind Stuart Binny (6/4) and Anil Kumble (6/12). He joined the elite list of 10 Indian bowlers to have picked six wickets in an innings in ODIs, according to ICC.India made the best use of the conditions by opting to bowl first and Bumrah drew first blood in the second over with a double-wicket maiden claiming Jason Roy and Joe Root for a duck.He then dismissed the dangerous Jonny Bairstow and scalped Liam Livingstone with a peach of a delivery. And then he cleaned up the tail to finish with magical figures of 7.2-3-19-6.England were bowled out for 110, their lowest total in the 50-over format against India. Four of England's top six went back without troubling the scorers. Led by Bumrah, the Indian pace attack was on fire, with Mohammed Shami picking up three wickets and Prasidh Krishna claiming the remaining one. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-sues-musk With an aim to force Elon Musk to follow through with his $44 billion Twitter acquisition deal, the microblogging site has now sued the tech billionaire as he walked out of the deal. https://opinionexpress.in/world-has-never-witnessed-worse-energy-crisis-iea-ed The world has not seen an energy crisis as it is witnessing now, in terms of depth and complexity, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-external-debt-not-a-cause-to-worry-experts Chennai, July 12 (IANS) India's external debt of $620.7 billion need not be a concern as $490 billion is non-government and the share of government is only $130.8 billion, said experts. https://opinionexpress.in/race-for-uk-pm-hots-up-eight-contenders-in-race Eight candidates have been nominated to enter the race to be the leader of the Conservative Party and replace outgoing Boris Johnson as the UK Prime Minister, the party's backbench 1922 Committee said. The eight contenders who successfully enlisted the required backing of at least 20 Conservative lawmakers are: Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak; Foreign Secretary Liz Truss; International Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt; backbench lawmaker Tom Tugendhat; Attorney General Suella Braverman; newly appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi; former Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch; and former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankas-situation-sensitive-and-complicated-jaishankar The situation in Sri Lanka, which is grappling with economic and political crises was "sensitive and complicated", External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/aiadmk-row-dont-allow-anyone-else-to-operate-party-account-ops-to-bank AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam (OPS), who was expelled from the party during the General Council meeting on Monday, has shot off a letter to the Karur Vysya Bank manager, seeking anybody else not be to allowed to operate the account of the party as he was still the party Treasurer. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-seeks-response-from-pmo-on-pil-to-declare-pm-cares-fund-as-state The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a detailed response from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on a plea seeking a declaration that the PM CARES Fund is a 'State' under Article 12 of the Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/from-ec-to-ed-jharkhand-cm-hemant-sorens-multiple-migraines Tough days are ahead for Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren as he has to fight his life's most difficult battle on the legal front. https://opinionexpress.in/pv-legacy-will-determine-the-outcome-of-upcoming-telangana-elections There is little doubt that P. V. Narasimha Rao is a stalwart of Telangana who went on to occupy the highest position of the country through sheer intellect and hardwork. His contributions as chief minister of united A.P and as the Prime Minister of the country laid the foundation for today's new and vibrant India. It is also established fact that PV as a brand is highly recognisable and a definite vote catcher, especially in Telangana. Often regarded as the Chanakya of modern India for his political acumen, his personality combines several images -- first, as a revolutionary working for the Hyderabad liberation movement; second, as an efficient administrator during his long political career; and, importantly, as a disruptor and challenger to the dynastic politics of the Congress party. It is this last reason that explains why the Congress party often goes out of its way to belittle his work, despite his unparalled contribution to both party and nation. https://opinionexpress.in/trinamool-suspend-mahua-moitra-asks-bjp The BJP on Tuesday attacked the Trinamool Congress for not taking action against its MP Mahua Moitra for her controversial remarks on Goddess Kali, and asked whether the party would suspend her. https://opinionexpress.in/uks-new-pm-to-be-announced-on-sept-5-says-tory-lawmaker he new UK Prime Minister replacing incumbent Boris Johnson will be announced on September 5, said Graham Brady, Chairman of the Conservative Party's backbench 1922 Committee. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-claim-to-unsc-strengthens-for-being-most-populous-nation A UN population expert has speculated that India becoming the world's most populous country could strengthen its claim to a permanent seat on the Security Council. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-asks-centre-to-bring-separate-law-on-bail The Supreme Court on Monday said criminal courts are guardian angels of liberty and a conscious failure by them would constitute an affront to liberty, as it asked the Centre to consider introducing a separate law in the nature of a Bail Act to streamline the grant of bails. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-sonia-gandhi-on-july-21-in-national-herald-matter Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to join the investigation in connection with the National Herald matter on July 21. Earlier, she couldn't join in the probe as she was not keeping well. https://opinionexpress.in/his-holiness-the-14th-dalai-lama-the-authentic-role-model-to-all-leaders His Holiness the Dalai Lama lives in exile for over 60 years; having forfeited his active role as the spiritual and temporal leader of the over 7 million Tibetan Buddhists due to Chinese aggression. But he reflects the inimitable characteristic of a divine presence on earth, not losing his composure, his sense of humour, altruistic tendencies, the simple child-like nature and relentless hard work towards his global and national commitments. He is now celebrating his 87th birthday and what he has achieved on a global level over the period of his exile would need many pages history to record. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-inaugurates-lulu-mall-in-lucknow Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, inaugurated the Lulu Mall -- the Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group's fifth mall in the country -- in Lucknow. https://opinionexpress.in/cheating-case-filed-against-spicejet-md-ajay-singh-others-in-gurugram A case of fraud has been registered against SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh and others for allegedly cheating a Gurugram resident by delivering fake share certificates to him. https://opinionexpress.in/world-population-to-reach-8-bn-on-nov-15-un The global population is projected to reach 8 billion on November 15, with India projected to surpass China as the most populous country in 2023, the UN said on Monday on the World Population Day. https://opinionexpress.in/india-stands-with-sri-lankas-people-says-mea https://opinionexpress.in/google-offered-to-split-its-ad-tech-biz-to-avoid-anti-trust-lawsuit-report Google reportedly offered the US government to split its ad-tech business, which allows companies to place ads on Internet and apps, into a separate entity under the Alphabet umbrella, to avoid an antitrust lawsuit.According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal was part of multiple concessions the tech giant offered the US Department of Justice to avoid lawsuits alleging anti-competitive practices. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-meets-shinde-fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday. The Prime Minister's Office tweeted: "The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri @mieknathshinde and the Deputy Chief Minister Shri @Dev_Fadnavis called on PM." Earlier on Saturday, before meeting PM Modi, Shinde and Fadnavis addressed the media here. Answering a question about portfolio allocation, Shinde said: "Tomorrow is Aashadhi Ekadashi. We (Shinde and Fadnavis) will meet in Mumbai after that and then discuss portfolio allocation." Asserting there is no political agenda regarding the first visit to the national capital with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after forming the government in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the portfolio allocation would take place after Aashadhi Ekadashi that falls on Sunday. Responding to a question if the government will last (the remaining) two and a half years (term of the assembly), Shinde claimed, "We will not just last the remaining term but also win the next polls with 200 MLAs." Since landing in Delhi on Friday evening, both Fadnavis and Shinde called on President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and also BJP president J.P. Nadda as part of what they termed as "courtesy meetings".  https://opinionexpress.in/india-needs-clearer-personal-data-protection-law-to-tame-twitter-others The latest Centre-Twitter legal battle over repeated content blocking orders by the IT Ministry has brought an old debate to the fore -- is the country finally ready to penalise foreign intermediaries and social media platforms for not obeying the law of the land or is there still a long way to go? https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-develop-world-class-higher-educational-institutes-education-minister Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday underlined the need to develop world class higher educational institutions to prepare 21st century-ready students. https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-t20i-skipper-rohit-praises-jadeja-for-playing-brilliant-knock After a convincing win over England in the second T20I, India captain Rohit Sharma heaped rich praise on Ravindra Jadeja for playing a vital knock, saying that the all-rounder looked calm and composed in a pressure situation. https://opinionexpress.in/inflation-to-ease-in-second-half-of-fy23-rbi-governor The inflation in India is expected to ease in a gradual manner in the second half of FY23, said Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/china-employed-debt-trap-diplomacy-to-gain-strategic-edge-over-sl-think-tank China employed its devious 'Debt Trap Diplomacy' to gain a strategic edge over Sri Lanka, an independent foreign policy think tank said on Saturday after Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resigned making way for an all-party cabinet to assume control of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/if-theres-somebody-you-dont-want-to-rub-up-wrong-way-it-is-bairstow-anderson Amidst England winning the rescheduled fifth Test against India by seven wickets at Edgbaston last week, the verbal exchange between Jonny Bairstow and Virat Kohli in the first innings, which fuelled the middle-order batter to make 106 in the first innings and follow it up with an unbeaten 114 in a remarkable chase of 378, has held centrestage. https://opinionexpress.in/huawei-transferred-rs-750-cr-abroad-claim-i-t-deptt-sources Chinese technology company Huawei has been accused by the Income Tax Department of transferring Rs 750 crore to its foreign-based parent firms sources in the department have said. https://opinionexpress.in/anti-govt-protesters-storm-sl-presidents-house Demanding the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, anti-government Sri Lankan protesters on Saturday stormed the President's House in Colombo braving several police and military barricades and tear gas shells. https://opinionexpress.in/global-ev-shipments-up-79-yoy-in-q1-tesla-leads-report With Tesla registering phenomenal growth over a year, the electric vehicle (EV) shipments grew 79 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter of 2022 to reach 1.95 million units, says a new report. https://opinionexpress.in/world-lost-a-great-visionary-i-lost-a-dear-friend-modi-remembers-abe Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe an outstanding leader of Japan and said that the world has lost a great visionary while he has lost a dear friend. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-says-hes-terminating-44-bn-twitter-deal-report Tech billionaire Elon Musk is officially trying to pull out of his $44 billion agreement to purchase microblogging site Twitter. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe-assassinated Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe passed away on Friday, hours after being shot while addressing an election rally in the city of Nara, according to state media. https://opinionexpress.in/vivo-moves-delhi-hc-challenging-freezing-of-its-bank-accounts-by-ed Chinese mobile manufacturer Vivo on Friday moved a plea in the Delhi High Court challenging the freezing of its various bank accounts by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. https://opinionexpress.in/massive-crowd-to-march-to-colombo-demanding-sri-lankan-prez-to-step-down Sri Lanka's opposition parties, religious groups, civil rights activists have planned a massive march to capital Colombo on Saturday demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government to step down amidst unprecedented economic crisis and virtual lockdown of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/iti-acharya-aces-her-red-carpet-debut-at-cannes-film-festival Iti Acharya, is an Indian actress, world peacekeeper, and aspiring producer and humanitarian, who made an outstanding debut at Cannes Film Festival this year. Iti marked her debut in a lilac gown with complete confidence and poise. https://opinionexpress.in/rbis-measures-to-boost-forex-inflows-may-not-increase-inflows The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) move to relax regulations to boost foreign exchange inflows will not have any material change in receipts, but certainly helpful in directional forex signalling to speculators, said Emkay Global Financial Services Ltd. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-directors-of-firm-associated-with-vivo-flee-as-ed-continues-raids As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continued searches at the premises of Chinese companies, including smartphone maker Vivo, at 44 locations in 22 states on Wednesday, the directors of one of the companies associated with Vivo have fled India. https://opinionexpress.in/human-being-like-dalai-lama-are-rare-in-modern-world-richard-gere American actor Richard Gere on Wednesday cut cake in Dharamsala to mark the occasion of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's 87th birthday and said "once in a millennium, maybe in two millennia, such a person, such a human being as the Dalai Lama emerges and he is a Tibetan". https://opinionexpress.in/scindia-gets-additional-charge-of-steel-irani-of-minority-affairs President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday accepted the resignations of Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Steel Minister R.C.P. Singh from the Union Cabinet and asked Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Jyotiraditya M Scindia to hold charges of their portfolios https://opinionexpress.in/ukraines-economy-to-shrink-by-at-least-35-in-2022 Ukraine's GDP will shrink at least 35 per cent this year due to the conflict with Russia, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported, citing Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. https://opinionexpress.in/union-ministers-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-rcp-singh-resign A day before the end of their Rajya Sabha term, Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and R.C.P. Singh on Wednesday resigned from the Union Cabinet. https://opinionexpress.in/rebooting-make-in-india-program Much water has flown down the Ganges since 2014 when the Make in India program of boosting indigenous manufacturing was blueprinted by the new PM of India, Shri Narendra Modi. The program was brought with much fanfare and the visionary ideas contained therein received justified promotion and push. It was expected that the new government of BJP led National Democratic Alliance would translate the Make in India into a living reality of its vision at the ground level.  But, regrettably, this did not happen. The excellent visionary plan remained largely on paper. Practical implementation of the program, indeed, left much to be desired. https://opinionexpress.in/indo-pacific-a-rising-geopolitical-turf Indo-pacific, the term used in the natural sciences to study marine biology, zoology and oceanography, has made a resurrection in geopolitical discourse in the last couple of decades. The term ‘Asia-Pacific’ is used for the states around the Pacific Ocean formed Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a 21 member intergovernmental organisation is perhaps the only multilateral institution representing Asia-Pacific that is predominant an economic conceptualisation rather than a security one. However, with the rise of two economic powerhouses (India and China) in the Asian continent and increasing assertion of China in the region, the concept, Asia Pacific was broadened geopolitically to include states around the Indian ocean with a focus on India and hence Indo-Pacific (a 24-nation regional framework) have gained traction recently entailing politico-economic and security dimension. New Delhi was brought into the turf by Tokyo and Washington to counterbalance Beijing. Though the concept still evolving exhibits a paradigm shift in power from the West to the East. https://opinionexpress.in/religious-intolerance-pushes-muslims-in-india-backwards Lack of political sense, over emotional attachment to religion, surging religious extremism in the community, and most of all, by not recognizing the enemy within who always stops the community from being progressive, Muslims in India pushing them backwards. https://opinionexpress.in/democratic-india-has-to-have-a-national-identity The Preamble to the Constitution of India describes maintenance of 'unity and integrity of the nation' as its prime objective. Reference to India being a Union of States is for defining the pattern of governance that the Constitution was to lay down in its text. It is strange that the world's largest democracy born in 1947 could not - for reasons of internal politics - define the 'idea of India' in spite of this country's deeply inclusive civilisational past and allowed the concept to remain vague, debatable and uncertain in terms of the nationalist values it was supposed to invoke amongst its citizens. Citizens of a free nation had every right to connect with their collective recall of history that inculcated in them a sense of oneness rooted in the shared happy and unhappy memories.The political complexities flowing out of the traumatic division of India on communal lines built into the process of Independence itself and the approach of the Congress as the first ruling party of India, of presenting the democratic dispensation here as a contrast to Islamic Pakistan by 'disowning' any cultural heritage of the Hindu majority in India, created an amorphous kind of polity that was to open the way for putting the Muslim minority on a special footing for its numbers. All of this produced an unnatural environment for governance that seemed to run against the first democratic principle of 'one man one vote' followed in India from day one of the enforcement of the Indian Constitution in 1950. https://opinionexpress.in/ambassadors-of-global-peace Vaishnavism is one of the major forms of modern Hinduism, characterized by devotion to the god Vishnu and his incarnations. A devotee of Vishnu is called a Vaishnava. The Vaishnavite tradition is known for the loving devotion to an avatar of Vishnu, and as such was key to the spread of the Bhakti movement in South Asia in the 2nd millennium CE. For Vaishnava, absolute reality is manifested in Vishnu, who in turn is incarnated in Rama, Krishna, and other avatars. Through his avatars, Vishnu defends traditional righteousness in keeping with the moral law. https://opinionexpress.in/artificial-intelligence-in-the-legal-industry Pop culture has heavily influenced our general idea of what artificial intelligence (AI) is, from engineered villains like Agent Smith to wholesome robots like Wall-E. Hollywood loves to exaggerate for dramatic effect, but there is still some truth tethering these futuristic characters to our present reality. Our forays into AI are still elementary at best, but many industries are using the little that we know to benefit by adopting AI to eliminate redundant and manual tasks. For the legal industry, there is promising potential to significantly boost efficiency by automating routine, high-volume tasks, such as legal research, diligence, document drafting and electronic discovery. https://opinionexpress.in/agnipriksha-of-agnipath-a-litmus-test-for-modi-government-and-agniveers The recently announced recruitment scheme by Modi government Agnipath the path of fire; as a planned employment of 45000 to 50000 persons in the age-group 17.5-21 years in the Indian defence sector per annum is actually guaranteed a secure job for 25?ndidates for 15 years and the remaining 75?ndidates will receive jobs for 4 years only. The move is projected to be inspired by the US Défence model but has invited a strong protest by the aspiring youth, mainly in Northern states, and opposition political parties. According to the scheme, 75% army men will be compelled to leave with Rs. 1.2 million in hand after completing four years of service. This is in continuation to the informalization of work, with no social security after 4 years. It is interesting to see that even the most glorified and sacred armed force known for patriotism, is not left untouched from contractualization, the process which has even created insecurity in the life of retired army personnel. The scheme is opposed by aspiring youth across the country and expressed their concern by protesting and damaging public property in disgust. https://opinionexpress.in/sunak-javid-quit-boris-johnson-govt In a big blow to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who recently survived a leadership challenge, two of his top ministers -- Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid -- quit the government on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/startups-unicorns-new-drivers-of-indias-digital-economy Digital India is catalysing India's 'Techade' and startups and unicorns are the new drivers of the digital economy, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/bharatpe-back-on-track-after-ashneer-controversy-records-112-growth Leaving the Ashneer Grover controversy behind, fintech platform BharatPe has closed one of the highest growth quarters in its history, facilitating over Rs 3,600 crore in loans in the first quarter (April-June period) of FY23. https://opinionexpress.in/independent-judiciary-rule-of-law-favours-india-as-investment-destination-cji Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Tuesday said India can be chosen as a favoured investment destination due to the independence of its judicial system and for giving paramount importance to the rule of law. https://opinionexpress.in/eng-v-ind-5th-test-root-bairstow-powers-england-to-seven-wicket-win Joe Root slammed his 11th Test century since 2021 while Jonny Bairstow hit his second hundred of the rescheduled Edgbaston Test as England defeated India by seven wickets on the fifth day of the match. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-takes-indian-govt-to-court-over-arbitrary-content-blocking-orders Twitter has moved the Karnataka High Court against the Indian government's order to take down some content on its platform, on the grounds that the content blocking orders from the IT Ministry do not pass "the test of the grounds provided under Section 69A of the IT Act", reliable sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/trade-deficit-capital-outflows-indian-rupee-usd-to-be-at-rs7850-80-kotak-securities High crude prices and relatively strong domestic demand weighed on India's June trade deficit at $25.6 billion, said Kotak Securities. https://opinionexpress.in/new-taxes-to-hurt-disinvestment-plans-corporate-profits-investment-climate-kotak-securities While the new or hike in tax rates on some sectors may increase the government's revenues and fight inflation, it will also hurt corporate profits, market capitalisation, disinvestment plans and India's overall investment climate, said Kotak Securities Ltd. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-to-limit-loan-assistance-due-to-global-crises-sl-pm Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that India had to limit the loan assistance given to the crisis-hit island nation in the wake of the recent global crises, including the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. https://opinionexpress.in/nupur-sharma-case-retired-judges-bureaucrats-term-sc-observations-unfortunate-unprecedented Group consisting of 15 retired judges of various high courts, 77 retired bureaucrats and 25 retired armed forces officers have issued an open statement saying that 'unfortunate and unprecedented comments' were made by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Surya Kant and Justice J.B. Pardiwala, while hearing a petition by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, which has sent shockwaves in the country and outside. https://opinionexpress.in/while-opposing-pm-oppn-attacking-country-says-bjp Hitting out at the opposition parties, BJP chief J.P. Nadda on Saturday said that while opposing the Prime Minister they have started opposing the country. https://opinionexpress.in/telangana-cm-kcr-launches-scathing-attack-on-pm-modi Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday came down heavily on the BJP government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing it of killing democracy and federal system in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/nepals-economy-not-like-sri-lankas-but-can-go-that-way-former-banker Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, the former Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), has said that the situation of Nepal's economy is not like that of Sri Lanka. https://opinionexpress.in/prophet-row-kolkata-police-issues-lookout-notice-against-nupur-sharma Kolkata Police, on Saturday, issued lockout notice against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose controversial comments about Prophet Muhammad had created nationwide stir and tension last month. https://opinionexpress.in/we-are-answerable-to-the-constitution-and-constitution-alone-cji Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana said the political party in power believes that every governmental action is entitled to judicial endorsement, and the opposition expects the judiciary to advance their political positions. However, it is only the judiciary that is answerable to the Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-hits-hard-on-bitcoin-defi-crypto-trading-platforms The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slammed unbacked crypto assets (such as Bitcoin), stablecoins and decentralised finance (DeFi) and crypto asset trading platforms, underscoring the need for regulatory guardrails to ensure financial stability and consumer and investor protection. https://opinionexpress.in/ops-camp-in-hectic-lobbying-to-stay-afloat-in-aiadmk The O. Panneerselvam (OPS) camp of the AIADMK which is battered and bruised in the ongoing power struggle within the party is conducting hectic lobbying with the Thevar community leaders and the national leadership of the BJP to stay afloat in the party. https://opinionexpress.in/iphone-14-series-demand-likely-to-be-higher-than-its-predecessor-report The demand for tech giant Apple's much anticipated and upcoming iPhone 14 series is expected to be higher than iPhone 13 series in China. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-government-implemented-flawed-gst-congress The Congress on Friday demanded an all-party meeting on GST, alleging that the GST Council has been made dysfunctional and because of flaws, the government has to issue 869 notifications, 143 circulars, and 38 orders so far. https://opinionexpress.in/rishabh-pant-blasts-match-wining-century Young gun Rishabh Pant hit a counter-attacking century as India fought back against England on Day 1 of the ongoing fifth Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. India was reeling at 98 for five before Pant and Jadeja provided the impetus to India's innings. The partnership between the two has crossed the 200-run mark, with Jadeja also scoring his fifty. Earlier, James Anderson and Matthew Potts had kept India at bay by taking three and two wickets, respectively. England captain Ben Stokes had earlier won the toss and opted to bowl in the rescheduled fifth Test against India at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Friday. Ravindra Jadeja got the nod ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin for the game. On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara opened the batting for India in the absence of Rohit Sharma but scored just 13 runs before becoming the victim of James Anderson. Virat Kohli's poor form continued as he scored 11 runs before losing his wicket to Matty Potts. https://opinionexpress.in/character-of-hong-kong-has-fundamentally-changed-with-beijing-in-full-control Critics think that Beijing has shattered this promise in recent years with a restrictive national security law and electoral reforms which allow only "patriots" to run for Hong Kong's leadership, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-slams-nupur-sharma-plea-to-club-firs-in-row-over-religious-remarks The Supreme Court on Friday minced no words in slamming suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose remarks on Prophet Muhammad sparked a controversy. The top court said her loose tongue has set the entire country on fire and her irresponsible remarks shows that she is "obstinate and arrogant". https://opinionexpress.in/cryptocurrencies-are-clear-danger-to-financial-systems-rbi-governor Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Thursday that cryptocurrencies are a clear danger to the financial systems, adding that we must be mindful of the emerging risks on the horizon. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-hails-in-space-isro-for-successful-launch-of-2-payloads-of-indian-startups New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated IN-SPACe and ISRO for successfully launching two payloads of Indian Startups in Space by PSLV C53 mission. https://opinionexpress.in/tribute-to-legendary-dr-bc-roy Doctors’ Day is celebrated on different dates across the world, which is an interesting fact. The date varies by country, depending on the commemorative event used to mark the day. The special day is observed on July 1 in India and it’s organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) annually. The first time this day was established was in 1991 and ever since annually, National Doctors' Day is celebrated across the country. The day also coincides with the birth and death anniversary of the physician and second chief minister of West Bengal, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. https://opinionexpress.in/eknath-shinde-to-be-new-maha-cm-fadnavis Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde will be the new Maharashtra Chief Minister, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-rejects-reports-linking-udaipur-murder Pakistan has rejected Indian media reports insinuating that the murder of a Hindu tailor in Udaipur city was somewhow linked to Islamabad. https://opinionexpress.in/over-60k-startup-employees-stare-at-job-loss-as-india-prepares-for-200-unicorns As startups in India keep firing their staff to navigate through the 'funding winter' and more than 60,000 can lose their jobs in 2022 alone, the country is preparing to welcome 200 unicorns in the next four years. https://opinionexpress.in/us-economy-shrank-16-in-q1-commerce-dept The US economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.6 per cent in the first quarter in the third and final estimate, the Commerce Department reported. https://opinionexpress.in/south-west-monsoon-hits-punjab-haryana The south-west monsoon on Thursday hit several parts of Punjab and Haryana with widespread showers expected in the region over the next two days, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said. https://opinionexpress.in/maharashtra-mess-uddhav-out-fednavis-in Soon after his social media address to the people, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray drove down to Raj Bhavan and tendered his resignation to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari late on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-cross-lakshman-rekha-jairam-ramesh-cautions-acharya-pramod Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday cautioned Acharya Pramod Krishnam not to cross the 'Lakshman Rekha' and question his own government in Rajasthan over the brutal killing of a tailor in Udaipur on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/volkswagen-chief-says-they-will-beat-tesla-by-2025 Herbert Diess, the current chairman of the board of management of the German motor vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen Group, has said that the carmaker will take the lead over Elon Musk's Tesla by 2025. https://opinionexpress.in/udaipur-accused-mohammed-ghaus-has-a-pakistan-connection The investigative agencies have learnt that Ghaus Mohammed, who killed Kanhaiya Lal, went to Pakistan for terrorist training and had been living in India as a sleeper cell. He was in touch with Pakistan based handler via different numbers. https://opinionexpress.in/ec-announces-vice-presidential-election-on-august-6  The Election Commission on Wednesday announced the Vice Presidential election to be held on August 6 (Saturday). https://opinionexpress.in/japans-renesas-joins-tata-motors-to-build-chips-for-india-global-markets Japanese Renesas Electronics Corporation, a leading supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership with Tata Motors and Tejas Networks Ltd (a Tata Group company) to design, develop and manufacture semiconductor solutions. https://opinionexpress.in/kathy-hochul-wins-democratic-nomination-for-new-york-governor  New York State Governor Kathy Hochul led by a big margin in Democratic primary election, taking one step closer towards seeking a full term in November. https://opinionexpress.in/attorney-general-kk-venugopal-to-stay-in-post-for-3-more-months Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal has agreed to continue as the Attorney General (AG) for three more months following a request from the Central government, sources said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/mva-countdown-maha-guv-orders-cm-thackeray-to-prove-majority-on-thursday Rolling the political ball, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has directed the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress to take a floor test and prove its House majority on June 30 (Thursday). https://opinionexpress.in/will-hear-today-at-5pm-sc-on-shiv-sena-chief-whip-plea-on-vote-of-confidence Shiv Sena chief whip Sunil Prabhu has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Maharashtra Governor's direction to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to take a floor test and prove its majority in the House on Thursday (June 30). The court agreed to hear the case at 5 p.m. Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/former-pm-narasimha-rao-remembered-on-birth-anniversary Leaders, cutting across party lines, on Tuesday paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on his 101st birth anniversary. https://opinionexpress.in/nato-to-put-300000-troops-on-high-alert-in-response-to-russia-threat NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this week's Madrid summit will agree on the alliance's most significant transformation of a generation, putting 300,000 troops at high readiness in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/google-makes-earth-engine-available-to-businesses-govts Google on Tuesday rolled out Earth Engine, a leading technology for planetary-scale environmental monitoring, to businesses and governments worldwide as an enterprise-grade service through Google Cloud. https://opinionexpress.in/the-great-indian-digital-revolution-survey India saw 9.36 billion transactions amounting to Rs 10.25 trillion in the first quarter (January-March period) via various payment modes led by Unified Payment Interface (UPI), a new report showed on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-defence-minister-condemns-canadian-mps-allegations-against-army-chief Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has condemned allegations levelled against Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and the military by Canadian MP Tom Kmiec. https://opinionexpress.in/pallonji-mistry-champion-of-indian-industry-passes-away-at-93 Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, the billionaire realtor and industrialist, and Chairman Emeritus of the venerable Shapoorji Pallonji Group, passed away at his home here late last night, official sources said here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/justice-satish-chandra-sharma-take-oath-as-delhi-hc-chief-justice Justice Satish Chandra Sharma on Tuesday took the oath as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-vision-for-ppi-growth-by-150-will-be-big-for-paytm The increase in prepaid payment instruments transactions could lead to higher than expected growth in wallet transactions and revenue for Paytm, says a Goldman Sachs report https://opinionexpress.in/russia-defaults-on-overseas-debt-for-1st-time-in-over-a-century Russia has defaulted on its overseas debt for the first time in more than a century after missing a deadline, reports suggest. https://opinionexpress.in/guddu-jamali-is-the-real-winner-in-up-ls-bypolls he verdict in the bypolls to the two Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh -- Azamgarh and Rampur -- is no doubt out, but the results actually throw a surprise in the performance of BSP's Guddu Jamali, who could be termed as a striking 'winner or killer'. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-wrests-rampur-azamgarh-from-sp-in-up The BJP demolished two Samajwadi Party bastions on Sunday by wresting the Rampur and Azamgarh parliamentary seats. https://opinionexpress.in/murmu-suffered-many-personal-losses-in-journey-to-top-post NDA Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu has suffered several personal losses during her journey from Mayurbhanj, a tribal dominated district in Odisha, to the country's top constitutional post. Murmu has been through many struggles in her life. https://opinionexpress.in/business-intelligence-is-crucial-for-corporate-success-in-covid-times In the age of knowledge ushered in by the IT revolution, success in business is mandated on the corporate entity being well-informed about the environ around and committed to knowledge-based decision making -- the latter being the new hallmark of leadership, different from the past in as much as no one could claim any more to be a leader mainly on the strength of 'inheritance' or personal 'charisma'. https://opinionexpress.in/blackpink-member-lisas-first-solo-single-lalisa-attracts-500-mn-views The music video for BLACKPINK member Lisa's solo song "Lalisa" passed 500 million views on YouTube on Saturday, its management agency said. https://opinionexpress.in/gun-reforms-act-to-become-nationwide-law-after-bidens-approval US President Joe Biden has put his official seal of approval to the bipartisan Safe Communities Act (that seeks gun control and end to violence) to make it an enforceable law after both Houses of the Congress passed the gun reforms legislation in the swiftest manner possible with a good majority before the Parliament was set to take a two-week recess. https://opinionexpress.in/as-aiadmk-gets-mired-in-internal-strife-bjp-senses-an-opportunity The principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK is in the midst of a crisis with the Edappadi K. Palaniswami faction emerging stronger and edging out the party coordinator and former Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam and his associates. https://opinionexpress.in/the-constitution-the-governor-and-the-shiv-sena-imbroglio The ongoing tussle in Maharashtra between rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde's faction and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is poised for an intriguing climax, where the Governor's role is extremely crucial in establishing political stability in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/bitcoin-heading-to-zero-china-warns-investors As cryptocurrencies reel under the global downturn, Chinese state-run newspaper Economic Daily has warned investors that the price of leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin is "heading to zero". https://opinionexpress.in/only-demolitions-no-construction-under-jagans-rule-naidu Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday described the three-year rule of Jagan Mohan Reddy government in the state as a 'rule of destruction and demolitions'. https://opinionexpress.in/use-your-fathers-name-not-my-dads-to-win-polls-uddhav Shiv Sena President and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday launched a scathing attack on purported attempts by the rebel group to christen itself after the party founder-patriarch, the late Balasaheb Thackeray. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistans-economic-future-hinges-on-cpec-shehbaz Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said the country's economic future was linked to the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with Gwadar Port as its "main component" https://opinionexpress.in/electricity-used-to-mine-bitcoin-decreased-sharply-as-crypto-crisis-widens The amount of electricity consumed by the largest cryptocurrency networks has decreased by up to 50 per cent as the "crypto winter" continues to eat at the incomes of "miners" and financial contagion spreads further throughout the sector, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/us-abortion-clinics-begin-to-close-after-sc-overturns-roe-v-wade Abortion clinics across the US have begun to shut after the Supreme Court overturned its 50-year-old Roe v. Wade decision which granted women constitutional right to abortion. https://opinionexpress.in/2611-attacks-handler-once-claimed-to-be-dead-arrested-in-pak Years after denying his presence and even claiming he was dead, Pakistan has reportedly arrested Sajid Mir, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and the main handler of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-meets-foxconn-chief-hails-manufacturing-plans-for-india Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Foxconn's Chairman Young Liu and hailed the company's electronics manufacturing plans in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-crisis-rebels-group-submits-list-of-37-mlas-to-dy-speaker As the Maharashtra political crisis continued for the fourth day, the rebel group led by Minister Eknath Shinde has submitted a list of his 37 MLAs to Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly Narhari Zirwal. https://opinionexpress.in/us-senate-passes-1st-gun-control-bill-in-28-yrs Amid raging incidents of gun violence in the US, the Senate has passed a gun control bill for the first time in 28 years, the media reported on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/elaborate-security-for-bjp-national-executive-public-meeting-in-hyderabad Hyderabad Police were busy making elaborate security arrangements for the July 2-3 national executive of the BJP and the public meeting to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party's top leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-political-strife-rebels-claim-support-of-40-shiv-sena-mlas As the political crisis entered the fourth day, the rebel Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde claimed the support of "40-plus MLAs", besides around 12 independents and smaller parties, on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/mccarthy-defies-trump-pulls-out-all-republicans-select-committee-hearings In a surprise twist, House (of Representatives) Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has pulled out all the Republicans sitting on the select committee probing the January 6 Capitol Hill hearings, protesting Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to unseat party members Jim Banks and Jim Jordano. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-amid-prophecies-of-end-game-for-sena-mva-stands-united As the Shiv Sena grappled with a potentially "life-threatening" rebellion in its ranks for the third day on Thursday, its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies - the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress - threw their full weight behind embattled Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. https://opinionexpress.in/pujara-looking-forward-to-test-against-england India's top Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is happy with his return to form and is looking forward to doing well in the rescheduled fifth Test against England in a few days. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-files-affidavit-on-pil-against-surveillance-by-govt-agencies The Centre has filed an affidavit on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved in the Delhi High Court challenging the surveillance systems that share information and surveillance between law enforcement agencies. https://opinionexpress.in/vaani-kapoor-calls-ranbir-kapoor-her-personal-favourite Actress Vaani Kapoor, who will be seen playing a performer in the upcoming film 'Shamshera', has praised her co-star Ranbir Kapoor, whom she called a special actor and her personal favourite. https://opinionexpress.in/ai-adoption-to-add-500-bn-to-indias-gdp-by-2025-nasscom The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and data utilisation strategy can add $500 billion to India's GDP by 2025, a new Nasscom report showed on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/skorean-currency-hits-13-yr-low-against-usd South Korea's currency on Thursday fell below the 1,300-won level against the US dollar for the first time in nearly 13 years amid growing concerns about global monetary tightening and an economic recession. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-says-india-at-the-heart-of-its-approach-to-indo-pacific-and-beyond Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles has said that his ongoing visit to India reflects the conviction and the commitment by the new Anthony Albanese government to place India "at the heart of Australias approach" to the Indo-Pacific and beyond. https://opinionexpress.in/now-tata-nexon-ev-catches-fire-in-mumbai-probe-on In a first such case involving an electric car in India, a Tata Nexon EV caught fire in Mumbai and the company was investigating the incident. https://opinionexpress.in/ready-to-quit-as-cm-says-uddhav-thackeray-to-sena-rebels Stoutly denying that the Shiv Sena had discarded Hindutva, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said that he is ready to quit his post and also as party chief provided the rebels come and talk to him face-to-face. https://opinionexpress.in/global-vc-firm-accel-announces-4-bn-late-stage-fund Global VC firm Accel has announced a new $4 billion later-stage fund to provide expansion capital to promising companies within its own portfolio worldwide, as well as other aspiring firms. https://opinionexpress.in/shiv-sena-rebels-group-lock-horns-to-wrest-control-over-party As the suspense over the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) fate continued, a power struggle erupted between the Shiv Sena and rebels group to wrest control over the party, here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/china-launches-new-test-satellite China on Wednesday sent a new satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. https://opinionexpress.in/telangana-techie-shot-dead-in-us A software engineer from Telangana was shot dead by an unidentified person in Maryland state of the US. https://opinionexpress.in/renewable-energy-auctions-to-attract-large-developers-ieefa Large developers in the renewable energy sector have enough options to boost returns even as challenges mount and will fight aggressively in the various auctions scheduled in 2022, a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/no-link-to-rioting-it-is-lawful-demolitions-up-govt-to-sc The Uttar Pradesh government has told the Supreme Court that the plea against the recent demolition of houses is an attempt to give a mala fide colour to a lawful action taken by the local development authorities as per the procedure established by law. https://opinionexpress.in/several-hundred-people-killed-after-strong-earthquake-hits-afghanistan Over 150 were killed while more than 250 injured after an earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan early on Wednesday, according to multiple sources.The quake, with a magnitude of 6.1, jolted 44 km southwest of Khost, Afghanistan, according to the US Geological Survey.The quake has damaged dozens of houses in the region and also caused land sliding in eastern Paktika province, local sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-crisis-rebel-sena-minister-claims-34-mlas-with-eknath-shinde Shiv Sena Minister Eknath Shinde, who has raised a banner of revolt, has the support of 34 MLAs, claimed his supporter and Minister of State Omprakash Babarao Kadu alias Bachhu Kadu. https://opinionexpress.in/draupadi-murmu-indias-first-tribal-woman-governor-to-be-prez-of-india The BJP on Tuesday chose former Jharkhand Governor and tribal leader Draupadi Murmu as its candidate for the post of President, against opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha for the election to be held on July 18. https://opinionexpress.in/india-courts-support-arbitration-need-to-balance-geography-cji Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Tuesday said the courts in India assist and support arbitration and "leave substantive part of adjudication to arbitral tribunals". https://opinionexpress.in/maha-tussle-mva-bjp-counting-on-the-magic-power-of-numbers Following the fractured verdict in the October 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, both the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party have been grappling with the 'numbers game' to secure their respective positions for the past 30 months. https://opinionexpress.in/africas-covid-19-cases-surpass-1173-mn-africa-cdc The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 11,731,495 as of Monday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. https://opinionexpress.in/us-to-start-covid-19-vaccination-for-kids The US is expected to start Covid-19 vaccination this week for children as young as six months old. https://opinionexpress.in/nclt-members-tenure-sc-refuses-to-pass-interim-order-to-hear-matter-in-july The Supreme Court on Monday refused to pass an interim order in connection with the extending tenure of 23 members of company law tribunals. https://opinionexpress.in/central-japan-rocked-by-series-of-quakes-region-braces-for-more The Ishikawa Prefecture region in central Japan has been rocked by a series of earthquakes over the past two days, with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warning that further temblors could be imminent. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-costs-modi-his-us-diaspora-support Indian Americans have been a strong and critical pillar of India's strategic relationship with the US. But the Modi government's current stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine has pushed them furthest than they have ever been from New Delhi. A bipartisan group of Indian Americans will loudly declare their estrangement from the Modi government on this issue at an event on Capitol Hill, home to the US Legislature. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-to-fund-testing-of-3-innovative-energy-techs The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and the Energy Ministry have announced support for testing three chosen innovative energy technologies developed by Israeli companies. https://opinionexpress.in/turkish-israeli-presidents-vow-to-boost-bilateral-cooperation Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog have pledged to boost cooperation between the two countries. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-to-appear-before-ed-today Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday for a fourth time in connection with the National Herald case. https://opinionexpress.in/7-terrorists-killed-in-three-encounters-in-kashmir The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Army have neutralised seven terrorists, including two Pakistani nationals in three anti-terror operations in Kupwara, Kulgam and Pulwama districts in less than 24 hours, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/a-crisp-narration-of-management-tips-by-rg-rajan A must-read book for aspirational management students globally. In this day and age where one is surrounded by an abundance of self-help books, I was attracted to the business-like book “Life Lessons for Managers” written by R.G.Rajan. https://opinionexpress.in/shehbaz-approves-task-force-for-protection-of-minorities-in-pakistan Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the formation of a task force to oversee the implementation of the rights of minorities after the National Assembly (NA) unanimously passed a resolution over the matter, it emerged on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/reform-was-long-pending-lt-gen-anil-puri Lt. General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, on Sunday said that reform was long pending in the defence recruitment process, and vandalism and protesters have no place in the Army. https://opinionexpress.in/singapore-logs-fastest-internet-speed-at-20761-mbps-globally Singapore has emerged as the fastest internet speed hub in the world with a median internet speed of 207.61 Megabits per second (Mbps). https://opinionexpress.in/states-must-cooperate-for-india-to-become-5-trillion-economy-pm-modi Every state must recognise its strength, define its targets and develop a roadmap to achieve the same as this is essential for India to become a $5 trillion economy, Prime Minister Narenda Modi said at the national conference of Chief Secretaries. . https://opinionexpress.in/bitcoin-falls-below-18k-ethereum-down-80-in-freezing-crypto-winter Leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin dropped below $18,000 per digital coin on Sunday -- a massive over 70 per cent drop from its record high of $68,000 in November last year -- as mayhem in the crypto market continued. https://opinionexpress.in/bihars-agnipath-agitation-becomes-a-funnel-for-anti-centre-anti-bjp-discontent Poor states like Bihar are burning for the last four days due to the sudden announcement by the Narendra Modi government of the new military recruitment scheme - Agnipath. https://opinionexpress.in/were-an-entertainment-platform-not-a-social-network-tiktok TikTok has clarified that it is not interested in copying Facebook as it is not a social network but an entertainment platform, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg seeks to make Facebook and Instagram to be more like TikTok. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-approves-10-quota-for-agniveers-in-defence-ministry-job Amid ongoing protests against new Army recruitment scheme 'Agnipath', Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday announced that government will reserve 10 per cent jobs in the Defence Ministry for Agniveers. https://opinionexpress.in/all-time-low-in-global-growth-optimism-finds-survey The US stock market has officially entered a bear market as the June BofA Fund Manager Survey (FMS) signals deeper investor misery.The survey finds that inflation will nonetheless remain high relative to history so by far and away the most popular description of what the economic backdrop will be in the next 12 months is "stagflation", 83 per cent (up from 77 per cent), highest level since June 2008. https://opinionexpress.in/blasts-near-sikh-temple-in-kabul-many-feared-trapped-killed Two explosions on Saturday ripped through a busy road near a Sikh temple in Kabul, with casualties unknown. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-will-use-nuke-weapons-to-defend-sovereignty-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country was not threatening the world with nuclear weapons, but warned that Moscow "will use such weapons to defend its sovereignty". https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-says-no-knowledge-of-yi-ajl-deal-ed-sources Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that all the decisions and transactions related to Young India's (YI) acquisition of Associated Journal Ltd (AJL) were taken by late party leader Motilal Vora. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-chargesheets-8-including-firms-in-rs-1911890089-chit-fund-scam The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday said that it has filed a supplementary chargesheet against eight including four persons and four private firms in connection with a chit fund fraud case of Rs 191,18,90,089 cr. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-wants-twitter-to-allow-outrageous-comments In his first direct call with Twitter employees, Elon Musk briefed them about his plans once he takes over the platform, including making it more like TikTok and WeChat and allowing "outrageous comments". https://opinionexpress.in/ana-de-armas-stuns-as-marilyn-monroe-in-blonde-trailer Actress Ana de Armas took everyone by surprise as she looked every-inch as Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe in the latest 'Blonde' trailer. https://opinionexpress.in/sharechat-closes-520-mn-funding-round-at-5-bn-valuation Homegrown social media company ShareChat on Thursday said it has closed a $520 million multi-tranche funding round, taking its valuation to $5 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-prez-to-host-14th-brics-summit Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the 14th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit in Beijing on June 23, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/akasa-air-takes-delivery-of-first-of-its-72-aircraft-from-boeing India's newest airline Akasa Air took delivery of its much anticipated first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Seattle, the airline said in a statement on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/demolitions-have-to-be-in-accordance-with-law-sc Directing the Uttar Pradesh government to file a detailed affidavit within three days on the plea by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind against the recent demolitions in the state, the Supreme Court on Thursday observed that demolitions have to be in accordance with the due process of law. https://opinionexpress.in/nupur-sharma-comments-issue-is-being-politicised-survey The inflammatory comments by BJP spokespersons about Prophet Mohammad snowballed into a major controversy inviting condemnation from countries in the Islamic world and widespread protests by the Muslim community within the country. https://opinionexpress.in/critical-opposition-party-vs-evolutionary-and-progressive-ruling-party To say, the grapes are sour if asked for the opposition, it will not be wrong, because if the corridors of current power are highlighted, then it will be literally 100 percent true that in 65-70 years after independence in 2014, the country has come out of the beautiful dreams of Mungeri Lal, the reality of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, a government dedicated to public participation, an inclusive government, a government of equal people, has set its feet on the ground, yet the opposition is going into the abyss in its critical attitude and is unable to bring any change. Perhaps the result is that our nation, our India, and our Indians are leaving an indelible mark on the world, as well as the developmental agenda of the government, "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas," is now becoming a reality on the ground.  https://opinionexpress.in/indias-new-covid-cases-at-12213 India on Thursday reported 12,213 fresh Covid cases in a single-day rise as against the previous day's count of 8,822 infections, the Union Health Ministry said. This is the first time since February 26 that the Covid infections have crossed the 10,000-mark in a day. https://opinionexpress.in/is-the-us-economy-on-a-tailspin-into-recession Is the US economy slipping into a recessionary period and have the sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war in the eastern Donbas region set to boomerang, bringing stocks down and the entire money market into a tailspin reversing the bullish trends to bearish ones. https://opinionexpress.in/administrator-or-perpetrator-lakshadweeps-reforms-creates-outage What happened in Lakshadweep? An archipelago of 36 islands, Lakshadweep came as a blessing in disguise for India when the war with Pakistan was at its peak. Sprawling over an area of approximately 32 sq m, the isolated island has a plethora of cultural practices. Though most of its residents are Muslims, the practice of Islamism on this island is unlike any other country. https://opinionexpress.in/quagmire-in-outer-space-chinas-space-militarization-indias-concerns Conflicts between societies and countries, despite so much of advancements in education, science & technology, have become alarming to an extent that if the human civilization will not open a serious discourse and take effective measures in the coming 21. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-support-deafening-on-corruption The BJP, reacting to IANS's disclosure about the shareholders of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), has said that if the Gandhi family keeps mum in this whole matter, then these big names (shareholders) should come out and speak publicly. https://opinionexpress.in/the-torch-bearer-of-modern-vaishnava-cult-dwarkeshlalji-maharajshree Vaishnavism is one of the major forms of modern Hinduism, characterized by devotion to the god Vishnu and his incarnations. A devotee of Vishnu is called a Vaishnava. The Vaishnavite tradition is known for the loving devotion to an avatar of Vishnu, and as such was key to the spread of the Bhakti movement in South Asia in the 2nd millennium CE. For Vaishnava’s, absolute reality is manifested in Vishnu, who in turn is incarnated in Rama, Krishna, and other avatars. Through his avatars, Vishnu defends traditional righteousness in keeping with the moral law. https://opinionexpress.in/two-state-solution-only-way-to-end-israeli-palestinian-conflict-palestinian-pm The two-state solution is the only way to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye stressed here. https://opinionexpress.in/himachal-hc-acting-chief-justices-daughter-held-on-murder-charge The CBI on Wednesday arrested Kalyani Singh, daughter of Himachal Pradesh High Court acting Chief Justice Sabina, in connection with the murder of national-level shooter Sukhmanpreet Singh, a.k.a. Sippy Sidhu, in Chandigarh in September 2015. https://opinionexpress.in/88-drop-in-google-searches-for-buying-nfts-as-crypto-market-crashes As mayhem continues across the crypto market, be it cryptocurrencies or Blockchain-based Decentralised finance (DeFi), there has also been a massive 88 per cent drop in Google searches for "buying NFTs", a new report said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/yuzvendra-chahal-went-back-to-his-strengths-to-bamboozle-sa Yuzvendra Chahal had entered India's five-match T20I series against South Africa on the back of a stupendous IPL 2022, where he was the leading wicket-taker with 27 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 7.75. https://opinionexpress.in/germanys-daily-covid-infections-top-100000-again Germany recorded more than 1,00,000 new Covid-19 infections within one day for the first time since April, media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/cabinet-approves-auction-of-5g-spectrum The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Telecom department's proposal to conduct a spectrum auction through which spectrum will be assigned to the successful bidders for providing 5G services to public and enterprises. https://opinionexpress.in/china-using-covid-app-to-restrict-residents-after-rural-banks-run-out-of-cash Authorities in the Chinese province of Henan are suspected to be restricting some residents' movements using a Covid app, following rare protests, BBC reported. Multiple people say they are being forced to quarantine, blocked from public transport or enter buildings. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-pm-unveils-indias-first-underground-museum-of-revolutionaries-at-raj-bhavan Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw open the country's first underground museum, 'Gallery of Revolutionaries' - 'Revolution Saga' - at the Maharashtra Raj Bhavan, here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/stress-ups-risk-of-cancer-heart-disease Stress -- in the form of traumatic events, job strain, everyday stressors and discrimination -- accelerates ageing of the immune system, potentially increasing a person's risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and illness from infections such as Covid-19, according to a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-pms-party-member-boycotts-ruling-coalition-over-settler-bill A lawmaker with Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's party announced he will stop voting with the ruling coalition, in the latest blow to the fragile government as the eight-party alliance marks its one-year anniversary in office. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-leaders-detained-for-trying-to-march-towards-ed-office Delhi Police has detained several Congress leaders for trying to march towards the ED office where party leader Rahul Gandhi is being questioned. https://opinionexpress.in/government-it-spending-in-india-to-reach-95-bn-this-year The government IT spending in India is likely to reach $9.5 billion in 2022, an increase of 12.1 per cent from last year, a new report said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/saudi-arabia-launches-80mn-programme-to-support-tourism Saudi Arabia has launched an $80 million programme to provide funding for small and micro enterprises in the tourism industry. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-leaders-on-streets-to-save-gandhi-familys-assets-smriti-irani Union Minister Smriti Irani on Monday said that Congress leaders have taken to the streets to pressurize the investigating agency because their corruption has been exposed. She also said that nobody is above the law, not even Rahul Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-protests-outside-ed-office Congress leaders, along with party workers, on Monday protested outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office where their leader Rahul Gandhi appeared for interrogation in connection with the National Herald case. https://opinionexpress.in/fitch-revises-outlook-on-india-to-stable-from-negative Ratings agency Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook on India to stable from negative. https://opinionexpress.in/japan-elected-to-unsc-to-succeed-india-next-year Japan has been elected to UN Security Council to succeed India as a non-permanent member for a two-year term starting next year. https://opinionexpress.in/van-der-dussen-miller-help-south-africa-to-beat-india-by-seven-wickets Rassie van der Dussen (75 not out) and David Miller (64 not out) stitched an unbeaten 131-run stand to take South Africa to a seven-wicket win over India in the series opener at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ios-16-to-allow-transfer-of-esim-between-iphones-via-bluetooth Announced at tech giant Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022, the all-new iOS 16 has introduced a new feature that allows an eSIM to be transferred between iPhones via Bluetooth while setting up cellular service. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slips-over-700-pts-on-weak-global-cues Bad fortune for domestic equity indices continued as it has declined for the five out of the past six sessions. https://opinionexpress.in/integration-of-courses-and-institutions-in-line-with-nep-prez-kovind President Ram Nath Kovind has said he is happy to know that IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu and AIIMS Jammu are integrating and offering courses in which students from one institute can get access to the other. Addressing the fifth convocation of IIM Jammu on Thursday, Kovind congratulated the students, degree holders, their parents and teachers, saying that the students have worked hard for this day which is very important in their lives. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-sub-variants-behind-rising-covid-cases-in-india-doctors With India reporting a sudden rise in the number Covid-19 cases for a second day in a row, doctors said on Thursday that Omicron sub-variants are behind the spike in Covid caseload. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-to-explores-alternative-banking-mechanism-for-trade-promotion In a bid to promote two-way trade with India, Iran is exploring an alternative banking mechanism within the framework of international law, its visiting Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday. In his address at an interactive meeting organised by MVIRDC World Trade Centre, Mumbai ? an international trade promotion organisation, and the All India Association of Industries (AIAI), he said: "I had a fruitful discussion with senior ministers of the Indian government to establish such a banking mechanism."  https://opinionexpress.in/election-for-next-president-on-july-18-result-on-july-21 The election for the next President of India will be held on July 18 and the counting of votes will take place on July 21. The Election Commission of India on Thursday announced the schedule for the election for the President of India. https://opinionexpress.in/op-jindal-global-university-is-top-ranking-institution-in-india O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has emerged as India's No. 1 Private University for the third year in a row, according to the QS World University Rankings 2023 that was released in New York. https://opinionexpress.in/trouble-for-the-congress-in-the-rajya-sabha-polls In a major change of its strategy, which could spell trouble for the Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) has issued a whip asking its MLAs not to take part in the June 10 elections. https://opinionexpress.in/us-hypocrisy-on-russian-oil The US has revealed its "hypocrisy" by announcing a ban on Russian oil, while continuing to purchase it in large quantities, Russia's Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has said, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/moosewala-killing-special-cell-gets-key-lead-shooter-arrested The Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested one person from Pune who is said to be a close aide of one of the shooters who was involved in the brutal killing of Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, police said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankan-pm-meets-imf-official-on-economic-instability Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe discussed with Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva over the country's economic crisis, the prime minister's office said in a statement Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/intelligence-agencies-tracing-origin-of-aqis-letter Intelligence agencies are working to trace the origin of a letter reportedly written by the Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), in which the terror outfit warned of carrying out 'suicide bombings' in the metro cities to avenge the 'insulting' remarks against Prophet Muhammad made by two now suspended BJP spokespersons. https://opinionexpress.in/south-korea-usa-and-japan-to-bolster-united-front-against-north-koreas-threats South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed on Wednesday to bolster their united front against North Korea's threats, as their senior government officials gathered here amid reports that the secretive regime is all set for a nuclear test. https://opinionexpress.in/india-needs-to-cement-its-recent-gains-in-nepal-to-firewall-chinese-comeback Nepal's upcoming general elections later this year and the outcome will be crucial not only for South Asian geopolitics in the aftermath of Covid 19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, but the ramifications will be felt across the globe. Sources told India Narrative that China will play its cards and try to regain its hold over Kathmandu. https://opinionexpress.in/hate-remarks-al-qaeda-warns-of-attacks-in-delhi-mumbai-up-gujarat Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has issued a chilling warning of carrying out 'suicide bombings' in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in a bid to take avenge of the insult to the Prophet Mohammed. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-death-threat-bishnoi-gangs-role-under-scanner The Mumbai Police suspect the possible involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in the death threat to Bollywood megastar Salman Khan and his father, writer Salim Khan, official sources said here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/world-bank-cuts-indias-2022-23-growth-to-75-but-will-keep-top-spot Against the backdrop of a global economic deceleration from the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the World Bank has cut India's growth prospects to 7.5 per cent for the current fiscal year -- but the nation will still retain its position as the worlds fastest-growing economy. https://opinionexpress.in/ppp-chief-discusses-support-post-war-reconstruction-with-ukrainian-president Ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed various support measures and development cooperation between the two countries, party officials said Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-origin-patient-among-those-healed-completely-of-cancer-in-drug-trial An Indian origin patient was among those who had a "miracle" cure using a cancer medication that is being tried out by a research centre here achieving an unprecedented healing rate when all 14 patients in the trial had their cancers disappear. https://opinionexpress.in/religares-ex-chairman-sunil-godhwani-arrested-for-fraud Religare Enterprises Ltd's former Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Godhwani was arrested by the Delhi Police's Economic Offence Wing on Tuesday in a Rs 800 crore fraud case, a police official said. https://opinionexpress.in/edtech-startup-physicswallah-raises-100-mn-becomes-new-unicorn Edtech startup PhysicsWallah has raised $100 million in Series A funding from Westbridge and GSV Ventures, becoming India's 101st unicorn and the first edtech player to achieve this milestone, the company announced on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-rupee-slumps-to-205-threshold The Pakistani rupee on Tuesday broke all records against the US dollar after shedding 4 PKR in the open market as it surpassed the 205 threshold for the first time in history, according to data from the Forex Association of Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/indians-want-tv-channels-to-tone-down-divisive-rhetoric There are so many news TV channels in so many Indian languages that they are in a constant race to attract a more or less fixed base of viewers who also have the option of watching entertainment shows, movies and sports apart from OTT platforms. https://opinionexpress.in/lawrence-bishnoi-questioned-over-threat-letter-to-salman-khan Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was questioned by the Delhi Police over a threat letter that was recently received by Bollywood megastar Salman Khan and his father, writer Salim Khan, official sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/arab-parliament-slams-ex-bjp-spokespersons-remarks-against-prophet-muhammad The Cairo-based Arab Parliament has strongly condemned and rejected the "irresponsible remarks" made by two former spokespersons of the ruling party in India against Prophet Muhammad. https://opinionexpress.in/indices-extend-losses-sensex-nifty-shed-over-1 Domestic indices on Tuesday extended their losses from the previous session as the overall sentiments still remain cautious amongst investors as they are worried about inflation and benchmark interest rates, said analysts. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-in-the-grind-of-a-superficial-khalistan When Khalistan flags were found fastened at the entrance of Himachal Pradesh Assembly complex in Dharamshala earlier in May, the state police promptly sealed the borders and beefed up security. The Police was quick to book Canada-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, essentially an anti-terror law. SFJ is a proscribed outfit which with its strong virtual influence, is known for radicalising people, raking up bygone sentiments and reviving the movement for Khalistan. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-pm-johnson-wins-confidence-vote-over-partygate-scandals British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won a no-confidence vote among Conservative lawmakers. He will now stay in his job as Prime Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-oil-for-american-shores A recent report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published on June 1, says that some oil companies have been supplying discounted Russian oil to the US and in this regard it specially mentions Indian companies. https://opinionexpress.in/hate-speech-intl-backlash-forced-bjp-to-take-action-says-chidambaram Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Monday hit out at the BJP after two of its leaders were suspended over their remarks against Prophet Muhammad saying it was the international backlash that forced the party to act. https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-for-uniting-aiadmk-to-make-it-fighting-force-in-tn V.K.Sasikala, the estranged former interim general secretary of AIADMK, on Monday called for reunification of the party to make it a fighting force in Tamil Nadu. https://opinionexpress.in/indices-decline-in-opening-deals-rbi-policy-meet-in-focus Domestic equity benchmark indices declined during early trade on Monday, weighed mainly by FMCG, IT and media stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/political-war-escalates-raj-govt-seeks-acb-support-to-prevent-poaching-of-mlas Even after moving its MLAs to a five-star hotel in Udaipur fearing poaching ahead of the June 10 Rajya Sabha polls, the ruling Congress in Rajasthan has approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau expressing apprehensions of horse-trading. https://opinionexpress.in/youtube-musics-web-app-now-offers-multi-select-option Google-owned YouTube Music's web app is adding a new feature that allows users to manage songs in bulk more easily, particularly when adding them to specific playlists. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-test-day-4-joe-root-slams-unbeaten-115-englands-five-wicket-win-over-nz Joe Root finished unbeaten on 115 and also crossed the 10,000-run mark in the longest format of the game as England wrapped a five-wicket victory over New Zealand on day four of the opening Test at Lord's on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/itc-classmate-celebrates-world-environment-day Encouraged by the ITC's large-scale afforestation initiative, Classmate, the company's leading stationery brand, has taken up a local tree plantation initiative in Chennai along with students on the occasion of the World Environment Day. https://opinionexpress.in/ios-15-installed-on-89-of-iphones-introduced-in-last-4-yrs-report Ahead of the iOS 16 release, a new report has claimed that tech giant Apple's iOS 15 is now installed on 89 per cent of iPhones introduced in the last four years, while 10 per cent continue to run iOS 14. https://opinionexpress.in/pfi-role-in-kanpur-violence-now-visible-says-police The Kanpur Police have said that the involvement of Popular Front of India (PFI), an extremist Muslim organisation, in the violence that erupted in Kanpur on Friday was getting 'visible'. https://opinionexpress.in/zelensky-calls-on-philanthropists-to-help-rebuild-ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on philanthropists to help rebuild his war-torn country by joining a fundraising platform to raise money to support Kiev.During a presentation to United24, the Kiev-based platform launched on May 5, the President said: "The Russian army is extremely brutal. It is trying not only to kill as many people as possible, but to destroy all life-sustaining infrastructure. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-requests-uae-govt-to-keep-watch-on-abhishek-banerjee-in-dubai The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the coal and cattle smuggling cases in West Bengal, has requested the UAE government through the Ministry of External Affairs to closely monitor the movements of Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Narula during their ongoing trip to Dubai. https://opinionexpress.in/skorean-us-navies-hold-combined-exercise South Korea and the US staged a combined exercise in international waters off Okinawa this week, the military said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/elaborate-security-arrangements-for-operation-bluestar-anniversary-punjab-cm Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday reviewed the law and order situation in the state ahead of the anniversary of Operation Bluestar, also known as 'Ghallughara Divas', to be observed on June 6. state before June 6. Punjab a peaceful and front-runner state in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-rights-renewal-should-yield-the-biggest-delta-for-srh-owner-suntv IPL rights renewal should yield the biggest delta for SunTV, the owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), as the team's valuation may spike the most, even as the contribution to future market cap may look skewed should the broadcasting business likely grow at a faster clip, Elara Securities said in a report. https://opinionexpress.in/shehbaz-sharif-was-dismayed-at-the-development-lag-in-gwadar Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was dismayed at the development lag in Gwadar and vowed to work on "war footings" for the port city. https://opinionexpress.in/moosewala-murder-a-big-setback-for-aap-survey The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that it is restoring security cover for 424 people, about 10 days after it was publicly withdrawn with much fanfare. Within days of the withdrawal of the security cover, famous singer and Congress supporter Sidhu Moosewala was brutally gunned down and riddled with bullets not far from his home in Mansa district. https://opinionexpress.in/in-a-first-a-judge-couple-in-rajasthan-hc The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has appointed Kuldeep Mathur and Shubha Mehta as two new Judges of the Rajasthan High Court. https://opinionexpress.in/we-are-not-sri-lanka-says-pak-bank-chief Murtaza Syed, Acting Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), defended the government amid the ongoing economic crisis, saying "we are not Sri Lanka, neither we are close to it". https://opinionexpress.in/moosewala-killers-to-be-behind-bars-at-earliest-punjab-cm Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday pledged to put the killers of singer-actor-turned-politician Shubhadeep Singh alias Sidhu Moosewala behind the bars at the earliest. https://opinionexpress.in/hybrid-terrorism-hits-kashmir-hard Hybrid terrorism in Kashmir is emerging as a major challenge for the security agencies and the local populace. No one is gaining anything and the people of Kashmir can end up as the biggest losers. https://opinionexpress.in/dwarkeshlalji-maharajshree-on-a-world-peace-mission Vaishnavism is one of the major forms of modern Hinduism, characterized by devotion to the god Vishnu and his incarnations. A devotee of Vishnu is called a Vaishnava. The Vaishnavite tradition is known for the loving devotion to an avatar of Vishnu, and as such was key to the spread of the Bhakti movement in South Asia in the 2nd millennium CE. For Vaishnava, absolute reality is manifested in Vishnu, who in turn is incarnated in Rama, Krishna, and other avatars. Through his avatars, Vishnu defends traditional righteousness in keeping with the moral law. https://opinionexpress.in/us-raises-concern-over-rising-religious-attacks-in-india Washington, June 2 (IANS) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited "rising" attacks on people at places of worship in India among ongoing violations of freedom of religion around the world. https://opinionexpress.in/kamal-haasans-vikram-is-a-mega-hit-on-ott-satellite-rights Superstar Kamal Haasan's much-awaited movie, 'Vikram', is all set to become a super-duper hit. The movie, which is slated to be released on June 3 in theatres around the world, has already notched up Rs 200 crore in sales of TV and OTT rights. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-vows-to-continue-mediation-between-pak-ttp The Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has vowed to continue acting as a mediator between the Pakistan government and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror group aimed at ensuring stability in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/azad-met-sonia-refused-to-accept-organisational-no-2-post After veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was refused the Rajya Sabha nomination, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi tried to placate him by offering him the number two position in the party. Sources said the move has failed to pacify Azad, who refused to take the offer. https://opinionexpress.in/moodys-downgrades-pakistans-outlook-citing-heightened-external-vulnerability Moody's Investor Service on Thursday downgraded Pakistan's outlook from stable to negative, citing "heightened external vulnerability" and uncertainty around securing external financing to meet the country's needs. https://opinionexpress.in/deshmukh-exercised-undue-influence-in-transfer-posting-cbi The CBI in its charge sheet filed in connection with the Rs 100 crore extortion case filed against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and his two personal secretaries, Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde, has mentioned that Deshmukh and others allegedly attempted to obtain undue advantage for improper and dishonest performance of their public duties. https://opinionexpress.in/binance-labs-announces-500-mn-fund-for-blockchain-web30-startups As venture capital (VC) funds squeeze the flow of money to traditional startups and invest in emerging tech like Web3.0, Binance Labs, the venture capital and incubation arm of leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance, on Wednesday announced closing of a $500 million investment fund to boost Blockchain, Web3.0 and value-building technologies. https://opinionexpress.in/sourav-ganguly-joins-hands-with-noida-based-edtech-startup-classplus Ending all speculations after sending a cryptic tweet, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Thursday joined hands with Noida-based edtech startup Classplus to promote thousands of educators and content creators. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-says-manish-sisodia-will-be-arrested-next Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the sources who had informed him of Health Minister Satyendar Jains arrest a few months ago, have told him that the Central government will also arrest Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the coming days. https://opinionexpress.in/vedanta-commissions-largest-lithium-ion-battery-powered-fleet-of-27-forklifts India's largest producer of aluminium Vedanta Aluminium has commissioned India's largest electric fleet of 27 forklifts, powered by lithium-ion batteries. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-conspiring-to-financially-weaken-states-telangana-cm Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday alleged that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre is conspiring to weaken the states financially. https://opinionexpress.in/yes-bank-dhfl-fraud-case-ed-notice-to-pune-businessman-to-vacate-house The Enforcement Directorate has issued a notice to businessman Avinash Bhosale, who was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a money laundering case. https://opinionexpress.in/un-approves-turkeys-request-to-change-name-to-turkiye The UN has granted Turkey's request to change its name to Turkiye, a spokesman for the world body said. https://opinionexpress.in/sourav-gangulys-tweet-sparks-speculation-he-is-padding-up-for-politics A surprise message from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President and former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly on his Twitter page on Wednesday afternoon has sparked speculations of his joining politics. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-notice-on-amanatullah-khans-plea-against-declaring-him-bad-character The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Delhi Police on a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party legislator Amanatullah Khan, who approached the court challenging the Delhi Police's order declaring him a "Bad Character." https://opinionexpress.in/singer-kk-dies-in-kolkata-at-53 Playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, passed away here late on Tuesday night. He was 53. https://opinionexpress.in/i-t-raids-at-400-locations-of-liquor-barons-others The Income Tax department on Wednesday started search operations at about 400 locations belonging to various groups, including liquor barons, across the country, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/us-to-send-medium-range-rocket-systems-to-ukraine The US will send medium-range rocket systems to Ukraine in a new security assistance package, senior administration officials have said. https://opinionexpress.in/top-indian-firms-show-resilience-post-pandemic-tata-group-at-top-spot Top Indian companies have shown resilience in post pandemic business conditions and TATA Group, with its brand value up 12 per cent to $24 billion, continues to be the most valuable brand in the country, a new report showed on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-to-lay-foundation-stone-of-ram-temples-garbh-griha-in-ayodhya Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached Ayodhya on Wednesday to attend an event regarding the under-construction Ram temple that marks a significant milestone in the process. https://opinionexpress.in/sam-neill-still-gets-anxious-about-driving-down-indian-roads Veteran actor Sam Neill, who is set to reprise his character of Dr. Alan Grant in the upcoming sci-fi adventure film 'Jurassic World Dominion', recently shared his experience of visiting India back in the 90s and how driving down the roads of the country still makes him anxious. https://opinionexpress.in/track-2-channels-active-to-revive-india-pak-ties With Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the ruling and a coalition government set in place, Islamabad and New Delhi have been working towards activating backdoor channels for talks to revive the stalled relationship between the nuclear powered neighbours. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-grew-87-in-fiscal-fy22  India's gross domestic product during fiscal year 2021-22 is estimated at 8.7 per cent as compared to a contraction of 6.6 per cent in 2020-21, official data showed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-reaches-out-to-azad-but-tension-simmering After the Congress denied nomination to some hopeful veterans for the Rajya Sabha polls, sources said that Sonia Gandhi has reached out to Ghulam Nabi Azad. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-asks-lawyers-to-be-physically-present-in-court-to-argue-case The Supreme Court on Monday emphasized the physical presence of lawyers during the vacation to argue their matters, rather than using video conferencing facilities. https://opinionexpress.in/crypto-unicorn-coinswitch-offers-unique-investment-proposition Crypto is an emerging yet attractive asset class. It is a $1.25 trillion market globally. The India adoption story is no different with nearly 20 million unique users, over $6.6 billion in investments and more than a billion dollars in venture capital funding. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-delhi-health-minister-in-pmla-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain in connection with a money laundering case, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/beijing-man-sends-5000-neighbours-into-quarantine-after-breaking-covid-rule A man in Beijing is under criminal probe after he skipped out on mandated Covid-19 home isolation, prompting authorities to send his more than 5,000 neighbours into home or government quarantine, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/after-denial-of-rs-ticket-rcp-singh-says-thank-you-to-nitish A day after Janata Dal-United (JD-U) denied ticket to Union Minister R.C.P. Singh for the Rajya Sabha poll, he on Monday said his fate will be decided by the Prime Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cm-orders-probe-by-sitting-hc-judge-into-moosewala-killing Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced the setting up of a judicial commission under the chairmanship of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to probe the murder case of renowned singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-free-but-we-are-slaves-imran-khan Severely criticising Pakistan's incumbent federal coalition government, former Prime Minister Imran Khan said the "American slaves" had increased the prices of petroleum products, while India bought cheap oil from Russia and reduced prices. https://opinionexpress.in/indices-extend-gains-from-previous-week-sensex-up-over-800-pts Domestic equity indices extended their gains from the previous week and jumped sharply during the opening session on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-in-a-bind The latest international conference to discuss the evolving situation in Afghanistan and also review the response of the neighbouring and regional countries to the latest Taliban decisions, took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, last week. https://opinionexpress.in/gujarat-titans-wins-maiden-ipl-title A determined Gujarat Titans made their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) season an unforgettable one by lifting the 2022 title with a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in front of a roaring home crowd of 1,04,859 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/moosewalas-loss-shocking-irreparable-amarinder-singh Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Sunday condemned the broad daylight murder of prominent Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-names-16-candidates-for-rs-polls-sitharaman-to-contest-from-ktaka The BJP on Sunday announced 16 candidates for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections from different states. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-appeals-to-farmers-to-switch-to-organic-farming Union Home and Cooperative Minister Amit Shah on Sunday appealed to farmers to switch to organic farming as chemical fertilisers reduce land fertility and have harmful effects on human health. https://opinionexpress.in/srinagar-baramulla-rail-link-to-connect-kashmir-valley-with-rest-of-india The work of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project which will connect Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, is moving at a rapid pace and the railways has put the deadline of its completion in April, 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/welfare-schemes-brought-us-back-to-power-yogi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday that the proper and honest implementation of the central and state government's schemes brought changes in the lives of the people of the state and it was this that enabled the return of the BJP to power. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-has-very-bot-friendly-rules-says-elon-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Sunday once again raised the presence of fake/spam accounts or 'bots' on Twitter, saying the micro-blogging platform has 'very bot-friendly' rules. https://opinionexpress.in/randeep-hooda-to-play-veer-savarkar-in-mahesh-manjrekar-biopic On the occasion of the 139th birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the first look of the upcoming biopic titled 'Swatantra Veer Savarkar' was unveiled on Saturday. Randeep Hooda plays the title role in the film, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. https://opinionexpress.in/us-recession-will-force-major-market-correction After the much-anticipated LIC's bearish listing on domestic exchanges, there is a possibility that companies might wait for the equity markets to settle down in terms of volatility and shelve their initial public offerings (IPOs) plan for some time, says Motilal Oswal Financial Services' Head, Equity Strategy - Broking and Distribution, Hemang Jani. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-shah-nadda-to-lead-bjps-mission-south-india-from-the-front Even as the BJP is preparing for a mega celebration across the country to mark the completion of 8 years of the Narendra Modi government, the party's 'Mission Expansion' is in full swing. After 2014, the BJP has been winning continuously in other states except Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and the southern states. The BJP's biggest concern currently remains South India. https://opinionexpress.in/committed-to-retrieve-land-belonging-to-nepal-from-india-says-pm-deuba Nepal's Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday said that his government is committed to take back the "disputed land currently occupied by India". https://opinionexpress.in/pm-to-visit-isb-campus-in-hyderabad Tight security is in place in Hyderabad for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will spend two and a half hours in the city on Thursday to attend 20th annual day celebrations of the Indian School of Business (ISB). https://opinionexpress.in/nkorea-fires-3-ballistic-missiles-toward-east-sea-skorean-military North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, just a day after US President Joe Biden wrapped up his Asia trip highlighting America's security commitment to Seoul and Tokyo. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-to-continue-military-operation-in-ukraine-until-all-goals-met Russia will continue its "special military operation" in Ukraine despite the sanctions and increased Western assistance to Kiev, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said. https://opinionexpress.in/dmk-not-acting-against-those-denigrating-hindu-gods-panneerselvam Former Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O.Panneerselvam on Wednesday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take action against U2 Brutus YouTube channel and those behind it for a video derogatory of Hindu God Nataraja. https://opinionexpress.in/texas-shooting-21-dead-including-19-children-among-dead Nineteen young children and two adults have died in an alleged shooting at a primary school in south Texas. The 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in the city of Uvalde before he was killed by law enforcement, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-data-centre-market-to-see-up-to-rs-120-lakh-cr-investment-in-5-yrs The Indian data centre market is likely to add 3,900-4,100 MW of capacity with Rs 1.05-Rs 1.20 lakh crore as an investment in the next five years, a new report showed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cbied-probe-against-jharkhand-cm The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Jharkhand High Court to decide on the maintainability of PILs seeking CBI/ED probe against Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with grant of mining lease and transfer of funds into shell companies. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-govt-may-be-forced-into-early-elections Pakistans political turmoil continues as the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan that led to the formation of a coalition government of at least nine political parties under the premiership of Shehbaz Sharif, seems to be walking a very uncertain path and may be forced into early elections due to various factors that the current ruling setup may not be able to handle. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cm-sacks-health-minister-over-kickback-charges The two-month old AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday sacked Health Minister Vijay Singla over corruption charges. The Chief Minister said the health minister was involved in corruption cases and they had proof of that. https://opinionexpress.in/europes-red-alert-for-monkeypox European countries will be told to prepare a vaccination plan to tackle the spiralling monkeypox outbreak, as Denmark became the latest country to be struck down. https://opinionexpress.in/uma-bharti-ayodhya-kashi-mathura-a-matter-of-faith-for-hindus-like-mecca-medina-is-for-muslims There is no fight for Kashi and Mathura because a fight is when there is equal share between two sides. These places (Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi) are the centre stage for millions of Hindus' faith, like Makka-Madina for Muslims and the Vatican City for Christians, said former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti in an exclusive interview with IANS. https://opinionexpress.in/trade-focussed-quad The leaders of the US, Australia, Japan and India, termed Quad, will be held in Tokyo on Tuesday. This is the first in-person summit of these leaders after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, worsening Sri Lankan economic crisis, and Australia getting a new Prime Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-reportedly-to-have-asked-all-his-mlas-to-stay-put-in-patna Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has reportedly asked all MLAs of his JD-U to stay in Patna for the next 72 hours, sources said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/varanasi-court-reserves-order-in-gyanvapi-case The Varanasi district judge has reserved the ruling in the Gyanvapi mosque dispute case. The verdict is expected to come on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-skorean-presidents-first-approval-rating-over-52-survey More than 52 per cent of South Koreans gave a positive assessment of President Yoon Suk-yeol's handling of state affairs in the first poll on his approval rating since he took office on May 10, a survey revealed on Monday.In the Realmeter poll of 2,528 people aged 18 or above nationwide conducted from May 16-20, 52.1 per cent said Yoon did a good job, while 40.6 per cent said he did not, reports Yonhap News Agency. https://opinionexpress.in/thunderstorm-rains-hits-delhi Thunderstorm followed by heavy rains in Delhi on Monday brought down the surface temperature by 11 notches, a much needed respite from the scorching heat in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-wheat-ban-to-be-discussed-at-biden-modi-meet-us-nsa The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Indian restrictions on wheat exports will be among a range of issues that will figure at the upcoming meeting of the Quad in Tokyo next week and the bilateral between American President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US has said. https://opinionexpress.in/dalai-lama-congratulates-australian-pm-elect Dharamsala, May 22 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has written to Australian Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his party's victory. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-gets-stronger-weakens-its-opponents-at-the-same-time Eyeing upcoming Assembly elections and 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is working on a two-pronged strategy - strengthening the organisation and at the same time weakening its opponents. https://opinionexpress.in/fruits-veggies-may-help-kids-with-adhd-fight-inattention-study Eating fruits and vegetables may help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reduce inattention issues, a new study has suggested. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-draws-highest-fdi-in-last-quarter-says-cm-bommai India has drawn the highest Foreign Direct Investments in the last quarter and among the states, Karnataka tops the list, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/excise-duty-cut-on-petrol-diesel-subsidy-announced-for-ujjwala-gas-beneficiaries Amidst rising energy prices and inflation, the Central excise duty on petrol has been cut by Rs 8 per litre and on diesel by Rs 6 per litre, reducing the price of petrol by Rs 9.5 per litre and of diesel by Rs 7 per litre, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. https://opinionexpress.in/us-stocks-suffer-longest-losing-streak-since-great-depression US stocks are on their longest losing streak since the Great Depression by at least one key measure. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-again-praises-india-for-buying-discounted-oil-from-russia Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan once again praised India for buying discounted oil from Russia despite being a key member of a US-led Quad alliance. https://opinionexpress.in/why-bjp-needs-kashi-and-mathura-to-stay-in-power When you have more, you want even more. That is exactly what is happening to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). https://opinionexpress.in/people-of-gujarat-demand-change-claims-gopal-italia AAP's Gujarat convener Gopal Italia has claimed that the people of the state demand change and want to burst the balloon of the BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/yoon-biden-set-to-hold-first-summit-on-nkorea-economy South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his visiting US counterpart Joe Biden are set to hold their first summit in Seoul on Saturday on a range of issues, including North Korea's nuclear programme and supply chain risks. https://opinionexpress.in/italys-oil-imports-from-russia-quadruple-since-february-reports Italy is importing three times more of oil from Russia than it did before the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, according to news reports. https://opinionexpress.in/himanta-biswa-sarma-tops-the-list-of-most-popular-cms Among those who won the Assembly elections in May 2021, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan were rated as the most popular CMs, closely followed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, as per the latest IANS-CVoter survey. https://opinionexpress.in/jet-airways-gets-wings-to-fly Civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday granted the air operator certificate (AOC) to Jet Airways, bringing the grounded airline yet another step closer to relaunching of its services. https://opinionexpress.in/double-digit-wholesale-inflation-will-hit-msmes-sector The working capital of Indian MSMEs would deteriorate further if the wholesale price inflation continues to remain in double digits, Aditya Birla Group's senior economist Dr. Madhavan Kutty said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-fm-accuses-previous-imran-khan-govt-of-soft-on-terrorism Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accused the previous government of Imran Khan of not fully fighting terrorism by ignoring the national action plan to counter it. https://opinionexpress.in/raj-thackeray-postpones-ayodhya-trip In a huge climbdown, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray announced that he has temporarily postponed his forthcoming visit to Ayodhya on June 5. https://opinionexpress.in/lalu-misa-raided-by-cbi-in-land-for-job-scam The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday was conducting raids at 16 different locations in Bihar and Delhi linked to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and his daughter, Misa Bharti, in connection with a land for job scam. https://opinionexpress.in/europe-uk-markets-fall-as-growth-fears-rattle-investors Fears about rising prices and slowing economies have spread to the UK and European stock markets following sharp falls in the US and Asia, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ops-blue-star-anniversary-alert-in-punjab The Centre will deploy additional forces in Punjab ahead of the Operation Blue Star anniversary in June. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-war-could-soon-cause-global-food-crisis-that-may-last-for-years Russia's invasion of Ukraine could soon cause a global food crisis that may last for years, the UN has warned, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/china-failed-to-change-tibetan-mind-dalai-lama-tells-us-tibet-envoy US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya, on Thursday received an audience with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at his official residence in McLeodganj - a small and quaint hill station on the suburbs of this northern hill town of Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh overlooking the Himalayas - who said despite China's efforts, it has failed to change Tibetan mind. https://opinionexpress.in/mathura-court-allows-petition-seeking-removal-of-shahi-idgah In a major development, a Mathura court has allowed a petition demanding the removal of the Shahi Idgah. https://opinionexpress.in/top-chinese-smartphone-makers-cut-orders-by-20-amid-lockdown-woes Hit hard by the domestic Covid-19 lockdowns, top Chinese smartphones makers have slashed their orders by nearly 20 per cent for the current quarter (Q2) and the next, the media reported on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/pooja-hegde-makes-a-stunning-debut-at-cannes Pooja Hegde, who made her Cannes Film Festival debut at the 'Top Gun: Maverick' premiere on Wednesday, was a sight to behold in an elaborate strapless ivory-hued feather gown that had an embellished bodice and a voluminous skirt. She paired this dazzling outfit with diamond danglers and a no-fuss ponytail. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-grants-interim-bail-to-azam-khan The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim bail to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a cheating case and asked him to apply for regular bail before the concerned court. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-lodges-pmla-case-against-raj-kundra The Enforcement Directorate has lodged a Prevention of Money Laundering case against businessman and actor Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra in connection with pornographic apps case. https://opinionexpress.in/global-stock-markets-fall-amid-concern-over-rising-prices Stock markets in Asia and the US have fallen over concerns that rising prices could send the global economy into a slowdown, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-fm-bilawal-bhutto-reaches-us-to-reset-dented-pak-us-ties Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is in New York to hold a series of meetings with different officials of the Joe Biden administration to reset the dented ties between Pakistan and the United States. https://opinionexpress.in/hit-dead-end-on-foreign-assets-ed-to-sc-on-preeti-chandras-non-cooperation The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that investigations in connection with foreign assets of jailed ex- Unitech promoter Sanjay Chandra in the British Virgin Island, Singapore, Mauritius, and the UAE, have "come to a dead end", as his wife - who was actively involved in huge money-laundering operations - has refused to cooperate. https://opinionexpress.in/ahead-of-gujarat-polls-hardik-patel-quits-congress In a huge blow to the Congress, its Gujarat working president Hardik Patel has announced his resignation from the party. The party has however said it has not yet received his resignation letter. https://opinionexpress.in/health-and-wellness-centre-scheme-on-track-in-most-states-to-achieve-targets The implementation of Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) scheme is on track in most states with a clear roadmap for achieving targets set for December 2022, according to an assessment report of 18 states released on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-board-wants-44-bn-deal-to-go-through-amid-musk-agrawal-tussle Despite the ongoing tussle between Elon Musk and Parag Agrawal, the Twitter board is keen to see the $44 billion takeover deal go through as it is in the "best interest of all shareholders", the media reported on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/biggest-destruction-of-independent-india-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday called for an end to the ongoing 'demolition drive' in the national capital, terming it as the biggest destruction since India got Independence. https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-hits-new-low-falls-14-paise-to-7769-per-us-dollar The Indian currency rupee touched yet another all-time low against the US dollar earlier this morning. https://opinionexpress.in/west-waging-war-against-russia-kremlin Western powers opposing Russia in Ukraine could be considered enemies as they are waging a war against the state, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-orders-protection-of-shivling-found-in-gyanvapi-mosque The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Varanasi administration to protect and seal the area where a "Shivling" was found, during a video survey, inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex, while also telling the authorities concerned to not restrict Muslims from entering the mosque to offer namaz. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-hints-paying-less-for-twitter-as-he-fights-with-agrawal-over-bots Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted to pay less for the Twitter takeover, as he sparred with CEO Parag Agrawal over the actual number of bots or spammy accounts on the platform. https://opinionexpress.in/lic-shares-made-a-weak-listing-on-the-stock-exchanges Shares of the much-awaited Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) made a weak listing on the stock exchanges on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-tibet-envoy-to-meet-dalai-lama-tibetans-in-exile The US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya has reached India and is expected to meet the Dalai Lama, as well as officials of the government-in-exile headquartered in this northern hill town Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, the first major step to the American policy to help promoting dialogue between Beijing and the spiritual leader. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hear-gyanvapi-mosque-case Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the Gyanvapi row on Tuesday, all eyes are on the court as to what decision it will take. https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-india-sign-6-mous-during-modis-lumbini-visit Nepal and India signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on Monday during the day-long visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-only-seeks-to-divide-and-suppress-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the BJP of working to divide and suppress people. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-deuba-hold-bilateral-talks-in-lumbini Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks in Lumbini, where the latter is on a day-long visit to mark the occasion of Buddha Purnima. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-to-buy-49-in-quint Adani Group's unit AMG Media Networks will buy a 49 per cent stake in Raghav Bahl-run digital business news platform Quintillion Business Media for an undisclosed sum, a regulatory filing to the exchanges said. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-offers-prayers-in-lumbinis-maya-devi-temple Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a day-long visit to Nepal, offered prayers at the Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini to mark the occasion of Buddha Purnima. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hear-challenge-to-survey-gyanvapi-mosque-on-tuesday The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear a plea against the Allahabad High Court order which dismissed a petition challenging a Varanasi court's order to appoint an advocate as a court commissioner to inspect the Gyanvapi mosque complex. https://opinionexpress.in/north-india-boils-at-49-degrees Heat wave conditions prevailed over most parts of Haryana, and Delhi, in many parts over south Uttar Pradesh, in some parts over Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, west Rajasthan, and Punjab and at isolated parts over east Rajasthan and over north Madhya Pradesh on Sunday with Uttar Pradesh's Banda registering highest maximum temperature at 49 degrees Celsius. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-to-test-floating-sun-tracking-system-to-generate-clean-electricity Israel has announced a project for testing an artificial intelligence (AI) floating system to generate electricity by tracking the sun, the state's Finance Ministry and the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) said in a joint statement. https://opinionexpress.in/india-thrash-indonesia-to-win-maiden-thomas-cup-title The Indian men's badminton team clinched its maiden Thomas Cup title after beating Indonesia 3-0 in the final, here on Sunday, https://opinionexpress.in/etisalat-acquires-98-stake-in-vodafone-for-44bn Etisalat, the UAE's biggest telecom operator, has acquired a 9.8 per cent stake in British mobile carrier Vodafone Group for $4.4 billion as it seeks to diversify operations globally. https://opinionexpress.in/two-sikhs-gunned-down-near-peshawar Unidentified assailants gunned down two members of the Sikh community near Peshawar, police said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-jinping-rumoured-to-be-suffering-from-brain-aneurysm-report Chinese President Xi Jinping is rumoured to be suffering from a brain aneurysm and won't go under the knife to treat it, the media reported.  https://opinionexpress.in/john-abraham-starrer-attack-part-1-set-for-ott-premiere-on-may-27 The sci-fi action film 'Attack: Part 1', starring John Abraham, will have its OTT premiere on May 27. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-ceo-designate-wilson-vows-to-deliver-success Campbell Wilson has said that his appointment as Air India CEO and MD is a fantastic opportunity to lead a historic airline, adding that there are "mountains to climb" in his new role. https://opinionexpress.in/rajiv-kumar-assume-the-charge-of-chief-election-commissioner Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will be assuming the charge of 25th Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday afternoon, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/g23-demands-shall-be-incorporate-in-running-the-congress The key demand of the Congress' dissident G23 leaders of constituting a parliamentary board has been accepted by the sub group on organisational issues and same will be put forth in the CWC meet. https://opinionexpress.in/cleric-warns-against-any-damage-to-gyanvapi-mosque Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, spokesperson of the influential Aala Hazrat dargah, has warned against a "widespread protest if Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi is harmed". https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-traces-pak-link-in-2019-ipl-betting-racket-conducts-raids-in-4-cities The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting search operations in four cities in connection with an IPL betting racket involving a Pakistani national. https://opinionexpress.in/tripura-chief-minister-biplab-kumar-deb-resigns Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb resigned from his post on Saturday, top officials said.Accompanied by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Deb went to the Raj Bhavan on Saturday afternoon and submitted his resignation to Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya. https://opinionexpress.in/retrieving-the-past-glory-of-great-sanatan-dharma HDH Shashthpithadishwar Pujya Pad Goswami 108 Shree Dwarkeshlalji Maharajshree is the chief patron - managing trustee of Vaishnav Innerfaith Pushtimargiya Organization (VIPO-Global). His Divine Holiness hails from the Pushtimarg tradition of Vaishnavism as the direct descendant of Jagadguru Shrimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji, the founder of Pushti Bhakti Marg and one of the five great Acharyas in Hinduism. His Divine Holiness is enthroned as the 14th Gadipathi of Shashthpeeth at Vadodara, one of the seven thrones of Shri Vitthalnathji Gusainji, the son of Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji. He is not only the head at Kalyanraiji Mandir, Vadodara but also at several temples/Havelis in India, the UK, the USA, and Canada... https://opinionexpress.in/mohamed-bin-zayed-is-uaes-new-president Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was on Saturday elected as the new President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). https://opinionexpress.in/coup-to-oust-putin-is-already-underway-ukraines-spy-chief Ukraine's spy chief has claimed that a coup to remove Russian President Vladimir Putin is "already underway" and that Moscow would lose the war by the end of this year. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-leaders-biz-community-mourn-uae-prez-sheikh-nahyan-demise The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (73), passed away on Friday, the state news agency WAM announced. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-puts-twitter-deal-on-hold-says-still-committed-to-acquisition After saying that he is putting $44 billion Twitter deal on hold till he gets to know how many fake or spam accounts are present on the platform, Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday said that he is still commited to the $44 billion acquisition. https://opinionexpress.in/consumer-inflation-at-8-year-high-may-trigger-quicker-rate-hikes Sounding a red alert on India's CPI inflation at an 8-year high print of 7.79% YoY in April, Acuite Ratings has said it may trigger quicker rate hikes. https://opinionexpress.in/nkorea-faces-great-turmoil-due-to-covid-spread-kim North Korea on Saturday reported 21 additional Covid-19 deaths, with more than 174,400 people nationwide with fever, as Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong-un stated that his country is faced with "great turmoil" due to the spread of the virus. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankas-new-pm-wikremesinghe-sets-out-to-fix-the-battered-economy The road ahead will be tough for Sri Lanka's newly inducted Prime Minister Ranil Wikremesinghe, as he takes charge amid a battered economy, bankrupt coffers and widespread violence. While the 73-year-old Prime Minister said that his focus will be to address the current economic crisis and steer Sri Lanka out of the woods, his actions will be scrutinised with a fine tooth comb not only within his country but outside too. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-bhopal-it-raids-linked-to-panama-papers-leak-ed Days after Enforcement Directorate sleuths searched the premises of a renowned business house at Dempo House here on May 9, the central agency on Friday in a statement said that the operation was connected with a money laundering case registered against one Sanjay Shinde. https://opinionexpress.in/ruling-pakistan-muslim-league-nawaz-in-a-dilemma There was more to the high level meeting of leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in London than met the eye, informed sources indicated. https://opinionexpress.in/uae-president-sheikh-khalifa-bin-zayed-passes-away The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (73), passed away on Friday, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced. https://opinionexpress.in/parag-agrawal-should-restore-trumps-account-elon-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday reiterated that Parag Agrawal-led Twitter should restore the account of former US president Donald Trump. https://opinionexpress.in/coinbase-suffers-major-outage-binance-halts-terra-luna-crypto-trading Leading crypto exchange Coinbase suffered a major outage amid crypto mayhem especially with the cryptocurrency Terra Luna, heightening fears among the investors. https://opinionexpress.in/private-investment-in-ai-sector-to-exceed-135-bn-in-2022 Total private investment in artificial intelligence (AI) more than doubled to reach $93.5 billion globally in 2021, a new report has shown. https://opinionexpress.in/nkorea-reports-6-covid-deaths-amid-explosive-spread-of-fever North Korea on Friday said six people have died from Covid-19 and symptoms of fever were newly reported among more than 18,000 people nationwide the previous day, as leader Kim Jong-un formally blamed loopholes in the country's virus control and prevention system. https://opinionexpress.in/cyber-attacks-tech-vs-tech-or-human-vs-human Ever felt the pounding heart after clicking that, oops, link, that opened something you couldn’t comprehend, followed by, God forbid, the frozen screen of your phone or laptop! Welcome to the unwelcoming scare of Cyber Attacks. The terrifying tumult of cyber threats is getting shadier and more vehement with time and before you realize, it has tightened its reins deeper around your life.   https://opinionexpress.in/taj-mahal-rajasthan-connect-decoded A day after Jaipur princess and BJP MP Diya Kumari's claim that the land on which Taj Mahal was built belonged to the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur triggered a debate, a new fact has emerged that marbles were sent from Makrana and Amer in Rajasthan for building the iconic Taj Mahal. https://opinionexpress.in/investors-shed-rs-5-lakh-cr-as-dalal-street-witnesses-bloodbath Equity investors lost over Rs 5 lakh crore on Thursday as indices took a deep plunge due to the persisting high inflation in the US, below expected corporate earnings, amid fears of high inflation in India for the fourth straight month in April. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-to-be-epicentre-of-rss-expansion-plans-in-ne-for-2024-ls-polls Understanding that having a formidable performance in West Bengal and the northeastern states will be key to ensuring the third term of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is planning to recruit 35,000 swayamsevaks (volunteers) in the northeast, making Bengal the epicentre of such activities. https://opinionexpress.in/high-fibre-rich-diet-can-help-fight-antibiotic-resistance Healthy adults who eat a diverse diet, with at least 8-10 grams of soluble fibre such as grains, beans, lentils, nuts and some fruits and vegetables daily, have fewer antibiotic-resistant microbes in their guts, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/palestinians-condemn-killing-of-journalist-in-west-bank The killing of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank sparked condemnation and outrage among the Palestinians. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-decides-to-resume-trade-with-india-a-difficult-decision The Pakistan government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to resume trade with India, designating a trade minister for the task. https://opinionexpress.in/jharkhand-ias-officer-pooja-singhal-arrested-by-ed IAS officer and Jharkhand Mines Secretary Pooja Singhal was on Wednesday arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after her second day of questioning in connection with the ongoing probe of Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to alleged embezzelment of MNREGS funds. https://opinionexpress.in/raj-thackeray-gets-threats-mns-warns-state-will-burn Claiming that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has received death threats, a party leader on Wednesday warned that even if his hair is touched, "entire Maharashtra will burn". https://opinionexpress.in/v-p-pm-express-gratitude-to-indian-scientists-on-national-technology-day The Vice-President and Prime Minister on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the country's brilliant scientists and their efforts that led to the successful Pokhran tests in 1998. https://opinionexpress.in/trade-pacts-with-uae-australia-will-fuel-economic-growth-fm Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday the country's trade pacts with the UAE and Australia will chart the way for economic growth. https://opinionexpress.in/india-invited-to-ministerial-meeting-on-food-crisis-convened-by-us-diplomat India has been invited to a ministerial meeting on global food security convened by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to respond to the global crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, said Cindy McCain, Washington's Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-cinema-celebrities-to-walk-red-carpet-with-anurag-thakur-at-cannes Cinema celebrities from across India will walk the 'Red Carpet' along with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur at this year's Cannes Film Festival. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-americans-plan-to-distance-themselves-from-indian-govt-on-ukraine-war Indian-Americans plan to issue a forceful denouncement of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in an attempt to shield themselves from the fallout of the Indian government's continued refusal to condemn the war, which has drawn widespread scrutiny and criticism from within and out of US policy circles. https://opinionexpress.in/rupees-sentiment-negative-may-touch-801-says-mkt-observer-mecklai There is enough pressure for the RBI to do something unusual amidst sharp depreciation in the value of rupee, says Jamal Mecklai, CEO at Mecklai Financial Services, adding that he generally feels the sentiment is negative. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-bjp-loyalists-upset-over-decision-to-welcome-leaders-from-other-parties The decision of the BJP top brass to invite leaders from other political parties as a strategy to gain upper hand in the 2023 Assembly elections has upset the loyal party men in Karnataka. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-currency-at-all-time-low-against-dollar The Pakistani currency depreciated by Rs 0.60 to an all-time low of Rs 188.66 against the US dollar in the interbank market on Tuesday, as looming uncertainty over the resumption of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme took a toll on the local unit, Geo News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/seniority-does-not-guarantee-party-ticket-rahul-gandhi Only those who work for and fight for people are guaranted a Congress party ticket to contest elections, was the clear message from the party's former president and leader Rahul Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-announces-new-service-to-achieve-security-against-threats With an aim to meet the range of today's security demands, Microsoft has announced a new service category called 'Microsoft Security Experts'. https://opinionexpress.in/mayhem-in-crypto-market-as-bitcoin-drops-below-30000-mark The global cryptocurrency market entered its worst phase ever on Tuesday, with Bitcoin dropping below $30,000 per coin and leaving millions of investors in a panic mode. https://opinionexpress.in/kim-sends-victory-day-message-to-putin North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed his country's "firm solidarity" with Russia in a congratulatory message sent to President Vladimir Putin over Moscow's celebration of its "Victory Day" holiday, Pyongyang's state media reported on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/5-dead-200-injured-in-sl-violence-houses-of-politicians-torched At least five people, including an MP, were killed in Sri Lanka, with over 200 others injured in the wake of the violence in the island nation, which also led to a number of houses belonging to resigned Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and other politicians, being torched. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraines-wheat-harvest-may-fall-by-35-raising-fears-of-global-shortage Wheat production in Ukraine is likely to be at least a third lower than in normal years, according to analysis of satellite images of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/parag-agrawals-wife-vineeta-linked-with-musks-44-bn-twitter-takeover Vineeta Agarwala, the wife of Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, is now making headlines amid Elon Musk's $44 billion takeover deal. https://opinionexpress.in/putins-girlfriend-and-mother-of-his-children-under-scanner Russia is already under unprecedented sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine and now the European Union (EU) could target Alina Kabaeva, a politician, media boss, former Olympic gymnast, and, if the rumours are true, President Vladimir Putin's girlfriend and mother to some of his children, according to a media report. https://opinionexpress.in/the-prez-puzzle-2022 With the Presidential elections round the corner, the BJP is seemingly in search of a candidate who can be sent to the Raisina Hill, but the road leading to it may be steeper as all regional parties are gearing up for a showdown with the ruling party. https://opinionexpress.in/trinamool-prepares-to-play-key-role-in-uniting-oppn-avoiding-vote-split As elections for the new President of India is scheduled sometime in July this year, it is certain that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will take a lead role in uniting the regional parties so that a strong and unanimously accepted opposition candidate can be fielded against the nominee of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-to-focus-more-on-engineering-design-if-acquisition-completes-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed that Twitter will focus deeply on hardcore software engineering, design, and more, following the completion of the acquisition of the micro-blogging site. https://opinionexpress.in/lt-to-own-6873-in-combined-entity-after-mindtree-lti-merger Larsen & Toubro Limited as the promoter will own 68.73 per cent stake in the combined entity created by the merger of Mindtree and L&T Infotech (LTI). https://opinionexpress.in/indian-military-headless-with-cds-post-vacant-for-last-5-months The post of Chief of Defence Staff, once hailed as a major step to improve inter-service coordination, cooperation and operational integration in the Indian military, lies vacant for the last five months with no sign of immediate appointment. https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-fy22-revenue-up-47-net-profit-up-26 Reliance Industries' annual consolidated revenue for FY22 stood at Rs 792,756 crore ($104.6 billion), up 47 per cent year on year https://opinionexpress.in/unsc-agrees-first-time-on-statement-on-ukraine-but-its-toothless After an acrimonious informal meeting on Ukraine, the UN Security Council came together formally for the first time to issue a statement that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "spoke with one voice for peace in Ukraine". https://opinionexpress.in/disaster-resilient-infra-at-nascent-stage-of-hydrogen-economy Promise of hydrogen in the transition to a net-zero emissions future is fraught with challenges in production, storage, and utilisation and including disaster resilience of infrastructure at the current nascent stage can yield exponential benefits, a perspective paper released on Friday said. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-promises-loan-waiver-investment-support-to-telangana-farmers The opposition Congress in Telangana on Friday launched its preparations for the next year's Assembly elections with a slew of promises to farmers including Rs 2 lakh loan waiver and Rs 15,000 direct benefit per acre annually. https://opinionexpress.in/sl-protesters-surround-parliament-to-bring-country-at-standstill Burdened by growing food crisis and shortages of fuel and gas, Sri Lankans launched an island-wide 'hartal' on Friday, giving ultimatum to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government to resign by March 11. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-in-ayodhya-offers-prayers Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi and Ram Lalla temple on his third visit to Ayodhya after being re-elected as the chief minister for the second term. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-order-to-hit-the-west-with-nukes-would-be-ignored-by-top-commanders An order by Russian President Vladimir Putin to strike Ukraine or the West with nuclear weapons would be ignored by his top commanders, a senior investigative journalist has said, as per media reports. https://opinionexpress.in/india-italy-call-for-closer-industrial-and-defence-ties India and Italy's Foreign Ministers met on Friday and deliberated upon closer industrial collaboration, including in the field of defence, and made commitment to closely work in countering common challenges related to terrorism, violent extremism, and cyber crime. https://opinionexpress.in/jet-airways-takes-to-skies-again-with-test-flight Jet Airways took to the skies again after a gap of three years. https://opinionexpress.in/us-intel-inputs-behind-moskva-disaster The US provided intelligence that helped Ukraine sink the Moskva, Russia's flagship Black Sea missile cruiser, the media report. https://opinionexpress.in/illegal-mining-case-ed-raids-multiple-locations-across-nation The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids in over 18 locations in connection with Prevention of Money Laundering case related to illegal mining and misappropriation of MGNREGA funds in Jharkhand. https://opinionexpress.in/ngt-slaps-rs-25-cr-fine-on-vedantas-odisha-plant-for-green-violations The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 25 crore on Vedanta Limited for violating the environmental norms by expanding its plant at Lanjigarh in Odisha's Kalahandi district. https://opinionexpress.in/rajnath-pitches-for-self-reliance-in-defence-sector A Self-reliance in defence sector will have middle and long-term benefits, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pointing out that it will help in building the foundation of a robust industrial base in India. https://opinionexpress.in/stock-markets-in-asia-us-tumble Stock markets in Asia and America have tumbled after the US Federal Reserve this week announced the biggest interest rate hike in 22 years. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-practises-nuclear-capable-missile-strikes-in-baltic-sea-enclave Russia has carried out simulated launches of nuclear-capable missiles from an enclave of territory in mainland Europe, amid growing fears Russian President Vladimir Putin could press the button as the war in Ukraine goes against him, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/garuda-aerospace-to-export-12k-drones-l1-bidder-in-rites Drone manufacturer and drone-as-a-service provider Garuda Aerospace will ship out about 4,000 drones to African countries and is also the lowest bidder in the RITES Ltd's tender for LiDAR based survey, said a top company official. https://opinionexpress.in/pandemic-conflicts-affect-mental-health-of-millions-who A senior official of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have affected the mental health of millions of people. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-dismisses-appeal-by-damepl-against-delhi-hc-order The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Delhi High Court order, directing Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to pay the DAMEPL, a Reliance infrastructure arm, the balance arbitration award amount of Rs 3,300 crore by May 30. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-names-indian-american-verma-to-body-that-monitors-us-spies US President Joe Biden has named Indian American Richard Verma, who is also a former ambassador to India, to a White House body that advises the president on the effectiveness of the country's sprawling intelligence community. https://opinionexpress.in/ne-region-is-indias-natural-gateway-to-se-asia-and-beyond-president President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said that the northeastern region is the natural gateway for India to southeast Asia and beyond. https://opinionexpress.in/us-fed-raises-interest-rates-by-half-point-sharpest-hike-in-22-yrs The US Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate by a half percentage point, marking the sharpest rate hike since 2000, as it takes more aggressive steps to rein in the highest inflation in four decades. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-meets-macron-discusses-situation-in-ukraine-afghanistan Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid visit to France on Wednesday on his way back from the second India-Nordic Summit in Copenhagen. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-hikes-repo-rate-by-40-bps-on-inflation-worries-equities-plunge Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday said that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank, in an off-cycle meeting, hiked the repo rate by 40 basis points (bps) to 4.40 per cent with immediate effect. https://opinionexpress.in/ma-arrest-in-china-erodes-27-bn-from-alibabas-share-value The arrest of an individual with the last name 'Ma' in China left people in utter shock who dumped shares in Alibaba that eroded a massive $27 billion in its share value, as investors thought the person arrested was the billionaire Jack Ma. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cabinet-rejig-exercise-shifts-to-delhi-cm-bommai-relieved The BJP will take a decision on the long-pending cabinet rejig in Karnataka within a week of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return from his foreign trip. https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-completes-30-years-in-cinema Actor Akshay Kumar has completed 30 years in the Hindi film industry and Yash Raj Films celebrated his special milestone by creating a new 'Prithviraj' poster, which features every single film that the actor has been a part of. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-met-queen-of-denmark-margrethe-ii Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Queen of Denmark Margrethe II at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen after his hectic bilateral engagement with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and business community on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ola-electric-becomes-top-indian-e-scooter-firm Ola Electric has grabbed the top spot in the fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) market in India, in just five months of launching its first e-scooter. https://opinionexpress.in/loudspeakers-row-maha-police-book-raj-thackeray-mns-fears-arrest The political temperature in Maharashtra soared as Aurangabad police on Tuesday filed a FIR against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray for alleged violations of police conditions at his mega-rally held in that city late on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-appeals-to-russia-and-ukraine-to-have-ceasefire-take-path-of-dialogue Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday again appealed to Russia and Ukraine to have an immediate ceasefire and to take the path of dialogue as his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen hoped that India will influence Russia to stop the crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/zelensky-will-continue-to-beg-for-money-from-the-west-ex-russian-prez Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not need a peace treaty as he will continue to "beg for money and weapons from the West" and will also continue to "appear unshaven on camera" . https://opinionexpress.in/bommai-to-continue-as-ktaka-cm-state-bjp-in-charge-arun-singh Amid speculation over leadership change in Karnataka, the state in-charge of BJP Arun Singh has clarified that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai would continue in his post and there are no plans of changing the leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-takes-mom-maye-to-met-gala-2022-days-after-twitter-deal Tesla CEO Elon Musk brought a very special woman, his mother Maye to the 2022 Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit. https://opinionexpress.in/kvic-post-unprecedented-rs-115-lakh-cr-turnover The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has clocked a massive turnover of Rs 1.15 lakh crore, which is unprecedented for any FMCG company in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/monitor-your-daily-drinking-water-consumption Even though 70 per cent of the earth consists of water doesn't mean that all 70 per cent will be safe for drinking. In India, where digital spaces are gaining momentum rapidly, more than 50 per cent of the domestic spaces still rely on boiling their water for drinking. Almost 70 per cent of your body is water and it is water that helps in flushing out the toxins through urination and perspiration etc. The water also helps in lubricating joints and protects sensitive tissues in our bodies. It is said that drinking eight glasses of water a day is ideal for overall health. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-urges-communications-companies-to-upgrade-cyber-defence-amid-attack-waves Israeli Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel and Director-General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) Gaby Portnoy on Monday urged communications companies to upgrade their cyber defence amid recent cyber attack waves against Israeli websites and networks. https://opinionexpress.in/nclt-notice-to-emaar-india-ltd-on-mgf-developers-plea The National Company Law Tribunal has issued notice to Emaar India Ltd, asking it to file a status report on a plea filed by its erstwhile joint venture partner MGF Developers Ltd. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-scholz-discuss-overall-strategic-partnership-global-developments Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday and discussed cooperation under their overall strategic partnership, as well as regional and global developments. https://opinionexpress.in/haryana-cong-internal-rift-intensifies Congress is reaching out to sulking Haryana leader Kuldeep Bishnoi as he is upset over denial of state presidentship of the party in the state, Bishnoi has let his anger public and said that he will seek a response from the party. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-consulate-condemns-connecticut-statement-on-sikh-independence The Indian Consulate General in New York has condemned a statement by the Connecticut State General Assembly purporting to show support for what it called the "Declaration of Sikh Independence". https://opinionexpress.in/now-or-never-yank-off-mosques-loudspeakers-by-wednesday-raj-thackeray Terming loudspeakers on mosques as "a social and not a religious issue", Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray demanded that the Maha Vikas Aghadi must bring down all loudspeakers by his stipulated deadline of May 3. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-equities-plunge-in-early-trade-titan-among-top-losers Indian equity benchmarks declined in the opening session on Monday taking cues from volatility from the global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/cia-names-nand-mulchandani-as-first-chief-technology-officer Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William J. Burns announced the appointment of Nand Mulchandani to serve as the US spy agency's first-ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO). https://opinionexpress.in/billionaire-elon-musk-shares-long-term-investment-advice Elon Musk, who is the richest man in the world, on Sunday shared some investment advice on when to buy and sell stocks. According to Musk, he's been asked a lot about how to increase one's wealth. And his biggest advice: "Don't panic when the market does," Musk wrote on Twitter. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-visit-to-denmark-to-shape-up-new-components-of-partnership Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Denmark will provide an opportunity to shape up new components of partnership in the field of skill development, shipping, agricultural technology and mobility, an official said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-fronts-target-indian-origin-us-politicians Pakistani establishment and Jamaat fronts are targeting pro-Indian politicians, especially Indian origin politicians in the US, from getting elected and coming to power, a report has claimed. https://opinionexpress.in/dhfl-yes-bank-scam-cbi-recovers-incriminating-documents-in-raids The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recovered incriminating documents from the premises of three top realtors -- Shahid Balwa, Avinash Bhonsle and Vinod Goenka -- in Mumbai and Pune during raids in connection with Yes Bank-DHFL scam. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-collection-touches-all-time-high-in-april The monthly collection under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has touched a record high of Rs 1.68 lakh crore in April 2022, data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/no-4th-covid-wave-in-india-only-local-spike-icmr The current spike in the number of daily Covid-19 cases in India cannot be termed as the fourth wave of the pandemic, Samiran Panda, Additional Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), told IANS on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/china-remains-a-strategic-threat-to-indias-defense-establishment The PLA -- the world's largest military force with more than 2 million active personnel -- is often described as "party-army with professional characteristics". Mao's successor, Deng Xiaoping, made a concerted effort to put the PLA under the command of the state instead of the CCP -- an initiative carried forward by his successors, albeit with varying degrees of emphasis. The ascent of Xi Jinping in 2013 marked a new chapter as he sought to inject a renewed sense of party ideology into the PLA and modernise it. https://opinionexpress.in/5-srinagar-sharjah-flights-per-week-get-ministry-nod The Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved five Srinagar-Sharjah flights per week on a regular basis, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-set-to-declare-all-out-war-on-ukraine-within-days Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to declare an "all-out war" on Ukraine "within days" to enable Moscow to launch a general mobilisation of the population, according to Russian sources and Western officials. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-seizes-rs-5551-cr-assets-of-xiaomi-technology-india-under-fema The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Saturday that it has seized Rs 5,551.27 crore of Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited lying in the bank accounts under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), in connection with the illegal outward remittances made by the company. https://opinionexpress.in/massive-cbi-raids-in-mumbai-pune-over-yes-bank-dhfl-scam The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday conducted massive raids at eight premises in Mumbai and Pune in connection with the Yes Bank-DHFL scam. https://opinionexpress.in/20-judges-per-10-lakh-population-is-alarmingly-low-chief-justice Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Saturday said it is only the judicial process that is adversarial, and not the judges or their judgments, and also pointed out that 20 judges per 10 lakh population was alarmingly low. https://opinionexpress.in/kim-jong-un-vows-to-pre-emptively-contain-nuke-threats North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the need to bolster the country's military power to "pre-emptively and thoroughly contain" nuclear threats from hostile forces, Pyongyang's state media reported on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/bommai-to-host-dinner-party-for-amit-shah-on-may-3 Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will host a dinner party at his official residence for Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 3, during which discussions will take place on crucial issues, including the much-awaited cabinet expansion that will have a direct impact on the state's Assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/annamalais-sl-trip-to-improve-bjps-fortune-in-tn K. Annamalai, the BJP's Tamil Nadu state president, will embark on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka, a trip deemed as a calculated political move by the party to improve its fortunes in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-ranaut-sanskrit-should-be-the-national-language Amid the controversy over Hindi involving actors Ajay Devgn and Kichha Sudeep, actress Kangana Ranaut says considering Sanskrit is older than Hindi, Sanskrit should be the national language. https://opinionexpress.in/hopeless-situation-ag-on-pendency-of-several-million-court-cases Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, citing the pendency of 40 million cases in trial courts and several million cases in the high courts, on Friday said that a "pall of gloom settles" and it is a "hopeless situation". https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-seeks-to-seize-russias-assets-for-post-war-recovery-pm Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said his country is willing to seize Russian assets to finance Kiev's post-war recovery. https://opinionexpress.in/to-end-political-impasse-sl-president-agrees-to-new-interim-govt To end the current political deadlock, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to form an interim, all-party government with a fresh cabinet, dropping his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister, former President Maithripala Sirisena announced on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/zilingo-fraud-saga-threatens-indias-great-startup-run Industry leaders and experts on Friday raised alarm over the failing corporate governance in the Indian startup ecosystem, after another startup Zilingo suspended its CEO and co-founder, Ankiti Bose, over alleged financial irregularities, and she is now gearing up to fight back. After the long-drawn Ashneer Grover-BharatPe saga that put corporate governance on top of the stakeholders' minds, Singapore-based fashion-tech startup Zilingo asked Bose - who co-founded Sequoia Capital-backed Zilingo as a 23-year-old in 2015 -- to stay out of office till May 5, accusing her of inflating revenues. https://opinionexpress.in/khalsa-the-ideal-welfare-state We long for a good life and look up to Dr Ambedkar to lead us to the path of an ideal society that shall be conducive to the welfare of all. What is an ideal society? Dr Ambedkar had answered this question explicitly: “If you ask me, my ideal would be a society based on liberty, equality and fraternity.” Dr Ambedkar later enshrined these ideals in the constitution that we, the people of India, gave to ourselves on 26 January 1950. More than a couple of centuries before Baba Saheb gave a clarion call for an ideal society, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs, had already founded such a society in the form of Khalsa. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-passes-resolution-to-send-essential-items-to-sri-lanka Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution urging the central government to permit the state to send essential items, medicines to Sri Lanka on humanitarian basis. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-tad-up-in-early-trade Indian equity benchmarks rose marginally in early trade on Friday.At 9.46 a.m., Sensex was 0.3 per cent up at 57,668 points, whereas Nifty was 0.1 per cent up at 17,263 points. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-cancels-investor-call-posts-last-of-q-results-as-public-company Though months away from Elon Musk's $44 billion buyout deal, Twitter on Thursday cancelled its customary earnings conference call. https://opinionexpress.in/us-for-shunning-sanctions-not-those-rethinking-their-ties-with-russia US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has said the US is considering taking "action" against countries that are not enforcing its Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia but, he added, it will take a more indulgent approach towards those among them that are "rethinking" their relationship with Moscow, sometimes going back over decades. https://opinionexpress.in/rajasthan-next-on-cong-radar-for-leadership-change After the Congress' change of guard in Punjab, Himachal and Haryana, all eyes are now on Rajasthan to see how the Congress high command resolves the long simmering tensions between the two camps led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former deputy CM Sachin Pilot. The two have been involved in a face off many times, firing indirect verbal barbs at each other. https://opinionexpress.in/google-begins-work-on-hyderabad-campus-largest-outside-its-headquarters Internet giant Google on Thursday began work here on its largest campus outside of its headquarters in the US. https://opinionexpress.in/62-terrorists-neutralised-in-kashmir-so-far-in-2022 A total of 62 terrorists linked to different proscribed outfits have been neutralised in various encounters across the Kashmir Valley so far this year. https://opinionexpress.in/up-congress-in-hibernation-mode It is around noon and the sun is shining brighter and hotter than ever in the sky. The UP Congress state headquarters in Mall Avenue wears a completely deserted look. https://opinionexpress.in/development-accelerated-in-ne-after-resolving-insurgency-issues-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that development accelerated in the northeastern region after insurgency and ethical issues were resolved, along with the restoration of peace. https://opinionexpress.in/over-half-of-us-howitzers-are-in-ukraine-today-pentagon Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby announced that more than half of US howitzers are in Ukraine today and the first tranche of soldiers from the war-torn nation have been trained in how to use the long-ranged weapon system. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-takes-a-u-turn-says-twitter-must-remain-politically-neutral In a bid to silence people who have slammed his 'free speech' idea amid fears of growing polarisation and hatred on the micro-blogging platform, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday that Twitter must remain politically neutral if it wants to keep enjoying public trust. https://opinionexpress.in/biggest-commodity-shock-since-1970s-raises-spectre-of-stagflation-world-bank The war in Ukraine will result in expensive food and energy for the next three years, the World Bank has warned, intensifying fears that the global economy is heading for a rerun of the weak growth and high inflation of the 1970s, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/twist-in-pak-political-saga A special court in Lahore said on Wednesday that charges against Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others in the Rs 16 billion money laundering case will be framed on May 14, and asked them to ensure their presence in the next hearing as no further adjournments will be made, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-engaged-in-polarisation-to-hide-failures-says-kcr Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday alleged that he is resorting to polarisation to hide his failures and divert public attention from real issues. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankan-pm-reiterates-wont-give-up-power Despite mounting pressure both within and outside his government, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reiterated that he would stick to the premiership. https://opinionexpress.in/millions-across-40-countries-using-google-pay-sundar-pichai Hailing the India digital payments growth story, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai has said that the company's payments strategy is very similar to the strategy it has for commerce overall. https://opinionexpress.in/disasters-are-rapidly-increasing-due-to-climate-change-human-behaviour-un-report Human activity and behaviour, on top of climate change, are contributing to an increasing number of disasters across the world, finds a UN report. https://opinionexpress.in/harvard-on-human-subjugation-immoral-slavery-practices Harvard University, arguably the world's premier name in education, has laid bare a troublesome tryst with slavery and earmarked $100 million as reparation. https://opinionexpress.in/beijing-tests-20-million-residents-amid-omicron-outbreak Beijing has rolled out mass Covid testing for nearly 20 million residents in most of the city, as authorities race to contain a fresh Omicron outbreak that has sparked panic buying amid fears of a Shanghai style lockdown, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-asks-ministers-officers-to-declare-assets Carrying forward his policy of zero tolerance on corruption, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Monday, asked all ministers and government officers (IAS and IPS) to furnish details of their and their spouses' assets. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-calls-for-another-sit-in-protest-in-islamabad Former Prime Minister and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has called on his supporters to be ready for a mass march and a protest sit-in in Pakistan's capital Islamabad after Eid, announcing yet another anti-government march to pressure the Shehbaz Sharif government to announce immediate and early general elections in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-is-singular-solution-i-trust-says-ex-twitter-ceo After tech billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter, the co-founder of micro-blogging site Twitter and current Block Head Jack Dorsey on Tuesday said that the Tesla CEO "is the singular solution I trust". https://opinionexpress.in/as-takeover-fires-twitter-stock-elon-musk-turns-mushy-and-cute Shares of Twitter, arguably the world's most influential social media platform, jumped after the Wall Street Journal reported that the company is nearing a deal with Elon Musk, the world's richest man. https://opinionexpress.in/why-indias-neutral-stance-in-the-russia-ukraine-war-works Russia's intervention in Ukraine has brought about a sea change in world politics not seen since the end of Second World war and the dawn of the Cold war bipolar world. https://opinionexpress.in/nuke-war-is-real-russias-lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the risk of a nuclear war is real and should not be underestimated. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hear-pleas-challenging-abrogation-of-article-370-after-vacation The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider the listing of pleas challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir after its summer vacation. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-journey-towards-a-global-economic-power In his March 27 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed satisfaction over Indias success in achieving the target of $400 billion of exports. He noted that this signified Indias capabilities and potential and confirmed that the demand for Indian goods was rising in the world, and attributed this feat to the contribution of countrys farmers, artisans, weavers, engineers, small entrepreneurs and people from many different professions. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-extend-losses-rising-inflation-a-concern Indian equity benchmarks extended their losses from the previous week as the markets are worried about the rising inflation besides the likelihood of monetary policy tightening in the US. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-accepts-bennetts-invitation-to-visit-israel US President Joe Biden has accepted Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's invitation to visit Israel in "the next few months," the Prime Minister's office said. https://opinionexpress.in/re-elected-macron-vows-to-heal-divisions-in-france In a victory speech, a mere 90 minutes after he was projected re-elected as French President for a second term on Sunday evening, Emmanuel Macron, 44, with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, assured those who did not vote for him: "I am no longer the candidate of one camp, but the President of all." https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-says-moving-on-from-making-fun-of-bill-gates-ld Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Sunday sent a short and crypto tweet, saying he was 'moving on', putting social media on fire with all sorts of speculations. https://opinionexpress.in/feuding-brother-exposes-rohtas-goels-rs-3000-cr-scam In 2018, the Goel brothers had just begun their war 'officially' over the company, Omaxe Limited, followed by Sunil Goel's move to the National Company Law Tribunal alleging financial mismanagement by his elder brother and founder of the company, Rohtas Goel. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-will-provide-ukraine-with-more-military-equipment-johnson-tells-zelensky In a phone conversation with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that his country is set to provide the war-torn nation with more military equipment.In a statement, the Downing Street said that during the conversation between the two leaders on Saturday, Johnson told Zelensky more armoured vehicles, drones and anti-tank weapons would be sent to Ukraine, reports the BBC. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-cherishes-memories-of-his-elder-sister-lata-mangeshkar Conferred with the 1st 'Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award' on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to the late legendary singer, whom he termed his "elder sister" and cherished memories of his association with here. https://opinionexpress.in/free-and-fair-press-strengthens-rule-of-law-vice-president Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday stressed that a strong and vibrant democracy cannot survive without a free, unfettered and fearless press. https://opinionexpress.in/global-tourism-industry-to-create-nearly-126mn-jobs-in-10-yrs-report The global tourism industry is expected to create almost 126 million jobs worldwide within 10 years, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said in a report released on Thursday in the Philippine capital. https://opinionexpress.in/nepals-economy-is-slow-but-in-danger-experts Amid sluggish major macroeconomic indicators, Nepal has been facing economic challenges and hassles as per the latest central bank data. https://opinionexpress.in/kieron-pollard-hangs-his-boots-from-international-cricket-ld West Indies all-rounder and limited-overs captain Kieron Pollard on Wednesday announced his retirement from international cricket, ending his 15-year long career. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-notice-to-centre-on-pil-against-criminal-procedure-identification-act The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking a judicial review of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/new-versions-of-omicron-that-may-outpace-ba2-found Scientists have found 21 viral offspring linked with BA.2 that may outpace the most successful subvariant of Omicron variant so far. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-robots-will-be-worth-more-than-car-business-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk has predicted that robots will soon be worth more than the car business and even the FSD (full-self-driving) programme. https://opinionexpress.in/world-faces-human-catastrophe-due-to-russia-ukraine-war-david-malpass World Bank President David Malpass said that the global community is facing a "human catastrophe" from a food crisis in the wake of Russia's continued war against Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-growth-story-continues-despite-covid-more-people-turning-into-job-creators Various waves of the Covid pandemic could not sweep off India's growth story completely. Showing resilience India has registered 1.67 lakh companies in the financial year 2021-22 (April-March), according to a report by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). https://opinionexpress.in/congress-discusses-prashant-kishors-proposals The group of dissidents in the Congress -- G-23 -- seems to be upset after not being consulted for the ongoing discussions on the proposals given by political strategist Prashant Kishor as roadmap for the 2024 general elections. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-asks-eds-plan-to-get-back-unitechs-home-buyers-money-stashed-abroad The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to propose steps to bring back home buyers money, amounting to Rs 5,000 crore diverted to tax havens, as revealed in a forensic audit. https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-adani-promises-rs-10000-cr-investment-in-west-bengal Adani Group will invest an amount of around Rs 10,000 crore in West Bengal in the next few years, according to the group chairman and founder, Gautam Adani. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-launches-ayush-visa-for-medical-tourists Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the launch of a special category of Ayush visa for tourists visiting India for medical tourism or treatment. https://opinionexpress.in/defence-ministry-utilises-6550-of-capital-acquisition-budget-on-domestic-procurement The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said that it has utilised 65.50 per cent of the Capital Acquisition Budget on domestic procurement in the last financial year exceeding the target of 64 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/virat-kohli-should-take-a-break-from-cricket-to-overcome-lean-patch-shastri Former India men's cricket team chief coach Ravi Shastri has opined that Virat Kohli should take a break from the sport in order to overcome his lean patch. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-recalls-its-strong-friendship-with-india Bangladesh has recalled the whole-hearted support it received from the people of India, especially, West Bengal during its great war of liberation in 1971. https://opinionexpress.in/bar-association-seeks-suo-moto-contempt-proceedings-against-thackeray-raut The Indian Bar Association (IBA) has filed a public interest litigation seeking contempt of court proceedings against several political bigwigs in Maharashtra for certain alleged utterances pertaining to the judiciary, here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/special-military-operation-begins-in-ukraine-russia The second phase of the special military operation in Ukraine began on Wednesday, announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. https://opinionexpress.in/sitharaman-raises-fears-cryptocurrency-could-be-used-to-fund-terror Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday raised doubts about the size of the cryptocurrency market worldwide and stressed the need for a regulatory mechanism acceptable to all countries to prevent its use to launder money and fund terrorism, which, she said, were big concerns for India. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-hit-over-1200-ukrainian-targets Russia has claimed that it has hit more than 1,200 Ukrainian targets with missiles, airstrikes and artillery, and street battles have broken out as President Vladimir Putin's troops launched their new offensive in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-cuts-indias-2022-growth-prospects The International Monetary Fund has further slashed India's economic growth prospects for 2022 to 8.2 per cent from its earlier projection of 9 per cent, which in itself was lowered from 9.5 per cent. The global economy will suffer significantly from the war in Ukraine, the fund further projected in its World Economic Outlook released on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-opportunities-for-normalising-india-pak-relations The change in government in Islamabad can become a harbinger for not just restoring civility in relations between India and Pakistan but also give a push for normalisation of ties between the two neighbours. https://opinionexpress.in/oil-companys-might-require-to-further-raise-fuel-prices-fitch-ratings Further hikes in retail fuel prices may be required for state-run oil marketing companies' marketing margins to reach pre-November levels, Fitch Ratings said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/wests-economic-blitzkrieg-against-russia-fails-putin Western countries' "economic blitzkrieg" strategy against Russia has failed, President Vladimir Putin has said at a government meeting on economic issues. https://opinionexpress.in/uae-announces-new-visa-and-residence-scheme-to-attract-global-talent The UAE had adopted a new liberalised Entry and Residence Scheme, including new categories and expanding the scope of beneficiaries. https://opinionexpress.in/72-trillion-of-chinas-gdp-under-lockdown Nearly 400 million people across 45 cities in China are under full or partial lockdown as part of China's strict zero-Covid policy. https://opinionexpress.in/lt-gen-manoj-pande-becomes-first-sapper-to-be-indian-army-chief Indian Army's Vice Chief Lt Gen Manoj C. Pande was on Monday appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff - the first engineer to hold the top post. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-asks-bitcoin-scam-accused-to-share-info-with-ed Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Ajay Bhardwaj, the accused in the Gain Bitcoin scam, for not complying with its direction to divulge details of the username and password of cryptocurrency wallets to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). https://opinionexpress.in/sc-cancels-ashish-mishra-bail-in-lakhimpur-kheri-case The Supreme Court on Monday said the victims, in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident, were denied a fair and effective hearing at the time of granting bail to accused Ashish Mishra, and observed that the Allahabad High Court exceeded its jurisdiction by dwelling on the merits of the case and showed "tearing hurry" in granting bail. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-ups-risk-of-upper-airway-infections-cardiac-arrest-in-small-kids Because of their small and relatively collapsible airways, young children with Omicron are more vulnerable to upper airway infection such as croup, which if severe can lead to cardiac arrest, finds a study. https://opinionexpress.in/growth-opportunities-will-result-indian-renewable-companies-highly-leveraged-sp-global-ratings Global credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings on Monday said the Indian renewable energy sector will be highly leveraged owing to the growth opportunities. https://opinionexpress.in/sl-prez-appoints-new-cabinet-sans-rajapaksas Amid the growing public agitation with protest continuing for the ninth day occupying the entrance to his office, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a new cabinet on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-police-nod-compulsory-for-loudspeakers-at-all-religious-places ) In a significant move, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has made police permission compulsory for using loudspeakers at all religious places in the state, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/legal-experts-weigh-in-sc-must-protect-the-rights-of-state-govts The Supreme Court has commented on the nature of the Indian Union in several judgments, and plays a significant role in establishing and evolving "Indian federalism", say experts. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-pm-shehbaz-sharif-writes-to-pm-modi-urges-for-meaningful-ties-with-india Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi urging for maintaining meaningful bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistans-relationship-with-taliban-now-on-the-edge  It appears that after several months of failed efforts to deal with TTP, Islamabad's relationship with the Taliban government is now on the edge, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/china-has-set-up-3-mobile-towers-near-hot-springs-claims-local-councillor China has constructed three mobile towers at Hot Springs in eastern Ladakh very close to the LAC, local councillor Konchok Stanzin said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/terrorists-are-using-afghan-soil-with-impunity-to-carry-out-activities-inside-pak In the wake of recent cross-border attacks, Pakistan has called out Kabul to secure the region surrounding the Pak-Afghan border and take action against the elements engaged in terrorism, The News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/egypt-approves-india-as-a-wheat-supplier Egypt has approved India as a wheat supplier, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday. "Indian farmers are feeding the world," tweeted the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles https://opinionexpress.in/full-steam-ahead-bjp-revs-up-its-election-juggernaut-for-upcoming-state-polls While the opposition parties are still contemplating the reasons for their defeat, the BJP has started preparations for the assembly polls in all the major states being held till the end of next year. Senior BJP leaders including the Prime Minister have already started visiting these poll bound states. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-claims-full-control-of-urban-area-of-mariupol The entire urban area of Mariupol city in eastern Ukraine has been fully cleared of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and foreign mercenaries, the Russian military said. https://opinionexpress.in/ncr-districts-on-high-alert-amid-jahangirpuri-violence All police units across all districts in the National Capital Region (NCR) have been placed under high alert after the communal violence on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti in north-west Delhi's Jahangirpuri area. https://opinionexpress.in/3-chinese-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-6-month-in-space-station Three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship have completed their six-month space station mission and returned to Earth safely on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/trinamools-babul-supriyo-shatrughan-sinha-script-wins-in-bypolls Trinamool Congress candidates won the bypolls in both Asansol Lok Sabha and Ballygunge Assembly constituencies on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-warns-west-of-unpredictable-consequences Russia has formally warned the US and other allied nations against supplying weapons to Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/one-month-at-helm-300-units-of-free-power-for-households-in-punjab On completing 30 days of its helm in Punjab on Saturday, the AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann announced 300 units of free electricity from July 1 for all categories of household consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-calls-meeting-of-senior-leaders-prashant-kishor-joins-in A meeting, called by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi to discuss issues related to 'Chintan Shivir' and upcoming polls is underway at her residence here, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-mrna-tech-may-create-first-ever-cure-for-heart-attacks UK scientists may have discovered the world's first cure for heart attacks using the same mRNA technology as Covid vaccines. https://opinionexpress.in/ilayaraja-compares-narendra-modi-with-ambedkar-in-foreword-to-book South Indian music legend Ilayaraja has in the foreword of a book drawn parallels between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. https://opinionexpress.in/alliance-air-becomes-centres-independent-business-unit  Regional airline Alliance Air has become an independent business unit under the Central government's control. Alliance Air was an esrtwhile part of Air India prior to the latter's divestment. At present, it is operated as a division under the Air India Asset Holdings Pvt Ltd (AIAHL). It was founded in 1996 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of then Indian Airlines, which later merged with Air India. https://opinionexpress.in/fighting-for-mariupol-continues-says-ukraine Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokesman Olexandr Motuzyanyk has said that their forces continued to fight the Russian military for the Azov Sea key port city of Mariupol, the Ukrinform news agency reported. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-takes-digital-membership-to-enrols-26-crore-members On the last day of the digital membership drive of the Congress, the party's interim President Sonia Gandhi enrolled herself on Friday and was issued a digital membership card. https://opinionexpress.in/focusing-on-filling-up-vacancies-of-judges-infrastructure-cji Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana on Friday said that the judiciary is overburdened and that he is giving priority to filling up vacancies of judges and improving infrastructure to deal with the backlog of cases. https://opinionexpress.in/india-will-become-akhand-bharat-in-10-15-years-rss-chief Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has claimed that India will become 'Akhand Bharat' in 10-15 years. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-starts-delivery-of-second-s-400-missile-system-to-india Amid the Ukraine war and sanctions, Russia has begun delivering the second squadron of S-400 advanced surface-to-air missile defence system to India, ahead of schedule, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-to-downgrade-forecast-for-over-140-economies-amid-russia-ukraine-conflict The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief said the organisation will revise down its global growth forecast amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the impact of which will contribute to downgrades for 143 economies this year. https://opinionexpress.in/us-blames-nkorean-hackers-for-625-mn-crypto-heist The US has blamed North Korean hacker group Lazarus for stealing $625 million in cryptocurrency from the Ronin Network, owned by developer group Sky Mavis https://opinionexpress.in/ukrainian-fm-us-secy-of-state-discuss-new-military-aid-for-ukraine Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said he had discussed new military aid for Ukraine with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone conversation. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-successfully-tests-new-laser-based-air-defence-system Israel has successfully completed the first tests of a new laser-based system designed to intercept drones, missiles and other aerial threats, Israel's Defence Ministry has said. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-offers-5420-per-share-in-cash-to-buy-twitter Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday made his "best and final" offer of $54.20 per share in cash to buy 100 per cent of Twitter, in an updated filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-minister-eshwarappa-announces-resignation-for-contractor-suicide-case Karnataka's Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who is embroiled in the suicide case of contractor and BJP leader Santhosh K. Patil, on Thursday announced his resignation. https://opinionexpress.in/haryana-to-have-training-institute-for-drone-pilots A training institute for drone pilots would be set up in the state by Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Ltd (DRIISHYA), it was announced on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ranbir-alia-wedding-select-few-guests-invited-for-nuptials Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are set to exchange wedding vows on Thursday reportedly at 2 p.m. in Vastu Apartments, Pali Hill area of Mumbai. The couple has been very private about their wedding and that reflects in the guest list. https://opinionexpress.in/qualcomm-tops-global-cellular-iot-chip-market  Qualcomm topped the global cellular internet of things (IoT) chipset market with a 38 per cent share in terms of shipments in the fourth quarter of 2021, a new report has said. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-to-attend-pojk-sankalp-rally-on-may-8 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the 'Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Sankalp Rally' on May 8 which is being organised to reiterate India's claim over parts of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan, BJP sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-caseload-tops-5015-mn The global coronavirus caseload has topped 501.5 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 6.18 million and vaccinations to over 11.12 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-leaders-to-chalk-out-agenda-for-chintan-shivir After poll debacle in five states and discontent simmering within the party, the Congress will hold a brainstorming session 'Chintan Shivir' likely next month. Ahead of the session, the party's CWC will meet to finalise the agenda. https://opinionexpress.in/economic-crisis-india-may-help-sri-lanka-with-2bn-more India may help Sri Lanka with $2 billion more to help the island nation deal with the economic crisis, in line with its neighbourhood first policy. New Delhi has already helped Sri Lanka with $2.5 billion for rapid post Covid-19 economic recovery. https://opinionexpress.in/toyota-to-launch-1st-all-electric-suv-on-may-12-that-starts-from-42k Toyota will launch its first full-electric vehicle (EV) in May that starts from $42,000 and offers superior power efficiency performance and sufficient cruising range for practical driving. https://opinionexpress.in/us-treasury-secretary-warns-countries-indifferent-to-sanctions-against-russia US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday sent a warning to countries that are not moving to snap financial ties with Russia or seeking to undermine sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-no-to-plea-for-uniform-law-for-trusts The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a petition seeking a direction for a uniform law for trust and trustees, charities and charitable institutions, and religious endowments and institutions. https://opinionexpress.in/sundar-pichai-announces-95-bn-for-new-offices-data-centres-in-us Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday announced to invest approximately $9.5 billion for new offices and data centres in the US this year, creating 12,000 new full-time jobs and thousands more among local suppliers, partners and communities. https://opinionexpress.in/a-tribute-to-two-giants-on-samvidhan-divas Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thoughts and his vision, his works on social democracy strike the mind. It is not a coincidence that Babasaheb Ambedkar kept social democracy at the center of the address he gave at the last meeting of the Constituent Assembly. He said that the caste system and democracy cannot coexist. That is why the Indian Constitution introduced such rules that there is no discrimination on the basis of caste and language for the citizens living in any part of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/top-us-trade-body-to-help-india-become-global-chip-manufacturing-hub As India doubles down on local semiconductor manufacturing, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), which is the top trade association representing the US semiconductor industry, on Tuesday joined hands with the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA). https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-contractor-suicide-cong-to-meet-guv-bjp-seeks-report The Karnataka Congress has decided to intensify agitation against the ruling BJP government in connection with the suicide case of a contractor and BJP worker, Santhosh K. Patil. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-pm-to-focus-on-financial-upliftment-global-relations-institutional-harmony After days of chaotic political crisis, democratic instability and constitutional warfare, Pakistans shaky political ship seems to have come out of the storm and is showing a picture that is in line with the democratic political setup. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-4th-wave-will-start-in-june-july-k-sudhakar Predictive studies opine that the 4th wave of the Covid-19 will start in June-July and last till September, stated Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Tuesday. "Karnataka is prepared to face it," he added. https://opinionexpress.in/tight-russia-china-links-will-influence-indias-thinking-us-official The "tight links between" China and Russia are going to influence India's attitude to global developments, a senior US official has said after the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-biden-discuss-ukraine-during-virtual-meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden discussed Ukraine during the virtual meet on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-will-stand-by-india-as-it-faces-threats-from-china-austin Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin assured India on Monday that the US will continue to stand by it in the face of threats from China. https://opinionexpress.in/22-leaders-discuss-expanding-cooperation-to-new-areas-of-defence-geography The diplomatic and defence leaders of India and the US have discussed expanding their cooperation into new defence areas like space and cyberspace to enable their militaries to jointly meet the challenges of this century, according to a readout of their 2+2 meeting that stressed "common strategic interests". https://opinionexpress.in/shehbaz-sharif-elected-as-23rd-prime-minister-of-pakistan PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was on Monday elected as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan with 174 lawmakers voting in his favour after the MNAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf boycotted the election, Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/dhfl-case-sc-stays-nclat-order-to-hear-appeals-of-piramal-banks-in-may The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT) order which ruled a stipulation in the DHFL resolution plan as "illegal" on recovery of avoidance transactions. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-bri-trapped-sri-lanka-in-debt-chaos China's One Belt One Road (OBOR), now known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was announced in 2013 and it seems it has one purpose only -- subjugation of the economically fragile nations on the way to becoming a great power by the time the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) celebrates 100 years. https://opinionexpress.in/rojas-journey-from-silver-screen-to-andhra-cabinet Luck has finally smiled on actor-politician R.K. Roja as she found a berth in Andhra Pradesh Cabinet. https://opinionexpress.in/bhu-to-follow-nalanda-taxila-model-of-global-education-hub A symbol of knowledge, education and culture, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has established itself as a global education hub on the lines of Nalanda and Taxila. Located in the ancient city of Varanasi, the BHU is known worldwide as an institution of distinction having students ferom South Africa, Brazil, Russia, France, Ireland, Australia, Yemen and Iran, are studying in the 'Insititution of Eminence'. https://opinionexpress.in/backdoor-latvian-blend-keeps-russian-oil-flowing-into-europe European energy companies are finding workarounds to keep Russian crude flowing while placating public opinion, a media report said. https://opinionexpress.in/macron-versus-le-pen-rematch-in-second-round-of-french-elections Notwithstanding a slightly low voter turnout, an opening estimate of the result of the first round of the French presidential election by pollsters Ipsos, gave the incumbent President Emmanuel Macron 28.1 per cent of votes, with Marie Le Pen of the far-right National Rally, better known as National Front, securing 23.3 per cent support. https://opinionexpress.in/high-oil-prices-to-keep-rupee-on-a-slippery-slope High crude oil prices combined with fears of rising inflation are expected to keep the Indian rupee under pressure, next week. Lately, the Brent crude oil price has remained elevated due to the Russian-Ukrainian war. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-ouster-is-planned-by-top-political-players Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a cricket turned politician and a popular leader of political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has become the first in Pakistan's history to be removed from office after losing a no-confidence vote in the parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-probe-links-iranian-representative-to-money-laundering A money laundering network in Pakistan transferred a "colossal amount" of allegedly illicit funds to Iran, with a representative of the Iranian supreme leader among the recipients, court documents recently submitted by Pakistani investigators show, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/third-term-for-sitaram-yechury-as-cpi-m-general-secretary CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury will continue in the post for a third term. This was announced at the party's 23rd party Congress venue on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/abu-dhabi-based-ihc-to-invest-2-bln-in-3-adani-group-companies International Holding Company PJSC (IHC), the Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate, will invest $2 billion as primary capital in three Adani portfolio companies -- Adani Green Energy, Adani Transmission and Adani Enterprises. https://opinionexpress.in/naya-pakistan-how-it-remained-old-and-there-was-no-milk-and-honey As you rise so shall you fall. One must have heard such a maxim with some variations here and there. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-mission-150-mode-in-karnataka After the party won four out of five states in the recent assembly polls, the BJP has started preparations for the Karnataka assembly polls scheduled mid next year. The party is working on 'Mission 150+' for the assembly polls in 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/white-collar-farmers-young-professionals-turn-to-farming-taste-success Is innovation the key to success? Yes it is...Since the double engine government in Uttar Pradesh started focusing on boosting agriculture, young professionals are opting for organic farming with innovative ideas that is earning them dividends. https://opinionexpress.in/mayawati-slams-rahuls-remarks-asks-cong-to-mind-its-own-busines Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati, on Sunday, slammed Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi, a day after he said that the BSP chief "did not respond" to the party's alliance offer in Uttar Pradesh during elections. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-tells-cong-to-submit-information-on-bitcoin-scandal Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday challenged the Congress to submit information regarding the Bitcoin scandal, saying he has already responded in the Assembly on the issue. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-ousted-as-pak-pm-after-losing-no-confidence-vote Imran Khan has been ousted as the Pakistan Prime Minister after losing the opposition's no-trust motion on Sunday, with 174 members in the 342-strong National Assembly (NA) voting in favour of the resolution. https://opinionexpress.in/us-afraid-that-ties-among-china-russia-and-india-may-develop-further The US is afraid that ties among China, Russia, and India may further develop due to the Ukraine crisis, Chinese state media has said. https://opinionexpress.in/pks-team-in-gujarat-to-assess-situation-for-cong Ahead of the Gujarat polls, political strategist Prashant Kishor's team has landed in Gujarat to assess the situation for the Congress in the state, sources said. However, there is no clarity on Kishor joining the grand old party. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-ran-away-from-discussion-on-price-rise-unemployment-jairam As Parliament was adjourned sine die on Thursday, Congress alleged that the government ran away from debate on price rise, farmers and unemployment issues during the Budget Session. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-on-plea-seeking-detection-deportation-of-illegal-infiltrators The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to list a plea seeking detection and deportation of illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators, however it expressed its reservation on matters connected with governance. https://opinionexpress.in/us-warns-india-against-aligning-with-russia US President Joe Biden's top economic adviser has said that the US warned India against partnering too closely with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-will-form-the-government-in-telangana-g-kishan-reddy The Union Minister for Culture, Tourism & Development Of North Eastern Region (DoNER) also held the Congress responsible for every problem in the country, and said that Sonia Gandhi has "no right" to criticise the BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/record-high-indias-agri-exports-touch-50-bn  India achieved a record high of agriculture exports in 2021-22, which crossed the $50 billion-mark, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/south-african-woman-first-to-test-positive-for-xe-covid-variant-in-india-ld A woman costumes designer of South African origin has become the first person in India to test positive for the XE variant of Covid-19, the state health department and officials of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/shehbaz-tells-pak-prez-process-started-by-him-is-violation-of-constitution Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, informed President Arif Alvi on Wednesday that the Opposition does not agree with the suggestion of appointing Justice (Retd) Gulzar Ahmed as the interim Prime Minister and that the process for the appointment issued by the head of the state was a "violation of law and Constitution", Geo News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/study-reveals-how-covid-can-lead-to-long-term-pain A team of researchers has provided important insights into how SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus responsible for Covid-19 -- can lead to long-term pain. https://opinionexpress.in/1955-merc-once-the-pride-of-former-travancore-royals-will-now-belong-to-billionaire-yusuff-ali The 1955 model Mercedes-Benz 180 T bearing the registration number CAN 42 has always been the pride of the erstwhile Travancore royal family, but very soon it will have a new owner in billionaire M.A. Yusuff Ali. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-emerges-as-major-defense-exporter India is all set to position itself as a global hub of manufacturing weapons, warships, planes and arms and ammunitions. It is steadily becoming self-reliant in the sector and the Union government is also giving the necessary impetus with proper budgetary allocation of funds. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-extend-losses-mpc-meet-in-focus-for-fresh-cues The benchmark indices -- Sensex and Nifty -- extended their losses for the second consecutive session on Wednesday primarily due to profit booking after a consistent rally in recent sessions. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-more-prudent-in-food-supply-to-hostile-countries-putin Russia will be more prudent this year in exporting food, especially to countries that are pursuing a hostile policy towards Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-to-table-criminal-procedure-identification-bill-in-rs The Centre is likely to table the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is to move the Bill which seeks to authorise "taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration." Shah is also to move that the Bill be passed. https://opinionexpress.in/after-mahas-sit-ed-attaches-sanjay-rauts-assets-in-mumbai-raigad In what is construed as a retaliation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday swooped to attach assets belonging to Shiv Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut hours after the Maharashtra government set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of corruption against the central probe agency. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-to-establish-full-fledged-anti-gangster-task-force In a bid to wipe out gangster's network operating across the state so as to create a sense of security amongst the residents, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday directed Punjab DGP V.K. Bhawra to establish a full-fledged Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), headed by an ADGP-rank officer. https://opinionexpress.in/france-to-expel-russian-diplomats The French Foreign Ministry said that the country has decided to expel "many" Russian diplomats, "whose activities are contrary to our security interests". https://opinionexpress.in/sl-military-warns-of-tough-action-against-violent-protesters  Amid mounting protests and vandalisation of properties of politicians, Sri Lanka's military on Tuesday warned the protesters of severe action if they resort to violence. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-seeks-centres-response-on-plea-against-sections-of-hindu-succession-act The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to file its response on a plea challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 15 and 16 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. https://opinionexpress.in/amidst-public-protest-to-resign-sl-president-pm-hold-crucial-meeting Amidst public protests around the country defying island-wide curfew on Sunday and government allies demanding to form a caretaker government, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa are to decide on future on after a crucial meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-denotified-as-prime-minister-of-pakistan  Imran Khan was on Sunday de-notified as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, in wake of the dissolution of the National Assembly by the President, reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/sanctions-against-russia-could-undermine-global-dominance-of-us-dollar-imf Sanctions against Russia could undermine the global dominance of the US dollar, according to Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). https://opinionexpress.in/now-russian-foreign-minister-sergey-lavrov-lands-in-new-delhi Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov landed in New Delhi on Thursday evening to hold talks with Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar over crude oil offer, rupee-ruble payment and arms deals. https://opinionexpress.in/ttp-announces-fresh-offensive-against-pakistan-during-ramadan A fresh wave of terror attacks is geared up to strike Pakistani security forces with full force as the Pakistani Taliban have announced the launch of their spring offensive -- 'Al-Badr' -- during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. https://opinionexpress.in/academy-reacts-to-will-smith-slap-says-it-doesnt-condone-violence The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has responded to the Will Smith-Chris Rock slap episode that has overshadowed everything else that happened at the 94th Academy Awards. https://opinionexpress.in/ev-car-on-a-new-high Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Thursday in the Lok Sabha said that India has registered overall 162 per cent growth in the sales of electric vehicles this year. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-foreign-secy-in-india-for-diplomatic-push-over-russia-ukraine-war UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will be in New Delhi on Thursday "as part of a wider diplomatic push following Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine", a British government statement said. https://opinionexpress.in/retiring-rs-members-have-vast-legislative-experience-v-p The Rajya Sabha Chairman on Thursday said the 72 members retiring from the Upper House comprise a vast pool of considerable legislative experience, domain knowledge, parliamentary skills and proven performance. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-stands-by-nominee-for-india-envoy-despite-senate-stalemate US President Joe Biden is standing by Eric Garcetti whose nomination to be the Ambassador to India has hit a roadblock at the Senate, according to a White House official. https://opinionexpress.in/ahead-of-guj-polls-cong-makes-appointment-in-social-media-data-dept Ahead of crucial polls in Gujarat, the Congress on Wednesday made appointments in the Social Media and Data Analytics Departments, to strengthen the presence of the party in the social media sphere and for the digital membership drive. https://opinionexpress.in/who-calls-for-quality-care-for-women-newborns-post-childbirth The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday launched its first ever global guidelines to support women and newborns in the postnatal period -- the first six weeks after birth. https://opinionexpress.in/ashwin-no-2-among-all-rounders Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja's superb run in the recently-concluded away series against Pakistan has seen him leapfrog batting stalwarts such as David Warner, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma and Travis Head to jump six spots to No.7 in the latest ICC Test Rankings for batters released on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-terms-no-trust-move-a-huge-international-conspiracy Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said he will show the 'threatening letter', that he referred to in his public rally in Islamabad on March 27, to senior journalists and government allies later on Wednesday, Express Tribune reported https://opinionexpress.in/the-kashmir-files-row-bjp-protests-at-kejriwals-house-aap-claims-vandalisation The members of Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha on Wednesday staged a protest outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the latter's recent remarks in the Assembly on 'The Kashmir Files' movie. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-lead-asias-insurtech-industry-rise-report Insurtech companies in India raised $1.33 billion in 2021 and $304.8 million a year earlier, becoming one of the three biggest insurtech fundraisers in Asia, according to a new report. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-odi-australia-thrash-pakistan-by-88-runs Australia thrashed Pakistan by 88 runs in the first ODI, to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-cdc-recommends-additional-covid-19-boosters-for-vulnerable-groups The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 to get another mRNA Covid-19 booster at least 4 months after receiving an initial booster dose. https://opinionexpress.in/army-chief-top-military-brass-to-review-deployment-along-china-pak-borders Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, Vice Chief Lieutenant General Manoj Pande and other top military commanders reached the headquarters of the Central Command in Lucknow on Wednesday to review deployments of troops in the Western and Northern borders. https://opinionexpress.in/vasundhara-raje-to-re-establish-herself-as-face-of-party-in-rajasthan Ahead of next year's assembly polls in Rajasthan, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is trying to re-establish herself as the BJP's face there. She is meeting the party's central leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and participating in party events https://opinionexpress.in/voting-on-no-confidence-motion-against-imran-khan-on-april-3 Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed announced on Tuesday that voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan will take place on April 3, Geo News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-not-only-infects-human-retina-but-can-also-replicate-in-it Though SARS-CoV-2, virus causing Covid-19, majorly causes infections of the respiratory tract, it also affects other organs of the human body such as the eyes and brain. https://opinionexpress.in/icra-cuts-indias-fy23-gdp-growth-forecast-to-72 Ratings agency ICRA has lowered India's FY23 GDP growth forecast to 7.2 per cent from an earlier projection of 8 per cent.Besides, the rating agency projected GDP expansion in FY22 at 8.5 per cent, which is modestly lower than the National Statistical Office's (NSO's) second advance estimate of 8.9 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/international-peace-can-no-longer-be-taken-for-granted-jaishankar The Russia-Ukraine war has added to international disquiet and it has also underscored that the maintenance of international peace and security can no longer be taken for granted, Indian External Minister S. Jaishankar said in Sri Lanka on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/in-up-it-is-now-the-yogi-way The distribution of portfolios and some other steps taken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the last two days have given enough indication that the second term of the BJP government is going to be Yogi way on the highway. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-to-face-no-confidence-motion Leader of Opposition in the Pakistan National Assembly and PML-N President, Shahbaz Sharif, on Monday tabled the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Lower House, Geo News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-distributes-portfolios-for-20-term Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday distributed portfolios to his newly-inducted ministers, keeping the largest share for himself. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-frantic-bjp-still-woos-ajit-pawar-pats-his-working-style Not prepared to rest in peace after losing power in Maharashtra, the state BJP is still hoping for a 'miracle' that could resurrect it into the driving seat, after dozens of ominous deadlines to topple the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government passed away event-free. https://opinionexpress.in/we-cant-let-putin-take-over-ukraine-elon-musk As Moscow's invasion of Kiev has entered its second month, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the world cannot let Russian President Vladimir Putin win in Ukraine because if he can get away with it, this will be a message to other countries that perhaps they could get away with it too. https://opinionexpress.in/nationalism-soars-with-the-kashmir-files It is said that there are only seven genres of stories on which films could be made. Indian filmmakers too followed that tenet. When television came along, these genres were divided by them. Mythology, crime and social dramas were taken over by television serial makers. Filmmakers keep struggling with the rest -- comedy, romance and action. https://opinionexpress.in/muslim-personal-law-board-moves-sc-against-hc-verdict-on-hijab The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court judgment, which upheld the ban on hijab in classrooms after holding that the wearing of headscarves by Muslim women was not an essential religious practice. https://opinionexpress.in/mukhtar-ansari-being-shifted-to-lucknow-jail Former BSP MLA and jailed mafia don Mukhtar Ansari is being shifted to the Lucknow jail, a year after he was brought back from Ropar in Punjab and lodged in the Banda jail https://opinionexpress.in/states-where-hindusother-communities-are-less-can-declare-them-minorities-sc-told The Central government has told the Supreme Court that state governments, where Hindus or other communities are less in number, can declare them a minority community within their territory. https://opinionexpress.in/drdo-successfully-flight-tests-armys-surface-to-air-missile The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful flight tests of the Indian Army's version of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-in-uae-lulu-group-to-invest-rs-3500-cr-in-tn The multibillion-dollar Lulu group of Keralite NRI businessman M.A. Yusuf Ali will be investing Rs 3,500 crore in Tamil Nadu. This was announced by the group chairman and Managing Director M.A. Yusuf Ali while attending the investors' meet of Tamil Nadu in Dubai. The meet was organised by the Tamil Nadu state government on Saturday. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, who is on a four-day tour of the Middle East to scout investments, was present at the meet. https://opinionexpress.in/with-maximum-votes-these-bjp-mlas-got-the-least-in-up It has been a case of the most getting the least. The top five BJP winners in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections have, ironically, been left out in the government formation for reasons not known. https://opinionexpress.in/rishi-sunak-has-serious-questions-to-answer-over-murthys-shares UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is facing questions over his wife's wealth after accounts indicated that she received millions of pounds in dividends from a firm that is still operating in Russia, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/will-pawan-kalyan-succeed-in-forging-grand-anti-ysrcp-alliance Political parties in Andhra Pradesh are abuzz with the talk of realignment ever since actor-politician Pawan Kalyan asserted at his Jana Senas formation day celebrations that he will not allow a split in anti-YSRCP votes in the next elections. https://opinionexpress.in/today-is-a-battle-for-pakistan-imran-khan Islamabad: In his exclusive message for Sunday planned rally at the Parade Ground, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the people to leave early for the public meeting, saying that "today is a battle for Pakistan and not for PTI", The News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/for-the-first-time-in-15-years-ipl-sponsorships-cross-rs-1000-crore The BCCI this year will earn little over Rs 1,000 crore from the Indian Premier League (IPL 2022) central sponsorships, Inside Sport reported. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-card-has-nothing-to-do-with-army-imran-khan S) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his much-discussed "trump card" has nothing to do with the army, The News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/rrr-inspiring-its-magnum-opus-look-and-feel-good-factor Director: S.S. Rajamouli. Cast: Jr NTR, Ra Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, Samuthirakani, Alison Doody, Ray Stevenson and Shriya Saran. https://opinionexpress.in/inflationary-woes-to-maintain-pressure-on-rupee Inflationary concerns over elevated commodity prices are expected to maintain pressure on the Indian rupee during the upcoming week. Accordingly, high crude oil as well as other raw material prices are expected to unleash a domestic inflationary wave. https://opinionexpress.in/405-posts-of-high-court-judges-vacant-across-the-country Out of the sanctioned strength of 1,104 judges in high courts across the country, there are 699 judges, while 405 posts are vacant, the Parliament was told on Friday. "Against 405 vacancies, at present, 175 proposals are at various stages of processing between the government and the Supreme Court Collegium. Further recommendations from High Court Collegiums are yet to be received in respect of 230 vacancies in high courts," Law Minister Kiren Rijuju told the Lok Sabha in a reply to a question. https://opinionexpress.in/india-calls-for-action-on-pakistan-nkorea-nuke-bomb-missile-nexus India has called for international action on the nuclear-missile nexus of Pakistan and North Korea, calling it a threat to the region's security. https://opinionexpress.in/new-book-claims-widening-rift-between-biden-and-harris A new book claims there is a 'widening rift' between US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/my-govt-performed-better-than-all-previous-ones-in-last-50-years-imran Describing numerous ‘achievements of his PTI-led government since coming into power in 2018, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday claimed that no regime in Pakistan had performed in the last 50 years as well as his government did during its three-and-a-half-year rule, Express Tribune reported. https://opinionexpress.in/border-disengagement-happening-at-slower-pace-jaishankar-tells-wang External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Friday that during his meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, he told the latter that the disengagement of troops at the LAC in Eastern Ladakh is a "work in progress", but is happening at a "slower pace" than desired. https://opinionexpress.in/the-rise-of-brajesh-pathak-in-up-politics From a student leader to an aide of Bahujan Samaj Party leader Satish Chandra Mishra and then a BSP MP himself to a BJP minister and now a Deputy Chief Minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, the rise of Brajesh Pathak in UP politics has been meteoric. https://opinionexpress.in/all-russian-gold-from-foreign-exchange-reserves-is-within-country-central-bank The Central Bank of Russia stated that all Russian gold from the national gold and foreign exchange reserves is located on the territory of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-sworn-in-for-2nd-term-up-govt-gets-a-new-complexion Yogi Adityanath was sworn in as the 33rd chief minister of Uttar Pradesh on Friday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and a galaxy of chief ministers. https://opinionexpress.in/china-doesnt-want-unipolar-asia-respects-indias-role-in-region-wang-yi China does not want unipolar Asia and respects India's traditional role in the region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during their meeting in Delhi, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/preeti-chandras-involved-in-money-laundering-ed The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday informed the Supreme Court that the wife of jailed former Unitech promoter Sanjay Chandra was actively involved in a huge money laundering operation, and she was operating from the UAE. The ED added they have found various assets in Cayman Islands, Mauritius, Singapore etc. https://opinionexpress.in/india-requires-2210-aircraft-over-next-20-years-says-airbus Aircraft maker Airbus has forecast that India will require 2,210 new aircraft over the next 20 years when the country's air passenger traffic is expected to grow at 6.2 per cent per annum, the highest in the world. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-variant-worse-than-omicron-in-next-2-years-uk-epidemiologist There is a "high chance" that a new Covid variant which is worse than Omicron will emerge in the next two years, England's chief medical officer, Chris Whitty has warned. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-deepika-set-to-wrap-up-pathaan-spain-schedule-on-march-27 Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone have been shooting for a grandiose song of 'Pathan' in Mallorca, a Balearic Island of Spain, for the past few days. The two are now set to head to Cadiz and Jerez in Spain where they will wrap up the schedule on March 27. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-sets-eyes-to-conquer-hills-of-himachal-pradesh After demolishing the citadels of all major political parties in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is now preparing to conquer the hills of Himachal Pradesh in the November Assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/trade-border-dispute-in-focus-as-chinese-foreign-minister-lands-in-delhi Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who landed in Delhi on Thursday evening, is expected to hold bilateral talks on trade and the pending border dispute in Ladakh that is almost two years old now. https://opinionexpress.in/russias-rosatom-continues-building-n-plant-for-india Even as Russia is fighting a war against Ukraine, the former's integrated nuclear energy player Rosatom continues to manufacture the components needed for the 1,000 MW plant that is being built in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-open-on-negative-note-sensex-declines-nearly-300-pts India's key equity indices -- Sensex and Nifty -- opened on a negative note on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-elected-leader-bjp-stakes-claim-to-form-govt-in-up Yogi Adityanath will be formally elected as the leader of the legislature party at a meeting of the newly elected MLAs of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-subvariant-infections-on-rise-in-us-coinciding-with-allergy-season The BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant has made up over one-third of new Covid-19 infections in the US, coinciding with the allergy season that may complicate symptoms and delay timely distinction. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-may-announce-major-move-on-march-27-pak-minister Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan is holding his cards close and may announce a major move on March 27, Samaa TV reported. https://opinionexpress.in/india-abstains-for-5th-time-on-un-ukraine-resolution-but-this-time-with-us India has abstained for the fifth time on a UN resolution on Ukraine, but this time it was on a Russia-sponsored resolution in the Security Council and New Delhi was on the side of Washington and its allies. https://opinionexpress.in/beijing-says-no-g20-member-can-expel-others Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin commented on Wednesday on potential plans of the US and Western allies to kick Russia out of the G20 in the wake of its military offensive in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-predicts-collapse-in-oil-gas-market-without-russian-hydrocarbons Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Wednesday said that without Russian hydrocarbons, the oil and gas market would collapse. https://opinionexpress.in/press-china-to-give-unfettered-access-to-tibet During the ongoing 49th UN Human Rights Council session, UN Advocacy Officer Kalden Tsomo of the Tibet Bureau Geneva has urged the UN Human Rights Council to press China to give unfettered access to Tibetan regions for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the visit to China and regions under its control. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-settle-lower-in-volatile-trade-sensex-down-304-pts-ld Paring the entire opening session gains, India's key equity indices -- Sensex and Nifty -- settled on a negative note on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/gen-bajwa-praised-nawaz-sharif-for-being-responsive-to-militarys-needs Shehbaz Sharif claimed that General Qamar Javed Bajwa has praised Nawaz Sharif for respecting him. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-builds-its-1st-quantum-computer Jerusalem, March 23 (IANS) Israeli scientists have developed the country's first quantum computer, Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) has announced. https://opinionexpress.in/india-developed-close-ties-with-russia-because-us-was-not-ready-then-us-spokesperson State Department Spokesperson Ned Price has acknowledged that India developed defence ties with Russia because the US was not ready for such a relationship when the Soviet Union and India drew close. https://opinionexpress.in/bpcls-privatisation-process-has-reached-second-stage-govt BPCL's privatisation process has reached second stage: Govt https://opinionexpress.in/will-list-it-early-sc-on-amazons-plea-against-transfer-of-future-retail-assets The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that e-commerce major Amazon's interim plea seeking preservation of Future Retail's assets will be listed for hearing as early as possible. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-urges-washington-to-quit-escalating-tensions Washington must stop escalating tensions if it wishes to normalize ties with Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-only-quad-ally-to-be-somewhat-shaky-on-russia-biden US President Joe Biden said that only India among fellow the Quad allies, which also include Japan and Australia, has been "somewhat shaky" in its response to Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, the BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/after-azad-sonia-now-meets-anand-sharma-manish-tewari Days after meeting Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday met senior party leaders Anand Sharma and Manish Tewari to discuss the proposal mooted by the disgruntled G-23 group. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-extend-losses-sensex-declines-around-250-pts India's key equity indices -- Sensex and Nifty -- extended their losses from the previous session to decline during early trade on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/unga-to-vote-again-on-ukraine The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will vote on Wednesday on a draft resolution on Ukraine, the second such resolution since Russia began its invasion of Kiev on February 24, a spokesperson said. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cm-holds-home-administrative-reforms-portfolios On the recommendation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Monday allotted portfolios to the newly inducted ministers. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-gives-nagaland-first-woman-phangnon-konyak-rajya-sabha-mp The term 'Matri Shakti' can be easily translated into women empowerment. But in the context of Nagaland -- where patriarchy and male chauvinism rule politics -- it is almost a revolution. https://opinionexpress.in/more-plane-with-132-people-on-board-crashes-in-china A China Eastern flight, carrying 132 people on board, crashed on Monday in the country's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to emergency officials. https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-names-veteran-diplomat-as-new-envoy-to-india Veteran Nepal diplomat Shankar Sharma, the former Ambassador to the US, has been appointed as the new Ambassador to India. https://opinionexpress.in/saudi-oil-giant-aramcos-net-income-in-2021-rose-by-124 Aramco announced that its net income in 2021 rose by 124 per cent, reaching $110 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/pfizers-antiviral-covid-drug-still-effective-despite-resistance-fear An antiviral drug, developed by Pfizer to treat SARS-CoV-2, remains effective against the newest variants of the evolving Covid-19 virus, according to researchers. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-changes-tactics-for-ukraine-war After failing to capture Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been forced to change his war tactics in Ukraine and is moving to a strategy of "protecting key territorial goals". https://opinionexpress.in/justice-for-kashmiri-pandits-files As the families of the victims could not go back to Kashmir due to terrorism to file the criminal cases against the atrocities committed against them, the question arises as to what are the options after 32 years for them. https://opinionexpress.in/abhishek-banerjee-joins-ed-probe-in-alleged-coal-scam Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress MP and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday joined the investigation in a money laundering case pertaining to alleged coal scam being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). https://opinionexpress.in/do-you-sleep-soundly-yet-feel-sluggish-during-day-here-is-medical-advise Do you sleep 'soundly' yet feel sluggish throughout the day? Do you wake up often during the night? Do you snore? If the answer to either of the questions is a yes then you could be suffering from a condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), doctors of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) said on World Sleep Day that fall on March 18 https://opinionexpress.in/apple-ceo-tim-cook-sends-holi-wishes-to-people-celebrating-across-world CEO Tim Cook on Friday took to Twitter to wish everyone on the occasion of Holi, the festival of colours. https://opinionexpress.in/how-bjp-micro-managed-lakhimpur-kheri-adjoining-areas-in-up Many are surprised with the BJP's victory in Lakhimpur Kheri in the recently-concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, where the farmers' agitation was at its "peak" after the October 2021 violence involving a Union Minister's son. https://opinionexpress.in/china-asystematically-impeded-travel-in-tibet-us-report The Chinese government "systematically impeded" travel to Tibetan areas by US diplomats, journalists and tourists in 2021, the State Department said in a new report mandated by a law that pushes for American access to Tibet. https://opinionexpress.in/dravidian-ethos-philosophies-to-be-principle-of-dmk-govt-tn-fin-min Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan on Friday said that the driving force for the DMK government under M.K. Stalin will be Dravidian ethos and philosophies. https://opinionexpress.in/karolina-bielawska-is-miss-world-2021 Karolina Bielawska of Poland has been crowned Miss World 2021, which was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 70th edition of the event was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Coca-Cola Music Hall. While Karolina is the winner, Indian-American Shree Saini of the US is the first runner-up, and Olivia Yace of Côte d'Ivoire is the second. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-fintech-payment-firms-have-no-data-advantage-over-banks-moodys As the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) barred Paytm from taking on new customers for its Payments Bank, a new report on Thursday said that fintech platforms' dominance in digital payments may not result in a significant data advantage over banks. https://opinionexpress.in/canadas-inflation-rate-continues-to-climb-to-multi-decade-record Canada's consumer prices increased 5.7 per cent year over year in February, up from a 5.1 percent gain in January, Statistics Canada said. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-top-adventure-sports-places India is one of the few countries that has something to offer adventurers of all types. When it comes to adventure excursions in India, there's something for everyone, from the majestic Himalayas to the vast Thar desert, the Rann of Kutch, the seashore, and the islands of Andaman and Lakshadweep. Trekking, hang-gliding, bungee jumping, scuba diving, hot-air ballooning, white river rafting, and snow skiing are just a few of the exhilarating adventure activities available. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-circle-to-expand-its-service-soon Twitter is testing a new feature that will allow the users to choose up to 150 closest friends and set up a 'Twitter Circle' like a college or a school reunion group. https://opinionexpress.in/indices-extend-gains-on-global-cues-sensex-up-nearly-1000-pts India's key equity indices -- Sensex and Nifty -- extended their gains on Thursday from the previous session on global cues. https://opinionexpress.in/presidential-election-will-not-be-easy-for-bjp-says-mamata Though the BJP won four states in the recent Assembly polls but winning the Presidential election will not be an easy task for it because they don't have even half of the legislators of the country, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/azad-sonia-to-meet-for-setting-up-the-roadmap Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is leading the 'G-23' group demanding sweeping organisational changes in the party, is likely to meet party interim chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday to address the grievances of the group sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/increased-reliance-on-judges-to-resolve-matters-diminishes-role-of-political-organs-sc The Supreme Court on Wednesday, while upholding the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) scheme for armed forces personnel, observed that increased reliance on judges to solve matters of pure policy diminishes the role of other political organs. https://opinionexpress.in/us-putting-pressure-on-india-china-egypt-for-cooperation-with-russia-lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the US is putting pressure on China, Turkey, and a number of other countries because of cooperation with Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/mann-takes-oath-amid-wave-of-basanti Amid a wave of 'basanti' and chants of 'Rang de Basanti', a revolutionary song, AAP leader and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who donned his traditional 'basanti' turban, took oath of office on Wednesday in this village of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, who laid down his life for the country's Independence, amidst a mass gathering of some 400,000 audience. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-govt-has-no-plan-to-introduce-cryptocurrency There is no plan by the government to introduce cryptocurrency, the Parliament was told on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-oil-purchases-from-russia-wont-violate-us-sanctions-bidens-spokesperson India's oil purchases from Russia would not violate any of the sanctions imposed by the US on that country, according to President Joe Biden's Spokesperson Jen Psaki. https://opinionexpress.in/pnb-declares-rs-2060-cr-fraud-at-ilfs-tamil-nadu-power The Punjab National Bank (PNB) has reported a borrowal fraud of Rs 2060.14 crore in the NPA account of IL&FS Tamil Nadu Power at the Extra Large Corporate Branch in Delhi zonal office. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-imposes-sanctions-on-us-president-joe-biden Russia has imposed personal sanctions against US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-g-23-took-defensive-stance-at-cwc-meet The group of dissenters within the Congress, also known as G-23, took a defensive stance during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Sunday, as their representatives raised only 'technical points' and did not press for a change in the leadership as they had demanded in 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-hc-dismisses-plea-seeking-permission-to-wear-hijab-in-classrooms The Karnataka High Court's special bench on Tuesday dismissed petitions filed by students seeking direction for permission to wear hijab in classrooms. The court said, "Wearing of hijab was not an essential part of Islam." https://opinionexpress.in/soaring-lng-prices-likely-to-drive-up-indias-rs-1-tn-fertiliser-subsidy India's heavy reliance on imported Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as a fertiliser feedstock exposes the nation's balance sheet to ongoing global gas price hikes, increasing the government's fertiliser subsidy bill, a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-a-tad-down-in-early-trade India's key equity indices -- Sensex and Nifty -- traded marginally lower in early session on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/first-covid-and-now-ukraine-global-markets-reel-under-blow-after-blow The only positive consequence of a continuing conflict in Ukraine from a market standpoint is that the longer it goes the more likely it is to temper the recently conceived inflation fighting zeal of G7 central banks, even though the war itself is adding to the inflationary pressures, says Christopher Wood, analyst at Jefferies. https://opinionexpress.in/pink-ball-test-karunaratnes-century-goes-in-vain-as-india-beat-sri-lanka-by-238-runs-to-win-series-2-0 Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 14th Test century on a difficult pitch but it was not enough to deny India a win by 238 runs on Day three of the second Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/gandhis-responsible-for-congresss-rout-capt-amarinder Holding the Gandhis solely responsible for the complete rout of the Congress in all the recent Assembly polls, PLC chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday slammed the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for blaming him for the defeat in Punjab instead of gracefully admitting their own blunders. https://opinionexpress.in/the-birth-of-a-new-monetary-world-order-as-russia-reels-under-sanctions As US President Joe Biden unveiled new sanctions on Friday against Russia, he made it clear that the totality of the sanctions and export controls is "crushing the Russian economy". https://opinionexpress.in/russias-calls-for-military-supplies-economic-assistance-put-china-in-a-fix Russia has asked China for military help and aid in evading sanctions imposed on Moscow as it continues to wage its war against Ukraine, the BBC reported citing US officials as saying. https://opinionexpress.in/unatttended-bag-in-delhi-bound-train-triggers-panic-no-bomb-found An unattended bag found inside a Delhi-bound local train triggered panic on Monday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-top-in-pink-ball-test-match Pacer Jasprit Bumrah's historic eighth five-wicket haul (5/24) followed by brilliant half-centuries by Shreyas Iyer (67) and Rishabh Pant (50) helped India tighten their grip over Sri Lanka on the action-packed second day of the second and final Test (pink ball game) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-up-in-indian-stock-market India's key equity index, Sensex, extended its rally from the previous week and traded marginally higher during the early session on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-warns-china-of-consequences-if-it-tries-to-help-russia-on-sanctions The United States authorities have notified Beijing of the "consequences" if the PRC tries to help Russia compensate for losses from Western sanctions, said Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to the President of the United States. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-gandhi-offers-to-resign-cwc-turns-down Congress' interim chief Sonia Gandhi offered to "step back" from her role as the Congress Working Committee met on Sunday for an over five-hour-long discussion on the fall-out of the recent Assembly polls but the party's highest decision authority did not accept it. https://opinionexpress.in/big-commercial-entertainers-will-never-go-out-of-style-kriti-sanon Actor Kriti Sanon says she doesn't believe that Bollywood has reduced making larger-than-life 'masala' entertainers as it is an extremely audience-friendly genre which ensures big box office pull. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-post-pandemic-eco-recovery-progressing-well-high-oil-prices-pose-risks-ashima-goyal India's economic recovery from COVID-19 is progressing well, with better than expected growth rates, and the trajectory will continue but persistently high oil prices can play spoilsport, eminent economist Ashima Goyal said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-bjp-workers-burn-copies-of-police-notice-issued-to-fadnavis-in-phone-tapping-case BJP workers in parts of Maharashtra on Sunday burnt copies of a notice issued by Mumbai police to senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in connection with a case of alleged illegal tapping of phones. https://opinionexpress.in/mha-likely-to-review-security-situation-in-jk-following-attacks The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of recent attacks on civilians and security personnel, sources said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-leaders-chalk-out-strategy-for-budget-session Top Congress leaders on Sunday discussed the party's strategy for the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament and decided to work in coordination with other like-minded parties to raise issues of public importance. https://opinionexpress.in/3-hour-run-time-of-chiranjeevi-ram-charans-acharya-raises-concerns Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan are to share the screen (full-length) for the first time in the upcoming movie 'Acharya'. https://opinionexpress.in/the-batman-keeps-gliding-as-box-office-leader-in-second-weekend With no new major releases for the weekend, Warner Bros.' 'The Batman' has an easy path to repeating its top performance at the domestic box-office. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-daily-covid-cases-hit-two-year-high-reports-nearly-2000-new-infections Coronavirus cases in China has hit two-year high as health officials have reported about 2,000 new infections in different parts of the country, including 20 in Beijing. https://opinionexpress.in/west-indies-fined-for-slow-over-rate-against-india The West Indies players were fined 40 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during the ICC Women's ODI World Cup match against India here. https://opinionexpress.in/akhilesh-to-face-daunting-task-going-ahead For Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav, one journey has ended and another has just begun. https://opinionexpress.in/fpi-selling-continues-for-6th-consecutive-month-net-outflows-at-rs-45608-cr-in-march-so-far Continuing their selling spree for the sixth straight month, overseas investors have pulled out a net Rs 45,608 crore from the Indian markets in March so far. https://opinionexpress.in/daily-covid-19-cases-in-country-lowest-in-676-days India logged 3,116 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 676 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,29,90,991, while the active cases dipped to 38,069, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-braces-itself-for-the-price-rise The rise in the cost of commodities led by the Russia-Ukraine war is expected to trigger an inflationary trend in India. The blow is expected to push up prices of everything from food items to manufactured goods. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-drama-continues Post humiliating defeat in the five state elections, the big Sunday Congress Working Committee meet could be a stormy one as resignations may pour in from the leaders who have been involved in election management. https://opinionexpress.in/islamic-state-khorasan-now-shifting-its-war-to-pakistan The Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) is now shifting its war to neighbouring Pakistan as it comes under mounting pressure from the Taliban in Afghanistan, which has waged a fierce war against IS-K militants since seizing power in August last year, RFE/RL reported. https://opinionexpress.in/stagflation-worries-weightage-cloud-indias-growth-story India is facing downgrades in stock market weightages and in GDP with stagflation risks being flagged due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/g-23-seeks-speedy-election-of-new-congress-president Congress' 'G-23' leaders, at their meeting held on Friday after the party's debacle in the latest round of Assembly polls, are understood to have sought that there be no more delay in electing the new party President while an AICC session should be called to discuss the poll results, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/congressional-hispanic-caucus-members-urge-biden-to-champion-vaccine-collaboration-with-india Members of America's influential Congressional Hispanic Caucus have urged US President Joe Biden to champion vaccine collaboration with India to bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/epfo-fixes-81-pc-as-interest-rate-on-epf-deposits-for-2021-22 Retirement fund body EPFO on Saturday decided to lower the interest on provident fund deposits for 2021-22 to an over four-decade low of 8.1 per cent for its about five crore subscribers, from 8.5 per cent provided in 2020-21, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/7-killed-as-fire-breaks-out-in-shanties-in-northeast-delhi-officials Seven people were killed after a fire broke out in shanties in northeast Delhi's Gokulpuri area in the early hours of Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-capitals-launch-ipl-2022-jersey The JSW-GMR co-owned Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals on Saturday unveiled the official jersey for the 2022 season. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-zelenskyy-meeting-possible-after-positive-developments-in-russia-ukraine-negotiations A meeting between the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelenskyy is "conceptually possible" but under certain conditions, https://opinionexpress.in/moved-12000-us-troops-along-borders-with-russia-but-not-fighting-wwiii-in-ukraine-says-biden US President Joe Biden said he has moved 12,000 troops along the borders with Russia, such as Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania while asserting that Vladimir Putin will not be victorious in the war he has waged against Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-caseload-tops-455-mn The global coronavirus caseload has topped 455 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 6.03 million and vaccinations to over 10.66 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/ryan-reynolds-shawn-levy-to-team-for-deadpool-3 Filmmaker Shawn Levy has been roped in to direct the third movie in the Ryan Reynolds-led "Deadpool" franchise. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-galaxy-s22-is-stylish-with-solid-specs As more and more Indians strive to buy premium smartphones to enhance their daily experiences, global smartphone brand Samsung has unveiled its latest flagship Galaxy S22 series in the country with three devices. https://opinionexpress.in/psbs-well-capitalised-not-to-require-major-infusion-in-fy23 India's public sector banks (PSB) are expected to achieve credit growth as well as adhere to the minimum capital requirements without any fresh capital infusion from the Centre. https://opinionexpress.in/russians-push-toward-kyiv-keep-up-siege-of-other-cities Russian forces appeared to make progress from the northeast in their slow fight toward Ukraine's capital, while tanks and artillery pounded places already under siege with shelling so heavy that residents of one city were unable to bury the growing number of dead. https://opinionexpress.in/4-terrorists-including-pakistani-commander-of-jem-killed-1-held-in-separate-encounters-in-jk-police Four terrorists, including a Pakistani commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were killed and one ultra was arrested in three separate encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/mann-meets-governor-stakes-claim-to-form-aap-govt Punjab Chief Minister-designate Bhagwant Mann on Saturday met Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Raj Bhawan here and staked claim to form the Aam Aadmi Party government. https://opinionexpress.in/no-of-fresh-covid-19-cases-lowest-in-india-since-may-12-2020 With 3,614 fresh cases, the lowest since May 12, 2020, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 4,29,87,875, while the number of active cases of the infection has dipped to 40,559, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/ton-up-mandhana-kaur-power-india-to-317-8-against-wi Brilliant centuries from opener Smriti Mandhana and vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur powered India to their highest total in the history of the showpiece event, 317 for eight against the West Indies in a crucial match of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/international-banks-owed-more-than-121-billion-by-russian-entities Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are the first major Western banks to get out of Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. More are likely to follow at a cost of tens of billions of dollars, CNN reported. https://opinionexpress.in/huge-russian-convoy-near-kiev-redeployed Ukrainian authorities said on Friday said Russian troops have bombed a nuclear research facility in the country's second largest city of Kharkiv. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-strikes-hit-western-ukraine-as-offensive-widens Russian strikes hit near airports in western Ukraine on Friday as the military offensive widened, and invading troops kept up pressure on the capital Kyiv and the besieged port city of Mariupol. https://opinionexpress.in/vvip-chopper-case-delhi-hc-denies-bail-to-alleged-middleman-christian-michel The Delhi High Court on Friday turned down the bail applications filed by Christian James Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. https://opinionexpress.in/army-chopper-carrying-sick-bsf-personnel-crashes-in-kashmir-casualties-not-known An Army Cheetah helicopter carrying sick BSF personnel crashed in a remote area of Gurez Sector in north Kashmir on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/students-evacuated-from-sumy-returning-to-india-on-friday-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said stranded Indian students who were evacuated from the besieged Ukrainian city of Sumy are returning to India on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/tracer-bullet-anushka-sharma-shares-video-of-chakda-xpress-preps Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, who is known for her work in films like 'Band Baaja Baaraat', 'Sultan' and 'Sanju', is currently prepping for her upcoming biopic 'Chakda Xpress' in full swing. https://opinionexpress.in/foreign-ministers-of-russia-and-ukraine-discuss-putin-zelensky-summit-to-end-war Foreign Ministers of Russia and the Ukraine -- Sergey Lavrov and Dmitry Kuleba--who held their first round of talks in Turkey have discussed the possibility of a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to end their conflict which has now rumbled into its fifteenth day. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cm-channi-submits-resignation-to-governor Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday submitted his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit following his party's drubbing in the assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/akhilesh-thanks-up-citizens-for-doubling-sps-tally Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh for increasing its tally by two-and-half times and said his party has shown that the BJP's seats could be reduced. https://opinionexpress.in/bhagwant-mann-to-meet-kejriwal-in-delhi AAP's chief ministerial face in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, will visit Delhi on Friday to meet party national convener Arvind Kejriwal. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-bombs-nuke-facility-in-ukraines-kharkiv Ukrainian authorities said on Friday said Russian troops have bombed a nuclear research facility in the country's second largest city of Kharkiv. https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-case-sc-to-hear-on-march-15-plea-against-grant-of-bail-to-ashish-mishra The Supreme Court agreed to list for hearing on March 15 a plea challenging the grant of bail by the Allahabad High Court to Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that left eight people, including four farmers, dead. https://opinionexpress.in/eating-several-protein-foods-together-can-help-lower-bp-study Finding it hard to regulate your hypertension? Eating a balanced diet, including protein from a variety of sources, may help adults lower the risk of developing high blood pressure, according to new research. https://opinionexpress.in/alia-bhatts-gangubai-kathiawadi-enters-rs-100-crore-club Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's latest film "Gangubai Kathiawadi", starring Alia Bhatt in the lead, has breached the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office. https://opinionexpress.in/pink-ball-in-garden-city-will-kohlis-wait-for-elusive-71st-international-ton-end-at-chinnaswamy Chasing an elusive international hundred for 28 months now, Virat Kohli would hope for a turnaround at his 'spiritual home' when India take on an under-prepared Sri Lanka in the second Test, with the action unfolding under flood lights, here from Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-268-points-after-initial-fall-nifty-climbs-over-16600-level Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened on a muted note on Friday tracking weak global markets but within minutes recovered the lost ground to trade with significant gains. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-dip-to-42219 India logged 4,194 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,29,84,261, while the active cases dipped to 42,219, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/strongly-propose-reservation-for-girls-in-legal-education-cji Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana on Thursday said the dream of fair and equitable society will come true when women, from all backgrounds, have a say and he strongly proposes reservation for girls in legal education. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-has-altered-culture-of-elections-in-india-bjp-chief-nadda Addressing the boisterous party worker after landslide victory in four of the five Assembly elections, BJP National President J.P. Nadda on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has altered the culture of elections in India. https://opinionexpress.in/4-1-for-bjp-retains-up-uttarakhand-goa-manipur-mann-ki-baat-in-punjab-as-aap-gets-three-fourths-majority The BJP on Thursday retained power in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur while the AAP swept Punjab with three-fourths majority to give a boost to its pitch for a national role and the opposition camp ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. https://opinionexpress.in/up-akhilesh-wins-poll-contest-from-karhal-by-over-67000-votes Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has won the Karhal Assembly seat with a margin of 67,504 votes, according to the Election Commission's (EC) website. https://opinionexpress.in/manipur-polls-bjp-pockets-27-seats-in-60-member-house-leads-in-five The BJP looked all set to return to power in insurgency-hit Manipur, with the party bagging 27 seats in the 60-member Assembly and leading in five other constituencies, according to the latest data on the Election Commission website. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-polls-channi-over-half-of-his-ministers-lose Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and over half of his ministers have lost from the seats they were contesting as the AAP stormed to power in Punjab on Thursday with an overwhelming majority. https://opinionexpress.in/how-bjp-mastered-the-alphabets-of-return-to-power It is quite an alphabetical victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh. From 'Y, R, L to M and Y', the BJP has used these issues to break all jinx and ride back to power with a more than comfortable majority for a second consecutive term. https://opinionexpress.in/bjps-record-stunning-win-in-up Adityanath will return as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh with the BJP - a first for India's most politically vital state in 37 years - with an ever bigger vote share than last time, as votes were counted on Thursday. The BJP has shored up 44.6 per cent of the vote - a significant 5 per cent improvement over the 2017 elections. https://opinionexpress.in/keeping-early-gains-intact-equity-indices-settle-high The Indian equity markets managed to keep their early gains intact to close Thursday's trade on a positive note. https://opinionexpress.in/all-over-for-mayawati-in-uttar-pradesh Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a Dalit-centric party that had a Brahmin as its most visible face in the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, has come up with its worst ever performance and not quite unexpectedly either. https://opinionexpress.in/all-badals-congress-leadership-unseated-by-aaps-greenhorns All the Badals, led by five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the eldest candidate at 94 in fray for the 117-member Punjab Assembly, as well as their kin, on Thursday lost to AAP's greenhorns. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cong-chief-navjot-sidhu-defeated-from-amritsar-east-seat Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu was defeated from Amritsar East seat on Thursday, according to the Election Commission. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-polls-utpal-parrikar-loses-to-bjps-atanasio-monserratte-from-panaji-seat Independent candidate Utpal Parrikar, the son of Goa's former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, lost to BJP's Atanasio Monserratte from the Panaji Assembly seat on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-singh-loses-from-patiala-urban Two-time Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh lost from his home turf Patiala Urban seat by a margin of 19,873 votes, according to assembly poll results declared on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/jhulan-becomes-joint-highest-wicket-taker-in-womens-odi-world-cup Veteran Indian quick Jhulan Goswami on Thursday equalled former Australia spinner Lyn Fullston's tally of 39 scalps to become the joint-highest wicket taker in Women's World Cup. https://opinionexpress.in/pathaan-director-on-having-srk-deepika-and-john-theres-pressure-to-deliver-a-cracking-product Director Siddharth Anand agrees there is a sense of pressure as his upcoming directorial 'Pathaan' has big names such as Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-tests-changes-to-make-image-descriptions-easier-to-access Micro-blogging site Twitter has announced that it is testing new accessibility features to make alt text descriptions significantly more useful and prominent for everyone on the platform. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-set-to-score-hattrick-in-goa-with-mgp-support https://opinionexpress.in/russian-troops-lose-combat-capacity-in-some-areas-ukraine The Ukrainian Defence Ministry on Thursday claimed that Russian troops have lost combat capacity in some areas in the country as Moscow's military assault on Kiev entered the 15th day. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-leads-in-four-of-five-states-surges-ahead-in-up-aap-set-to-sweep-punjab The BJP strode ahead of the SP in the key state of Uttar Pradesh while the Aam Aadmi Party appeared set for a landslide win in Punjab as votes were counted for elections to five states on Thursday, according to the Election Commission website. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-appears-heading-for-clean-sweep-in-punjab-leading-in-88-of-117-seats-cong-sad-stalwarts-trailing The Aam Aadmi Party appeared to be heading for a clean sweep in Punjab having taken a lead in 88 of the 117 assembly seats after initial rounds of counting of votes on Thursday, with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and former CM Amarinder Singh among the heavyweights who were trailing. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-marching-ahead-in-uttarakhand-cm-dhami-trailing The ruling BJP secured a comfortable lead in Uttarakhand on Thursday with its candidates ahead in 44 assembly seats while the main opposition Congress was ahead in 22 seats, according to poll trends available. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-heads-for-landslide-maiden-win-in-punjab Amidst the multi-cornered contest in Punjab, early leads on Thursday indicated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is heading to a landslide maiden victory in the state, trailing the traditional parties -- Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-leading-in-247-seats-in-up-appears-set-to-form-govt-once-again The ruling BJP seems to be on course to retain power in Uttar Pradesh, with poll trends on Thursday showing the party leading in 247 seats as against 103 of its nearest rival Samajwadi Party. https://opinionexpress.in/akhilesh-yadav-leading-in-karhal Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav is leading from Karhal constituency of Uttar Pradesh, according to initial poll trends. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-scores-massive-45-rating-in-five-state-elections Yogi set to be back in UP in a stunning election, first CM to have completed a full term and return back to power https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-sprints-1595-pts-nifty-tops-16750-tracking-rally-in-global-equities Equity benchmark indices continued their winning momentum on Thursday and jumped nearly 3 per cent in the opening trade, tracking an overall bullish trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/adityanath-leading-from-gorakhpur-seat Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was leading from Gorakhpur Urban seat by about 4,000 votes on Thursday, according to poll trends available. https://opinionexpress.in/economic-offences-threat-to-financial-health-of-country-need-serious-look-sc-told The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that economic offences should be taken seriously, since they are a threat to the financial health of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/the-ukraine-dilemma The Russia-Ukraine crisis has the world on its edge. The deadly conflict has divided the world into two factions with different takes on the situation. The United Nations Security Council has advised Vladimir Putin to withdraw its armed forces from Ukraine. However, the efforts went in vain as Russia vetoed the resolution. UNSC is having total 15 members, 11 were in favour of the decision. Countries like India, China, and the United Arab Emirates abstained from voting. In light of this, India's decision has garnered mixed reactions globally. While many support the decision, many are disappointed with the developments and condemn the Russian invasion. https://opinionexpress.in/shreyas-mithali-deepti-nominated-for-icc-player-of-the-month India's Shreyas Iyer, women's team skipper Mithali Raj and all-rounder Deepti Sharma figure in the list of ICC Player of the Month nominees in the men's and women's sections, respectively for the month of February 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/under-pm-modis-leadership-india-more-likely-to-respond-to-pak-provocations-us Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations, as per the 2022 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-discusses-ukraine-situation-with-netherlands-pm-mark-rutte Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to his Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte and discussed the ongoing situation in the warv-torn country of Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs said here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-over-75-in-15-18-age-group-administered-first-dose Over 75 per cent people in 15 to 18 age bracket have received the first dose of Covid vaccine, tweeted Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/reports-of-evm-mishandling-are-very-serious-kharge Amid reports of EVM mishandling, Congress has said the allegations are serious and questioned whether the Election Commission has become an extended arm of the BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/schedule-for-mcd-polls-to-be-announced-today The Delhi State Election Commission will announce dates for polls to three municipal corporations in the city on Wednesday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-launches-dark-web-tor-service-amid-russian-censorship Blocked by the Russian government, Twitter has entered the Dark Web and people can now access the platform via a Tor Onion service to bypass the censorship. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-adjourns-hearing-on-contempt-case-against-vijay-mallya The Supreme Court adjourned till Thursday hearing on a plea related to the appearance of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, accused in bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in a contempt case where he has been found guilty. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-announces-ban-on-russian-oil-and-gas-imports President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced that the US would ban the import of Russian oil and gas, "targeting the main artery of Russia's economy" in response to its invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/hate-speech-case-delhi-hc-issues-notice-on-sharjeel-imams-bail-plea The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a bail plea by former JNU student-activist Sharjeel Imam challenging an earlier court order which had rejected the plea. https://opinionexpress.in/troops-protecting-kiev-firmly-holding-positions-ukraine-army The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces on Wednesday said its Kiev troop grouping was "repulsing the enemy's offensive", inflicting damage and firmly holding their positions. https://opinionexpress.in/siddhant-malhotra-starrer-mission-majnu-to-release-on-june-10 Actor Siddhant Malhotra's upcoming film 'Mission Majnu' has a new release date. It is all set to hit the big screens on June 10. https://opinionexpress.in/mankading-no-more-unfair-play-mcc-amends-code-to-designate-it-as-run-out Custodian of cricket laws, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), has decided to move the law relating to run-outs at non-striker's end from its "unfair play" section besides completely banning the use of saliva to shine the ball in amendments to its 2022 code that will come into effect in October. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-continue-to-rally-supported-by-gains-in-it-reliance-stocks Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty opened on a positive note on Wednesday, carrying forward the recovery in the previous trade, supported by gains in index heavyweights IT and Reliance Industries stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/air-alert-declared-in-kyiv-as-fighting-continues An air alert was declared Wednesday morning in and around Kyiv, with residents urged to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-4575-new-covid-cases-145-deaths India reported 4,575 new Covid-19 cases in a span of 24 hours, a marginal rise from the previous day's count of 3,993, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-will-cruise-to-victory-in-up-due-to-modi-yogi-factor-anurag-thakur Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Anurag Thakur, said on Tuesday that the BJP will retain power in Uttar Pradesh with a thumping majority due to the 'MY' (Modi-Yogi) factor. https://opinionexpress.in/humans-are-used-as-shield-by-ukraine-russian-army Ukrainian territorial defence battalions are holding more than 4.5 million civilians in Ukraine as human shields, said head of the National Defence Control Centre of Russia, Mikhail Mizintsev. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-akhilesh-alleges-malpractices-before-counting Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, on Tuesday, alleged that a top official in the Chief Minister's secretariat was telephoning District Magistrates across Uttar Pradesh and asking them to slow down the counting process on Thursday if the Bharatiya Janata Party is losing. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-we-fought-hard-says-priyanka-gandhi https://opinionexpress.in/kerala-hc-dismisses-dileeps-plea-against-further-probe-in-actress-assault-case The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed actor Dileep's plea opposing further probe in the 2017 actress assault case and permitted the Crime Branch to go ahead with the investigation. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankas-finance-minister-basil-rajapaksa-to-visit-india-this-month Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will visit India this month, the Indian High Commission here has announced, amidst an unprecedented financial crisis in the island nation. https://opinionexpress.in/haryana-govt-presents-rs-177-lakh-cr-budget-announces-sushma-swaraj-award-scheme-for-women The Haryana government on Tuesday presented a Rs 1.77-lakh-crore Budget for the financial year 2022-23 against the Rs 1.53-lakh-crore Budget in 2021-22. https://opinionexpress.in/germanys-7-day-covid-incidence-nears-2000-again Germany's seven-day Covid-19 incidence rate increased for the fifth day in a row, reaching 1,952 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said. https://opinionexpress.in/removing-russian-oil-from-market-would-raise-prices-to-over-300barrel Removing Russian oil from the market would make energy prices skyrocket to over $300 per barrel of oil, Russia's deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak has said, adding that Russia is not dependent on the West and can "reroute" its supplies elsewhere. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-forces-resort-to-looting-ukraine-military The Ukrainian military on Tuesday claimed that Russian forces were increasingly resorting to looting and violating the rules of international humanitarian law on military conflict in regions currently under siege. https://opinionexpress.in/leonardo-dicaprio-donates-10-million-to-support-ukraine Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $10 million to support Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-agrees-to-hear-plea-demanding-vvpat-verification-at-the-beginning-of-counting-of-votes The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on Wednesday a PIL, a day before counting of votes begins in five states, demanding VVPAT verification at the beginning of counting of votes, rather than verification after the counting is over https://opinionexpress.in/google-starts-rolling-out-march-2022-pixel-update Google has started rolling out a new update to its Pixel 6 and 6 Pro smartphones, which brings Live Sharing in Google Duo, expanded support for Live Caption and Live Translation among others. https://opinionexpress.in/the-batman-goes-even-higher-with-134-mn-debut-at-us-box-office 'The Batman' landed a bigger opening weekend than Warner Bros., the studio behind the comic book adventure, initially expected. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-becomes-worlds-most-sanctioned-country Due to its war on Ukraine, Russia has become the most sanctioned in the world, according to a New York-based sanctions watchlist site. https://opinionexpress.in/alia-bhatt-to-make-hollywood-debut-with-gal-gadot-starrer-netflix-film-heart-of-stone Bollywood star Alia Bhatt will be making foray into Hollywood with Netfilx spy thriller film "Heart Of Stone". https://opinionexpress.in/argentina-hints-at-post-messi-era-in-youthful-squad Argentina's squad for the two final rounds of South American World Cup qualifying shows coach Lionel Scaloni could be thinking about the future without Lionel Messi. https://opinionexpress.in/mbappé-slightly-injured-ahead-of-game-against-real-madrid Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé injured his left foot during training two days before the team travels to Real Madrid for a Champions League game. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-fall-for-fifth-straight-session-on-weak-global-trends-oil-prices Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty fell for the fifth straight session on Tuesday in tandem with weak global trends as simmering tensions between Russia and Ukraine kept investors on the sidelines. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-3993-new-covid-cases-lowest-in-662-days India reported 3,993 daily Covid cases, the lowest spike in the last 662 days and a total of 108 deaths in a span of 24 hours, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/new-nuke-research-facility-in-khakiv-damaged-by-shelling-iaea-chief Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that a new nuclear research facility in Ukraine's Kharkiv city producing radioisotopes for medical and industrial applications, has been damaged by shelling. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-model-gives-the-ruling-party-255-seats-in-up The BJP is predicting it will win 255 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls as per its Political Affinity Model (PAM). The Model is based on the political affinity of the castes of Uttar Pradesh towards BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/exit-poll-bjp-projected-to-retain-power-in-up-manipur-hung-house-in-ukhand-goa-aap-in-punjab The ruling BJP is set to retain power in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh with a tally of 236 seats, as per the ABP C-Voter Exit Poll. However, the BJP will return to power with a reduced margin in the 403-member UP Assembly, with a loss of 89 seats after winning 325 seats in 2017. https://opinionexpress.in/5418-percent-voting-recorded-till-5-pm-in-uttar-pradesh-polls Over 54 percent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-speaks-to-putin-seeks-safe-evacuation-of-indians-from-ukraines-sumy-at-earliest Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and conveyed to him the importance of the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from war-torn Ukraine's Sumy at the earliest, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/can-drinking-cow-milk-help-fight-covid-infection Cow milk contains proteins with virus inhibiting properties that can help prevent Covid-19 from replicating in a person's body and cause infection, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-embassy-in-ukraine-asks-stranded-nationals-to-fill-up-google-form The Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Sunday asked its stranded nationals in the war-torn country to fill up a registration form containing their location and several other important information that might help in their evacuation. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-launches-missile-strikes-on-ukrainian-cities-from-belarus-airfields The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has claimed that Russi continues to launch missile strikes on cities from Belarus. https://opinionexpress.in/un-court-hearings-to-open-in-ukraine-case-against-russia As Russian forces pound Ukrainian cities with rockets despite announcing a cease-fire to allow civilians to flee some areas, lawyers representing Kyiv and Moscow face off Monday at the United Nations' top court in a legal bid to halt the devastating war. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-issue-regarding-extra-attempt-to-appear-in-exams-very-complicated-upsc-tells-sc The UPSC Monday told the Supreme Court that issue raised in a petition filed by three aspirants, who had cleared the UPSC 2021 prelims exam but could not appear in all papers of the main exam after testing positive for COVID-19 and are now seeking an extra attempt to appear in the exams, is “very complicated”. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-expected-to-launch-galaxy-a-series-in-mid-march Samsung Electronics is widely expected to launch its entry-level Galaxy smartphones later this month in response to the March 8 release of Apple's new iPhone SE, industry sources said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/money-laundering-case-court-remands-maha-minister-nawab-malik-in-14-day-judicial-custody A special court here on Monday remanded Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik in 14-day judicial custody in a money laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-announces-ceasefire-for-evacuations Russia announced a ceasefire starting Monday morning and the opening of humanitarian corridors in several areas, a day after hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians attempting to flee to safety were forced to shelter from Russian shelling that pummelled cities in Ukraine's center, north and south. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-speaks-to-ukrainian-prez-seeks-help-in-evacuation-of-indian-students-from-sumy Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and sought his "support" in evacuation of Indian students stuck in northeastern Ukraine's Sumy city. https://opinionexpress.in/oil-price-at-highest-level-since-2008-asian-markets-slump Oil prices have soared to the highest level since 2008 after the US said it was discussing a potential embargo on Russian supplies with its allies, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/up-elections-2155-per-cent-polling-recorded-in-first-four-hours-of-voting Over 21 per cent of voters exercised their right in the first four hours of polling for the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/hema-malini-recalls-bond-with-her-late-mom-and-her-memories-of-rajesh-khanna Bollywood's 'Dreamgirl' Hema Malini remembered her late mother Jaya Chakravarthy while she recalled working with late superstar Rajesh Khanna.. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-to-speak-to-putin Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday afternoon, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/warne-had-complained-of-chest-pain-and-sweating-after-extreme-fluid-only-diet-prior-to-his-vacation-manager Shane Warne had recently complained of 'chest pain and sweating' after undergoing a "ridiculous" two-week fluid-only diet before he left for his vacation, the Australian spin legend's manager James Erskine has revealed. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-tumble-nearly-3-pc-amid-weak-global-markets-elevated-oil-prices Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty tumbled nearly 3 per cent in opening trade on Monday tracking weak global markets and elevated oil prices amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-reports-4362-fresh-covid-cases-66-deaths India reported further decline in daily Covid cases. A total of 4,362 fresh infections and 66 new deaths were registered in a span of 24 hours, the Union health ministry said on Monday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/inflationary-fears-rupee-hits-record-low-at-over-77-to-usd High commodity prices as well as outflow of foreign funds from equity markets dragged Indian rupee to a new record low against the US Dollar. Accordingly, rising prices of crude oil along with other commodities triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war had kept a weak pressure on the rupee. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-to-seek-two-week-custody-of-ex-nse-ceo-chitra-ramkrishna The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which arrested the former Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Stock Exchange (NSE) Chitra Ramkrishna on Sunday night, is likely to seek two week custodial remand of her. https://opinionexpress.in/14-year-high-brent-crude-oil-price-to-130-a-barrel Ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the lack of fresh supplies, have pushed crude oil price to a 14-year high of $130 per barrel on Monday. Worryingly, the global hike in the crude oil prices led by the Russia-Ukraine crisis is expected to push India's domestic prices of petrol and diesel by over Rs 30 per litre. https://opinionexpress.in/jadeja-stars-as-india-thrash-sri-lanka-by-an-innings-and-222-runs Ravindra Jadeja starred with bat and ball as India took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series after defeating Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium. After being bundled out for 174 in the first innings, Sri Lanka were made to follow-on and were all out for 178 in 60 overs to complete a meek surrender by the visitors in just three days. https://opinionexpress.in/in-its-centenary-year-rss-gets-ready-to-expand-its-national-footprint The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is making special preparations to celebrate its centenary year. https://opinionexpress.in/shell-defends-decision-to-purchase-russian-crude-oil Shell has defended its decision to purchase Russian crude oil despite the invasion and bombardment of Ukraine, BBC reported. The oil giant said in a statement that the decision to purchase the fuel at a discounted price was "difficult". https://opinionexpress.in/putin-says-ukraine-staged-provocation-at-nuclear-site-to-blame-russia Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday informed his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron about taking control of the Zaporozhye and Chernobyl nuclear power plants, as well as about a provocation organised earlier by Ukrainian radicals in the Zaporozhye nuclear plant area, the Kremlin press service said. https://opinionexpress.in/lenders-of-reliance-naval-staring-at-90-to-95-haircut Lenders of Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd. (RNEL), which is undergoing debt resolution process under IBC, are set to face a haircut of whopping 90 per cent to 95 per cent, if the resolution plan of either of the two resolution applicants is accepted by them. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-almost-completes-destruction-of-ukrainian-military-infrastructure-putin Russia has "practically" completed the "mission" of destroying Ukraine's main military infrastructure, including weapon warehouses, ammunition depots, aviation and air defense systems, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-pm-sets-out-6-point-plan-to-defeat-putin UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a six-point plan to ensure Russia's defeat in the ongoing war in Ukraine, the media reported on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/telecom-industry-to-witness-turnaround-in-fy23 Tariff hikes as well as continued increase in data usage is expected to accelerate telecom industry's revenue growth in FY23. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-stays-delhi-hc-order-on-feeding-of-stray-dogs The Supreme Court has stayed a Delhi High Court order which laid down guidelines regarding feeding of stray dogs while observing that citizens have the right to feed community canines. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-navy-successfully-test-fires-brahmos-missile The Indian Navy on Saturday said it has successfully test-fired the advanced version of the BrahMos missile, demonstrating the combat readiness of its frontline platforms. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-test-jadeja-leads-the-way-with-an-unbeaten-175-as-india-declare-at-5748 Ravindra Jadeja's career-best, an unbeaten 175, led the way for India to declare at a mammoth 574/8 in 129.2 overs on day two of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/cases-of-omicron-subvariant-double-every-week-in-us-cdc Cases of a highly transmissible Omicron subvariant are doubling in the US every week, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://opinionexpress.in/indian-film-celebrities-pay-homage-to-legend-shane-warne Australian cricket legend Shane Warne's sudden demise has left cricket lovers across the world, including Indian film fraternity, "heartbroken". https://opinionexpress.in/presidential-election-in-wonderland A very funny and strange presidential election has yet been taking place in the Republic of Korea, A Great Miracle Country, nicknamed, the Lamp of the East, by Tagore India's great canonist. I am afraid to say that the lamp has been dimming only to go out soon. https://opinionexpress.in/manipur-assembly-polls-over-40-voter-turnout-till-noon Over 40 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 12 p.m on Saturday in the second and final leg of the Manipur Assembly polls held in 22 of the 60 constituencies amid tight security, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-remains-on-fatfs-grey-list-report The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog FATF has retained Pakistan on its terrorism financing “grey list” and asked Islamabad to address at the earliest the remaining deficiencies in its financial system, according to a media report on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-ready-to-evacuate-indian-students-other-foreign-nationals-from-ukraine-envoy-tells-unsc Russia has informed the UN Security Council that Russian buses are ready at crossing points to go to the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Sumy to evacuate Indian students and other foreign nationals who are stranded there, amidst the raging conflict in the East European country. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-attack-on-ukraine-an-attack-on-security-of-europe-global-peace-us-president-biden Russia's invasion of Ukraine is not only an attack on that country, but also on the security of Europe and global peace, US President Joe Biden has said, underscoring America's commitment to the security of all NATO allies as Moscow's offensive against the East European country intensifies. https://opinionexpress.in/veteran-actor-mitchell-ryan-dies-at-88-in-los-angeles 'Dark Shadows' actor Mitchell Ryan passed away on Friday in Los Angeles. https://opinionexpress.in/reports-russia-to-observe-ceasefire-in-2-areas-of-ukraine Russian state news agencies report the Russian military will observe a ceasefire in two areas of Ukraine starting Saturday to allow civilians to evacuate. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-stops-shipping-products-to-russia South Korean tech giant Samsung is suspending shipments of all of its products to Russia, media reports say. https://opinionexpress.in/fueling-inflation-petrol-diesel-prices-set-to-rise-as-crude-to-range-around-95-125 Hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, along with sustained demand, is expected to keep global crude oil prices in the range of $95-to-$125 per barrel in the short term. https://opinionexpress.in/airasia-india-flight-carrying-170-indian-evacuees-from-ukraine-lands-at-delhi An AirAsia India evacuation flight from Suceava in Romania carrying 170 Indian evacuees from Ukraine landed at Delhi early morning on Saturday, an airline official said. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-test-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-give-heartfelt-tributes-to-warne India captain Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli gave heartfelt tributes to late Australia leg-spin legend Shane Warne on Saturday, the second day of the Test against Sri Lanka. https://opinionexpress.in/us-provoked-russia-by-not-ruling-out-nato-membership-for-ukraine-china Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has condemned the "fake" and "very despicable" suggestion that Beijing asked Russia to delay its invasion of Ukraine ntil after the 2022 Winter Olympics had finished.  https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-5921-new-covid-19-cases-289-deaths With 5,921 people testing positive for the infection in a day, India's COVID-19 case tally now stands at 4,29,57,477 and that of active cases at 63,878, showed the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/blinken-says-ukraine-can-win-war-against-russia US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Ukraine can "absolutely" win the ongoing war against Russia and praised the "extraordinary resilience" of the Ukrainian people. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-chief-justice-dn-patel-to-be-next-tdsat-chairperson The Centre has approved the appointment of Delhi High Court's Chief Justice D.N. Patel to the post of Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). https://opinionexpress.in/former-army-chief-gen-sunith-francis-rodrigues-passes-away-gen-naravane-expresses-condolences General (retd) Sunith Francis Rodrigues, who headed the Indian Army between 1990 and 1993 and served as the governor of Punjab between 2004 and 2010, passed away on Friday, an official statement said. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-769-points-nifty-slumps-below-16250 Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled 769 points on Friday, tracking a weak trend in global equities amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/kohlis-big-run-drought-continues-as-india-reach-1994-at-tea Virat Kohli left his legion of fans high and dry after yet another inexplicable dismissal on his 100th Test but India steadily moved to 199 for four at tea on the opening day of the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-conflict-iafs-il-76-planes-kept-on-standby-to-evacuate-indians-out-of-russia The Indian Air Force (IAF) has kept two IL-76 military transport aircraft on standby to evacuate Indians who are stranded in conflict-hit eastern Ukrainian cities like Sumy and Kharkiv from Russian capital Moscow, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/9166-russian-personnel-dead-since-ukraine-invasion-began The Ukrainian Defence Ministry on Friday said that at least 9,166 Russian personnel have been killed since Moscow began its military assault on Kiev nine days ago. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-to-save-constitution-democracy-akhilesh-yadav Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls are not just to elect the government of the state but also to save the Constitution and democracy of India. https://opinionexpress.in/fire-out-at-ukraines-key-nuclear-plant-amid-russian-attacks A fire at Europe's biggest nuclear plant ignited by Russian shelling has been extinguished, Ukrainian authorities said Friday, and Russian forces have taken control of the site. https://opinionexpress.in/in-times-of-3-formats-i-played-100-tests-next-generation-can-take-that-from-my-career-kohli Basking in the glory of becoming only the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Tests, Virat Kohli on Friday said he wants the "next generation" to take inspiration from the fact he could achieve the milestone despite playing in all three formats through a gruelling international schedule. https://opinionexpress.in/jet-airways-appoints-sanjiv-kapoor-as-ceo Grounded carrier Jet Airways on Friday announced the appointment of Sanjiv Kapoor as the chief executive officer. https://opinionexpress.in/singapore-allows-quarantine-free-travelling-from-all-indian-cities Vaccinated air travellers from all Indian cities and from Penang in Malaysia and Bali in Indonesia will be able to enter Singapore without having to undergo any mandatory quarantine from March 16, a senior minister announced on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/johnson-to-seek-un-security-council-meeting The office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he will seek an emergency UN Security Council meeting after Russian troops in Ukraine attacked a nuclear power plant and sparked a fire. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-katrina-kaifs-tiger-3-to-arrive-in-cinemas-on-eid-2023 Superstar Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif-led spy thriller "Tiger 3" is set to arrive in theatres worldwide on April 21, 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-caseload-tops-4425-mn The global coronavirus caseload has topped 442.5 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.98 million and vaccinations to over 10.55 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-commits-15-mn-for-humanitarian-efforts-in-ukraine Meta has pledged $15 million to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and neighbouring countries amid the Russian invasion. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-appreciates-effort-in-evacuating-indians-from-ukraine-says-concerned-about-anxiety-of-people The Supreme Court on Friday took note of the Centre's submission that it has evacuated 17,000 stranded Indians from the conflict zone in Ukraine, saying it appreciated the efforts but was concerned about the anxiety of people. https://opinionexpress.in/fukrey-3-goes-on-floors-varun-sharma-shares-pic-from-sets The comedy franchise 'Fukrey' is returning with its third instalment. Actor Varun Sharma, who plays the role of Choocha Singh in the film series, took to Instagram to break the news of 'Fukrey 3' going on floors on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/corruption-case-cbi-officials-visit-mumbai-prison-to-record-anil-deshmukhs-statement-for-2nd-day CBI officials visited the Arthur Road prison here on Friday to record the statement of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh for the second consecutive day in connection with the allegations of corruption against him, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hear-on-march-11-plea-for-cancellation-of-bail-of-ashish-mishra-in-lakhimpur-case The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on March 11 a plea challenging grant of bail by the Allahabad High Court to Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that left eight people, including four farmers, dead. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-chairs-meet-on-ukraine-crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to review the Ukraine crisis amid the ongoing exercise to evacuate Indian nationals, mostly students, from the country facing attack from Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-test-india-win-toss-elect-to-bat-first-in-kohlis-100th-test India captain Rohit Sharma has won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-shells-europes-largest-nuclear-plant-starting-fire Russian forces pressed their attack on a crucial energy-producing Ukrainian city by shelling Europe's largest nuclear plant early Friday, sparking a fire and raising fears that radiation could leak from the damaged power station. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-dip-to-69897 With 6,396 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,29,51,556, while the active cases dipped to 69,897, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,14,589 with 201 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. https://opinionexpress.in/russians-ukrainians-are-one-people-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will never give up the belief that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-warns-against-russian-firing-on-nuke-plant Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday warned against Russian troops firing at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is the largest in Europe, saying that if it blows up then the catastrophe would be "10 times larger" than the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. https://opinionexpress.in/indices-settle-negative-sensex-down-over-350-pts India's key indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - settled lower on Thursday amid rising crude oil prices triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war. https://opinionexpress.in/asus-unveils-2-in-1-vivobook-laptop-in-india In a bid to empower users, ASUS India on Thursday launched a new 13.3-inch OLED Windows detachable laptop, Vivobook 13 Slate OLED, in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/australias-spin-bowling-consultant-fawad-tests-positive-for-covid-19 Australia's spin bowling consultant Fawad Ahmed has been forced into isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 ahead of the team's three-Test series against hosts Pakistan, starting on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-taking-some-steps-to-restore-normalcy-in-kashmir-asserts-us-official The Indian government has taken some steps to restore normalcy in Kashmir, a senior US diplomat has told American lawmakers, while asserting that the Joe Biden administration is keeping a close eye on the security situation, including terrorist threats in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-ukraine-conflict-could-increase-covid-transmission-who The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is likely to increase Covid-19 transmission and in turn increase the risk of large numbers of people developing severe disease. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-equities-trade-positive-in-opening-session India's key indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- rose marginally in the opening session on Thursday possibly due to some value buying after the recent decline in the indices. https://opinionexpress.in/russias-secret-documents-reveal-war-plans-approved-on-jan-18-capture-ukraine-in-15-days Russia's secret war documents have revealed that the plans for Moscow's war with Ukraine were approved on January 18 and it anticipated that the capture must be executed within 15 days, from February 20 to March 6. https://opinionexpress.in/feel-bad-for-students-sc-on-plea-for-evacuation-of-indians-from-ukraine The Supreme Court on Thursday told a counsel that the court feels bad for people who are suffering and the Indian students, who are stuck in Ukraine amid the ongoing war, but it cannot direct the Russian President to stop the war. https://opinionexpress.in/2179-voter-turnout-till-11-am-in-6th-phase-of-up-polls A voter turnout of 21.79 per cent was registered till 11 a.m. on Thursday in the ongoing sixth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said. https://opinionexpress.in/third-flight-with-183-ukraine-evacuees-lands-in-mumbai An Air India Express flight from Bucharest, carrying 183 Indians from the war-torn Ukraine, landed here on Thursday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/amid-russia-ukraine-crisis-quad-leaders-to-meet-virtually Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the Quad leaders will hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the developments in the Indo-Pacific region. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-singh-starrer-jayeshbhai-jordaar-to-release-on-may-13 Bollywood livewire star Ranveer Singh's next film 'Jayeshbhai Jordaar' is all set to hit the screens on May 13. The film was earlier scheduled to release in February. However, the release got pushed due to the Omicron outbreak. https://opinionexpress.in/new-russia-ukraine-talks-expected-on-thursday A new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine is expected to take place on Thursday in Belovezhskaya Pushcha on the Belarus-Poland border, as Moscow's military assault continued on Kiev for the eighth day. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-spells-out-four-point-formula-to-end-ukraine-war Russia has coined a four-point formula that would keep out NATO, the western military alliance, out of most of the territories that were once a part of the former Soviet Union. https://opinionexpress.in/no-hostage-crisis-in-ukraine-says-mea The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that there was no hostage crisis in Ukraine as the Russian invasion of Kiev entered the eighth day. https://opinionexpress.in/push-to-end-russias-status-as-permanent-unsc-member-gains-steam The US State Department may try to find a way to boot Russia from its permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC), shaking up the international bodys balance of power amid outrage over the war in Ukraine, RT reported. https://opinionexpress.in/explosions-reported-in-kiev-as-russian-assault-continues At least four explosions were reported in Kiev on Thursday as Russia continued its assault on Ukraine for the eighth day. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-quick-delivery-market-to-reach-55-bn-in-3-yrs As quick grocery delivery under the 10-15 minutes time period becomes the new growth arena globally, India's quick commerce market is all set to witness 15 times growth by 2025, reaching a market size of nearly $5.5 billion, a new report showed on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/kremlin-planning-to-declare-ex-prez-yanukovych-as-new-head-of-ukraine Fugitive former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych is currently in Minsk, and the Kremlin is currently preparing him for a special operation, according to Ukrainian intelligence. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-claims-about-surrender-of-few-russian-forces The Russian occupiers are trying to somehow keep up the combat capability of their units but it gets worse and worse, Ukraine Defence Minister Alexei Reznikov said. https://opinionexpress.in/a-show-of-strength-on-rajes-birthday Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will celebrate her birthday on March 8 at Keshoraipatan (Kota division), which according to her supporters will be a religious affair. However, BJP officials have said it will be a great show of strength for which a target to get 50,000 people has been given to team members. https://opinionexpress.in/working-on-providing-safe-passage-to-indians-from-conflict-zones-in-ukraine-russia Russia on Wednesday said it is working "intensely" to create a "humanitarian corridor" for safe passage to Russian territory of Indians stuck in Kharkiv, Sumy and other conflict zones in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-7554-new-covid-cases-223-deaths India's daily Covid cases in a span of 24 hours rose marginally to 7,554 against 6,915 infections reported on the previous day. https://opinionexpress.in/cost-of-war-brent-crude-breaches-111-mark-highest-in-8-yrs Lower supplies as well as hostilities between Russia and Ukraine pushed Brent crude oil price to nearly an 8-year high on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-crisis-modi-macron-agree-on-need-to-reach-ceasefire-as-soon-as-possible In their phone conversation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron focused on the "Russian aggression" against Ukraine and agreed on the importance of reaching a ceasefire as soon as possible. https://opinionexpress.in/your-families-are-waiting-with-bated-breath-smriti-irani-to-students As Indian nationals from war-torn Ukraine landed at Delhi airport on Wednesday morning through special flights under Operation Ganga, several Union Ministers welcomed them at the airport. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-paratroopers-have-landed-in-kharkiv The Ukraine military says Russian paratroopers have landed in its besieged second-largest city Kharkiv, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-rukh-khan-starrer-pathaan-books-2023-republic-day-eve-for-release "Pathaan", which marks Shah Rukh Khan's return to the movies after over four years, will be released on January 25, 2023 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. https://opinionexpress.in/phonepe-niti-aayog-announce-fintech-hackathon-winners Digital payments platform PhonePe, in association with NITI Aayog, on Wednesday announced the winners of the ‘Fintech Open Hackathon at a virtual awards ceremony. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-crisis-31-evacuation-flights-to-bring-back-over-6300-indians-in-coming-days As many as 31 evacuation flights will be operated to neighbouring countries of crisis-hit Ukraine and will bring back more than 6,300 Indians stranded in the eastern European nation, according to official sources. https://opinionexpress.in/pic-from-gangubai-kathiawadi-premiere-goes-viral-fans-call-it-dream-cast An unseen picture from the premiere of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' recently made its way to the Internet and has gone viral since then. https://opinionexpress.in/un-assembly-to-vote-on-resolution-demanding-russia-stop-war Country after country, from Europe's economic powerhouse to a tiny Pacific island nation, have lined up to lash out at Russia's invasion of Ukraine and urge support for a UN resolution demanding an immediate halt to Moscow's offensive and withdrawal of all Russian troops. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-joins-allies-bans-russian-planes-from-us-airspace President Joe Biden announced Tuesday night in his State of the Union address that the US is banning Russian flights from its airspace in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/travel-to-budomierz-check-point-for-quick-entry-into-poland-indian-embassy-to-stranded-nationals The Indian embassy in Polish capital Warsaw on Wednesday advised Indians stuck in Lviv and Ternopil and other places in western Ukraine to travel at the earliest to the Budomierz border check-point for a relatively quick entry into Poland. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-aircraft-leaves-for-romania-to-bring-back-stranded-indians A C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force left for Romania on Wednesday morning carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slumps-over-600-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-16650-level Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 600 points in the opening session on Wednesday following a selloff in global equity markets amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/novak-djokovic-no-longer-with-longtime-coach-marian-vajda Novak Djokovic and coach Marian Vajda are no longer working together, splitting up after 15 years and 20 Grand Slam titles. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-ukraine-expected-to-resume-talks-war-continues https://opinionexpress.in/kiev-tv-tower-bombed-after-kremlin-told-civilians-to-flee Explosions erupted around Kiev's 1,300-ft TV tower on Tuesday afternoon (local time), just hours after Russia told civilians to evacuate because it was about to begin bombarding 'strategic' targets in the Ukrainian capital, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-forces-under-white-flags-shooting-civilians-in-sumy-region-of-ukraine In the Sumy region of Ukraine, military equipment of the Russian forces is riding through the villages under white flags while shooting civilians, Ukrainian officials have claimed. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-student-killed-in-kharkiv An Indian student was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city of war-hit Ukraine on Tuesday morning, the Ministry of External Affairs said. https://opinionexpress.in/doctors-warn-against-complacency-over-covid Even though Covid cases in Uttar Pradesh are on the decline, experts feel that it is still too early to predict the end of the third wave. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-now-blocks-key-russian-media-outlets-rt-sputnik-in-eu Meta (formerly Facebook) has now blocked Russian state media outlets RT (earlier called Russia Today) and Sputnik across the European Union. https://opinionexpress.in/kerala-hc-verdict-on-mediaone-appeal-against-ban-on-wednesday The Kerala High Court is likely to pronounce on Wednesday its verdict on Malayalam news channel MediaOne's appeal against a single judge order upholding the Centre's decision to stop its telecast by not renewing its licence. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-turkish-airlines-chief-declines-air-indias-cmd-position Ex-Turkish Airlines head Mehmet Ilker Ayci, who was named as the new Air India CEO-MD, has declined the position. https://opinionexpress.in/artist-sudarsan-pattnaik-creates-lord-shiva-with-23k-rudraksha-beads On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a unique sand sculpture of Lord Shiva with installation of 23,436 rudrakhsa beads at Puri beach in Odisha. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-evacuation-programme-most-active-among-all-nations-govt-sources The central government on Tuesday compared its response to help Indian citizens in war-hit Ukraine with those of several other countries, including the US, the UK and China, vis-à-vis their nationals to assert that while its 'Operation Ganga' continues and embassy remains functional, others have been unable to work at such a scale with some even expressing inability to help their citizens. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-crisis-pm-modi-asks-air-force-to-evacuate-stranded-indians Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive against that country, sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-embassy-in-ukraine-asks-indians-to-leave-kyiv The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday asked stranded Indians in Kyiv to leave the capital city urgently. https://opinionexpress.in/rrr-social-media-promotion-resumes-with-snapchat-filter Filmmaker SS Rajamouli's much-hyped pan-India film 'RRR' has introduced a Snapchat filter featuring the film's title as part of its second promotional phase. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-military-convoy-advancing-on-kyiv-now-stretches-for-40-miles A Russian military convoy travelling towards the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv has grown from being 17 miles long earlier on Monday to 40 miles, a satellite company has said, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-briefs-president-kovind-on-ukraine-crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday and briefed him on various issues, including the Ukraine crisis, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-express-flight-with-182-indians-evacuated-from-ukraine-lands-in-mumbai An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Ukraine landed here from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-women-thrash-wi-by-81-runs-in-final-world-cup-warm-up-game India will enter the ICC Women's World Cup with their tails up after opener Smriti Mandhana's 67-ball 66 and the bowlers' disciplined show powered them to an 81-run win over West Indies in their final warm-up game here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ashneer-grover-quits-as-bharatpe-md-soon-after-getting-board-meeting-agenda Fintech firm BharatPe's managing director Ashneer Grover has resigned minutes after receiving an upcoming board meeting agenda, which included consideration of action against him based on the report submitted by advisory firm PwC. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-6915-new-covid-infections-active-cases-below-1-lakh-after-2-months India saw a single-day rise of 6,915 coronavirus infections, taking the country's total tally of cases to 4,29,31,045, while active cases fell below the one-lakh mark after 60 days, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/turkey-to-apply-montreux-convention-to-prevent-escalation-in-russia-ukraine-war Turkey has said that it will implement the Montreux Convention in the Black Sea in a way to prevent further escalation in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/zelenskyy-signs-ukraines-eu-membership-application President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Ukraines European Union membership application. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-nawab-maliks-son-in-pmla-case-connected-to-dawood In a latest development in the PMLA case involving underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim and unknown Mumbai-based politician, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now summoned Faraz Malik, son of NCP leader and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik, who is already in police custody. https://opinionexpress.in/russias-security-concerns-must-be-taken-into-account-for-settlement-putin All Moscow's security concerns must be taken into account for settlement in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. https://opinionexpress.in/nato-allies-boost-military-practical-support-to-ukraine The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies have boosted support to Ukraine with military equipment, financial assistance and humanitarian aid, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/rubina-dilaik-abhinav-shukla-hit-the-road-for-travel-series-wanderlust Popular couple Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla are coming together for a six-part travel series 'Wanderlust'. It will capture them experiencing the culture of Abu Dhabi. https://opinionexpress.in/gati-shakti-to-give-new-direction-to-infra-planning-reduce-project-costs-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that infrastructure planning, implementation and monitoring will get a new direction under 'PM Gati-Shakti' programme. https://opinionexpress.in/amul-hikes-milk-prices-by-rs-2-per-litre Cooperative GCMMF, which markets milk and milk products under the Amul brand, has increased milk prices by Rs 2 per litre with effect from Tuesday due to rise in input cost. https://opinionexpress.in/with-sanctions-russian-sberbank-faces-failure-in-europe Faced with a rush of people withdrawing money, Sberbank and the Russian bank's subsidiaries in southeastern and central Europe are facing closures or takeovers following international sanctions imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-slows-russian-advance-under-shadow-of-nuclear-threat Outgunned but determined Ukrainian troops slowed Russia's advance and held onto the capital and other key cities - at least for now. In the face of stiff resistance and devastating sanctions, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's nuclear forces put on high alert, threatening to elevate the war to a terrifying new level. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-forces-hit-1114-ukrainian-military-infrastructure-targets The Russian Armed Forces have hit 1,114 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/europeans-to-pay-a-price-for-russia-sanctions-von-der-leyen European Commission Presidentd, Ursula von der Leyen, has acknowledged that the sweeping sanctions the bloc has imposed on Russia in recent days over Moscow's military operation in Ukraine will have a negative impact on Europeans, too, RT reported. https://opinionexpress.in/un-500000-people-have-fled-ukraine-since-russia-invaded The UN refugee agency said Monday that more than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded the country last week. https://opinionexpress.in/we-have-to-stand-up-us-govs-impose-sanctions-on-russia U.S. Governors are taking matters into their own hands and imposing their own economic sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/madhabi-puri-buch-is-sebi-chief The Centre on Monday announced the appointment of Madhabi Puri Buch as the new Chairperson of the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). https://opinionexpress.in/karma-strikes “FREE ART PRODUCTIONS” is proud to present its first feature film - “Karma Strikes”. This seminal film is set to enthrall a worldwide audience in theatres, which is directed by National Award-winning and 2 times Dadasaheb Phalke Award-nominated “Kartik Swaminathan Venkatraman” multiple Inter in the 2nd quarter 0f 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/correcting-misconceptions-about-assamese-women In the recent past, many writers have acquainted the rest of India with the composite culture of the north-eastern state of Assam through their writings. "Black Magic Women" (Penguin) makes a similar attempt with a stark difference. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-mlas-of-5-states-fears-poaching The sources in political circles are to be believed, Congress MLAs from five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur might be shifted to Rajasthan fearing poaching. https://opinionexpress.in/india-abstains-for-3rd-time-on-un-security-council-vote-on-ukraine India has abstained for the third time on a Security Council vote on Ukraine and said that it welcomed the decision by Ukraine and Russia to hold talks. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-rise-as-a-global-player The prolonged Ukraine- Russia conflict resulting in President Putin ordering military action against the neighbouring country, has to be seen in the backdrop of three paradigm shifts that affected the US- Russia relations after the advent of Biden Presidency. https://opinionexpress.in/putins-days-are-numbered-if-he-fails-in-ukraine-uk-minister UK Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said Putin's "days are numbered" if he fails in Ukraine, with his campaign falling "well behind" its planned timeline and was facing several severe headwinds, Daily Mail Reported. https://opinionexpress.in/fighting-in-streets-of-kharkiv-after-russian-troops-break-into-city Russian forces have entered Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, local officials say, BBC reported. The head of the Kharkiv regional administration, Oleg Sinegubov, said that light military vehicles had "broken into the city". https://opinionexpress.in/uk-leads-drive-to-exclude-russia-from-swift-banking-network The UK government is leading the charge in Europe to exclude Russia from the worldwide SWIFT banking network, as part of tough sanctions designed to deliver a financial blow to President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/zelensky-says-weapons-equipment-from-partners-on-the-way-to-ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that "partners" are sending weapons to help Kiev, adding that he had spoken over the phone with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. https://opinionexpress.in/high-rise-apartment-in-kiev-hit-by-a-devastating-missile A high-rise apartment block in Kiev was hit by a devastating missile on Saturday morning as fighting continues to rage in the capital between Russian attackers and Ukrainian forces, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/kaaranvir-bohra-is-fourth-contestant-to-brace-lock-upp-badass-jail-atyaachaari-khel Television star Kaaranvir Bohra is the fifth contestant in the upcoming captive reality show 'Lock Upp: Badass Jail Atyaachaari Khel' hosted by Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-galaxy-s22-series-gets-its-first-update Samsung has recently announced the Galaxy S22 series and now, it is receiving first software update. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-minister-198-killed-1000-wounded The Ukrainian health minister says that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive. https://opinionexpress.in/evacuation-from-ukraine-219-indians-returning-to-india-from-romania The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indians has taken off from Romania, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, referring to India's evacuation of its nationals from Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/cabinet-allows-up-to-20-pc-fdi-in-ipo-bound-lic-sources The Union Cabinet on Saturday permitted up to 20 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) under automatic route in IPO-bound LIC with an aim to facilitate disinvestment of the country's largest insurer, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/iss-may-fall-on-india-china-russian-space-agency-chief-warns-on-us-sanctions-after-ukraine-military-offensive Russia's space agency chief has warned the US that the slew of sanctions imposed on Moscow can "destroy our cooperation" on the International Space Station (ISS) and asked Washington if it wants to threaten India and China with the "possibility of a 500-tonne structure falling" on them. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-strikes-ukrainian-military-sites-with-cruise-missiles The Russian Armed Forces struck Ukrainian military objects with air - and sea-based cruise missiles, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/candidate-cannot-be-permitted-grievance-redressal-at-any-stage-of-recruitment-process-sc A candidate cannot be permitted to approach for the redressal of his grievance at any stage of time during a recruitment process, the Supreme Court has said. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-move-to-border-posts-without-coordination-with-us-indian-embassy-in-ukraine India on Saturday advised its stranded nationals in Ukraine to exercise caution at all times and not move to any border posts to exit the country without prior coordination with its officials. https://opinionexpress.in/s-korea-has-deadliest-day-of-pandemic-amid-omicron-surge South Korea saw its deadliest day of the pandemic on Saturday, reporting 112 fatalities in the latest 24-hour period, as it grapples with a wave of coronavirus infections driven by the fast-moving omicron variant. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-plane-lands-in-bucharest-to-evacuate-indians-stranded-in-ukraine An Air India plane from Mumbai landed in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday morning to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive. https://opinionexpress.in/street-fighting-begins-in-kyiv-people-urged-to-seek-shelter Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine's capital early Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. The country's president refused an American offer to evacuate, insisting that he would stay. “The fight is here,” he said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-relations-distinct-from-washingtons-equation-with-moscow-thats-okay-us India's relationship with Russia is distinct from that the US shares with the latter and that is okay, the Biden administration said, underlining that Washington has asked every country that has leverage with Moscow to use it to protect rules-based international order. https://opinionexpress.in/ruturaj-ruled-out-of-sri-lanka-t20is-with-wrist-injury India opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was on Saturday ruled out of the remaining two T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka owing to a wrist injury. https://opinionexpress.in/us-europe-agree-to-freeze-assets-of-russias-putin-lavrov With a military intervention in Ukraine off the table, and countries around the world looking to heap more financial punishment on Moscow, the United States, Britain and European Union said they will move to sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. https://opinionexpress.in/12-years-in-industry-samantha-describes-her-fans-as-most-loyal-people-in-world Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu expressed her happiness over the completion of 12 years in the movie industry. As she thanked her fans, she calls them 'the most loyal fans in the world'. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-calls-upon-private-firms-to-enter-medical-sector-in-big-way Noting that Indian students have been going to many small countries for medical education despite the language barrier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the private sector to make a big presence in the field. https://opinionexpress.in/india-retained-option-of-reaching-out-to-all-sides-by-abstaining-from-un-vote-on-ukraine By abstaining from a UN Security Council resolution on the Ukraine crisis, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant sides to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy, official sources said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-11499-fresh-covid-19-cases-255-deaths With 11,499 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,29,05,844, while the active cases further declined to 1,21,881, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-bans-russian-media-from-running-ads-monetising-on-platforms Hit by partial restrictions, Meta (formerly Facebook) on Saturday said it is prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetising on its platform anywhere in the world. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-prices-likely-by-over-rs-6-per-litre-icra High crude oil prices, due to geo-political concerns, can spike petrol, and diesel prices by Rs 6 to Rs 8 per litre, ratings agency ICRA said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-abstains-on-resolution-condemning-russia India, along with China and the United Arab Emirates, has abstained on a Security Council resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-claims-russia-targeted-orphanages-and-nurseries Ukraine has made claims that Russian forces have attacked orphanages and nurseries in the country, Sky News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-prez-warned-eu-leaders-this-might-be-the-last-time-you-see-me-alive Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had an ominous warning for his European counterparts in a video conference call on Thursday night, Sky News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-needs-to-understand-nato-has-nuclear-weapons-france French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin, when making threats about using nuclear weapons, needs to understand that NATO, too, is a nuclear alliance. https://opinionexpress.in/chechen-special-forces-given-orders-to-kill-ukrainian-officials A squad of Chechen special forces 'hunters' has been unleashed in Ukraine to detain or kill a set of specific Ukrainian officials, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ready-to-hold-high-level-negotiations-with-ukraine-putin-tells-xi Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he was ready to hold "high-level negotiations" with Ukraine as he spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping who stressed that both Moscow and Kyiv should resolve the raging crisis through talks. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-military-says-it-takes-strategic-airport-near-kyiv The Russian military claims it has taken control of an airport just outside Kyiv, as Kremlin forces bear down on the Ukrainian capital. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-close-to-agreeing-on-asset-freeze-on-putin-lavrov Luxembourg's foreign minister said Friday that the 27-nation European Union was “very close to agreement” for asset freeze of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-ready-to-hold-talks-any-moment-once-ukrainian-army-lays-down-arms Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday said that Moscow is ready for talks at "any moment" with Ukraine once the Ukrainian military respond positively to President Vladimir Putin's call, end their resistance and lay down their arms. https://opinionexpress.in/ukrainian-troops-take-to-streets-of-kiev-gunfire-blasts-heard-in-city-centre Ukrainian forces took to the streets of Kiev on Friday with national guard troops pictured lining up defensive positions along a highway shortly before the sounds of gunfire and explosions rang out as they battled Russian forces for control of the capital, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/china-could-invade-taiwan-after-seeing-wests-response-to-ukraine-invasion-oxford-prof China could invade Taiwan after seeing the West's response to Russia's brutal war in Ukraine, a leading historian has warned, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-soldiers-told-russian-officer-go-f-yourself-before-dying-defending-snake-island Ukrainian soldiers, who died defending an island in the Black Sea from an air and sea bombardment, reportedly told an officer onboard a Russian Navy warship to "go f*** yourself" when asked to surrender, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-to-bear-cost-of-evacuation-of-indians-from-ukraine The government is making efforts to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine through its land border crossings with its neighbouring countries and they would then be brought back home, official sources said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-forces-are-now-in-kiev Russian operatives are now in Kiev, Ukraine officials have confirmed in a tweet, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/us-congress-wants-to-kick-out-russia-from-un-security-council A resolution calling to kick Russia off the U.N. Security Council for its invasion of Ukraine -- which has virtually no chance of being enforced -- is circulating among US Congress members from both parties, Axios reported. https://opinionexpress.in/i-dont-want-to-die-ukrainians-fear-as-invasion-closes-in Yurii Zhyhanov woke to his mother's screaming and found himself covered in dust. Before dawn on the second day of Russia's invasion, their residential building had been struck by shelling on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. https://opinionexpress.in/day-after-seizing-chernobyl-nuclear-plant-russia-claims-personnel-working-at-the-facility-as-usual The Chernobyl nuclear power plant's personnel are continuing to service the facilities and monitor the radiation situation at the station as usual, a top Russian official claimed on Friday, a day after Russian forces took over the decommissioned facility after a fierce fight with Ukrainian soldiers guarding it. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-rebound-tracking-recovery-in-global-peers A day after suffering their worst session in about two years, benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded up to 2.5 per cent on Friday, in line with higher global markets as the US and allies put up a united front to punish Russia with harsher sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-bans-uk-flights-over-its-airspace-after-sanctions Russia's civil aviation authority has banned U.K. Flights to and over Russia in retaliation to the British ban on Aeroflot flights. https://opinionexpress.in/ai-planning-to-operate-two-flights-to-bucharest-to-evacuate-indians-stranded-in-ukraine Air India is planning to operate two flights to Romanian capital Bucharest on Friday to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to a Russian military offensive, senior government officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/night-curfew-to-be-lifted-in-delhi-schools-to-do-away-with-hybrid-mode-open-from-april-1-kejriwal The DDMA has decided to withdraw all Covid-related restrictions, including night curfew in Delhi, restart physical classes in schools from April 1 and reduce the fine for not wearing masks from Rs 2,000 to Rs 500, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/bollywood-divas-their-plush-superstar-fashion-sunglasses Summer has begun and our B-town divas are finding it hard to step out in summer without their shades. While Bollywood’s prominent actresses have always framed their fashion statement at their best, this year’s blazing summers won’t deter them from boasting their unique style statement. https://opinionexpress.in/wrestler-babita-phogat-all-set-to-join-kangana-ranauts-lock-upp Ace wrestler Babita Phogat is all set to be locked up inside Kangana Ranaut's 'Lock Upp'. After TV actress Nisha Rawal, Poonam Pandey and stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, Babita is the fourth contestant on the fearless reality show. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-caseload-tops-4312-mn The global coronavirus caseload has topped 431.2 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.92 million and vaccinations to over 10.44 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/dialogue-diplomacy-best-way-forward-to-defuse-ukraine-crisis-india External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday night held separate telephonic conversations with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, insisting that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward to defuse the Ukraine crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/ive-asked-27-leaders-of-europe-all-are-afraid-ukraine-president The Ukrainian president says Kiev has been left to fend for itself as NATO is "afraid" to give it any guarantees, RT reported. https://opinionexpress.in/allegations-against-malik-appear-to-be-well-founded-says-pmla-court Prima facie, there are reasonable grounds to believe that allegations against Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik are "well-founded", observed a special court here while remanding him in the custody of the ED in connection with a money laundering case. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-refuses-to-entertain-plea-of-wb-bjp-leaders-seeking-deployment-of-central-forces-in-civic-polls The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea of BJP leaders against the Calcutta High Court directing the State Election Commissioner to examine the ground situation in each of the 108 West Bengal municipalities going to polls on February 27, and take a decision on deployment of central paramilitary forces. https://opinionexpress.in/it-is-cms-prerogative-to-accept-or-reject-resignation-raut-on-bjps-demand-to-sack-malik Amid BJP's demand to sack Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik following his arrest, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said it is the prerogative of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray whether to accept or reject the resignation of his cabinet colleagues. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-arrests-ex-nse-goo-anand-subramanian-over-irregularities-in-national-stock-exchange The CBI has arrested former Group Operating Officer of National Stock Exchange Anand Subramanian after expanding its three-year probe into the co-location scam in the exchange in view of "fresh facts" that emerged in a damning Sebi report referring to a mysterious Yogi which was guiding actions of former CEO Chitra Ramkrishna and other irregularities, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-waves-nuclear-sword-in-confrontation-with-the-west It has been a long time since the threat of using nuclear weapons has been brandished so openly by a world leader, but Vladimir Putin has just done it, warning in a speech that he has the weapons available if anyone dares to military means to try to stop Russia's takeover of Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-presses-invasion-to-outskirts-of-ukrainian-capital Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. https://opinionexpress.in/world-leaders-fine-tune-sanctions-meant-to-punish-russia Twenty million dollars in UN humanitarian funds for Ukraine. A raft of new, stronger sanctions against Russia from Japan, Australia, Taiwan and others. And a cascade of condemnation from the highest levels. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-jonas-says-situation-in-ukraine-terrifying-calls-for-support Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Friday dubbed Russian military attack on Ukraine as "terrifying" and said it was difficult to understand how the situation has escalated to a "catastrophic point". https://opinionexpress.in/ishan-credits-rohit-for-his-batting-turnaround Struggling for fluency in the previous series, young opener Ishan Kishan has credited India skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for his return to form in the first T20 against Sri Lanka. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-rebound-2-tracking-recovery-in-asian-markets Domestic equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty rebounded over 2 per cent in opening trade on Friday in line with higher Asian bourses as investors assessed long-term risks of the Ukraine conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-302-fresh-covid-19-fatalities India logged 13,166 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,28,94,345, while the active cases declined to 1,34,235, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/windows-in-apartment-blocks-in-kharkiv-shaking-due-to-constant-blasts Residents of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, said on Thursday that windows in apartment blocks were shaking from constant blasts as the Ukrainian military and Russian forces exchanged shellfire, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-to-speak-on-russian-attack-on-ukraine-white-house US President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on the Russian military actions in Ukraine on Thursday, the White  House announced. https://opinionexpress.in/the-worst-sunrise-in-my-life-ukrainians-wake-to-attack The missile fragment pierced the ceiling of Mikhail Shcherbakov's apartment in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. A Russian attack, after weeks of warnings, had hit home. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-calls-on-the-eu-to-urgently-provide-air-defence-anti-missile-systems Ukraine is calling on the European Union and its member states to urgently provide air-defence and anti-missile systems, as well as use "all means" to jam Russian satellite signals, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/bloodied-civilians-stagger-through-the-streets-in-ukraine Heartbreaking images from Ukraine have emerged showing bloodied civilians staggering through the streets despite Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming he declared war to "protect civilians" after ordering an all-out invasion of the east European country on Thursday morning, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/running-out-of-food-money-indian-students-queue-up-outside-embassy-in-kiev Amidst the prevailing tension, the Indian students stranded in Ukraine are left with no choice but to queue up outside the Indian Embassy in Kiev seeking the authorities' help as they ran out of food and money. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraines-natl-bank-opens-fundraising-account-to-support-armed-forces Hit by Russian military actions, the Ukranian authorities have come up with a special fundraising account to support the country's armed forces. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-helicopters-swarm-over-ukraines-capital MIDDAY THURSDAY, THE SKIES OVER KIEV SWARMED WITH RUSSIAN ATTACK HELICOPTERS WHICH SEIZED GOSTOMEL AIR BASE, DAILY MAIL REPORTED. https://opinionexpress.in/i-dont-know-how-much-longer-my-country-will-exist-ukraine-president The fate of Ukraine is looking increasingly uncertain as Russia launches a series of strikes across the country, President Volodymyr Zelensky has apparently told his Austrian counterpart, RT reported. https://opinionexpress.in/how-online-disinformation-campaign-aided-new-war-narrative-for-putin A well-prepared online disinformation campaign on various social media platforms changed the whole narrative around the escalated Russia-Ukraine tensions, aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to go to war over claims to protect the people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Ukrainian regime for eight years", reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-pm-imran-khan-meets-russian-president-putin-amidst-ukraine-conflict Russian President Vladimir Putin met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Kremlin on Thursday in his first face-to-face talks since the start of a special military operation in eastern Ukraine and the two leaders are expected review the entire array of bilateral ties including energy cooperation besides exchanging views on major regional and international issues. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-discusses-ukraine-crisis-with-eu-high-representative-borrell External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday spoke to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and discussed the "grave situation" in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-threatens-peace-of-whole-planet-said-romania-president The president of Romania has condemned Russia's “reprehensible” attack on Ukraine and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “threatens the peace of the entire planet.” https://opinionexpress.in/biden-to-discuss-with-g7-on-russias-action-in-ukraine US President Joe Biden said he will meet with his counterparts of other Group of Seven (G7) countries on Thursday to discuss next moves they will take on Russia in response to Moscow's military operation in the Donbas region. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-attacks-ukraine-conflict-reverberates-around-globe Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-junks-plea-against-the-release-of-alia-bhatt-starrer-gangubai-kathiawadi The Supreme Court on Thursday junked a plea seeking an injunction against Bhansali Productions from releasing Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi. The plea was filed by Gangubai's adopted son. https://opinionexpress.in/nato-russia-wages-war-on-ukraine-europe-peace-shattered NATO's secretary-general says Russia has launched war on Ukraine and shattered peace on the European continent. https://opinionexpress.in/ukrainian-soldiers-are-abandoning-positions-in-face-of-russian-offensive Ukrainian soldiers are abandoning their positions in the face of a Russian offensive, Moscow has asserted. https://opinionexpress.in/lithuania-declares-state-of-emergency-after-ukraine-attacked Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in the Baltic country in response to Russia's military attack on Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/nato-agrees-to-beef-up-eastern-flank-after-ukraine-attacked NATO agreed Thursday to beef up its land, sea and air forces on its eastern flank near Ukraine and Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered a military offensive in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-ukraine-what-to-know-as-russia-attacks-ukraine Russian troops launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides on Thursday, an attack that began with explosions before dawn in the capital Kyiv and other cities. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-equity-slumps-further-in-closing-hours-sensex-2702-pts-down Taking a further hit during the late hours, Indian equity markets settled deep in the red on Thursday on news that Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-says-ukraines-air-defence-has-been-destroyed Russia has taken out Ukraine's air defences and airforce with a series of precision attacks, the country's Defence Ministry has said in a statement, after airports and runways across the country were rocked by explosions. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-fighting-underway-in-kharkiv-ukrainian-armed-forces The Ukrainian Armed Forces have said that they managed to stop Russian troops in northern Ukraine's Chernihiv region, but heavy fighting is underway in Kharkiv, located in northeast part of the country, where the "enemy" has suffered casualties. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-president-likens-russian-attack-to-nazi-invasion Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a televised statement on Thursday that his nation has cut all diplomatic relations with Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/war-returns-to-europe-russian-missiles-rain-down-on-airports-military-bases-and-kyiv Russia on Thursday launched all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/youll-face-consequences-greater-than-any-in-history-putin Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared war on Ukraine and gave a chilling warning to its allies in the West, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/oil-prices-at-highest-level-for-more-than-seven-years Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a "special military operation" in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/india-calls-for-immediate-de-escalation-refraining-from-further-action-that-worsens-russia-ukraine-crisis India called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiraling into a major crisis, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision to launch a 'military operation' in eastern Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/unconfirmed-reports-say-russian-forces-have-destroyed-ukraine-navy Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces have destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian Navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev, the Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-military-says-it-knocked-out-ukraine-air-defences The Russian military says it has knocked out Ukraine's air defence assets and airbases. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-announces-ukraine-military-operation-explosions-heard Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” https://opinionexpress.in/whatsapp-group-admins-not-liable-for-objectionable-posts-by-members-kerala-hc The administrators or creators of a WhatsApp group cannot be held vicariously liable for any objectionable content posted on it by any of its members, the Kerala High Court has held. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-caseload-tops-4294-mn The global coronavirus caseload has topped 429.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.91 million and vaccinations to over 10.42 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-blocks-several-researchers-amid-russia-ukraine-war As Russia began a military strike against Ukraine on Thursday, reports surfaced that Twitter blocked several accounts of researchers sharing footage and other information about Russian invasion. https://opinionexpress.in/saif-turns-tough-cop-for-vikram-vedha-first-look The makers of the upcoming neo-noir thriller film 'Vikram Vedha' on Thursday treated fans with the first look of actor Saif Ali Khan, who will be seen playing a tough cop.' https://opinionexpress.in/rijiju-accuses-akhilesh-yadav-of-insulting-lord-buddha Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday accused Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav of insulting Lord Buddha by allegedly not accepting his bust at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-fully-dedicated-to-interests-of-govt-employees-priyanka Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hailed the Rajasthan government's decision to implement the old pension scheme, saying her party is fully dedicated to the interests of government employees. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-decline-to-148359 India logged 14,148 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,28,81,179, while the active cases  dipped to 1,48,359, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ukrainian-airspace-closed-air-india-plane-enroute-to-kyiv-called-back An Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in Ukraine on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation is returning to Delhi due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace amid the Russian military offensive. https://opinionexpress.in/5th-wodi-harmanpreet-gets-much-needs-runs-as-india-avoid-whitewash-against-nz Harmanpreet Kaur struck a much-needed half-century to get back among the runs as the Indian women's cricket team finally managed to beat New Zealand in the series-ending fifth ODI for a consolatory six-wicket win here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/nawab-malik-spends-night-in-ed-custody-mva-leaders-to-stage-protest Ministers and legislators of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra will stage a protest on Thursday against the arrest of minister Nawab Malik, who spent the night in ED office here after the Central agency obtained his custody in a money laundering case. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-attacks-ukraine-as-defiant-putin-warns-us-nato Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen”. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-stocks-follow-spooked-global-markets-as-ukraine-crisis-worsens-sensex-nifty-tank-over-25 Domestic equity gauges Sensex and Nifty crashed over 2.5 per cent in early morning deals on Thursday following massive selloffs in global share markets after Russia announced military operation in Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/maharashtra-minister-nawab-malik-arrested-by-ed-in-money-laundering-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik on Wednesday in a money-laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/fourth-phase-of-up-polls-3745-pc-voting-recorded-till-1-pm An average of 37.45 percent voting was recorded on Wednesday in the first six hours of polling in 59 Assembly constituencies spread over nine districts of Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission said. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hear-plea-to-declare-ram-sethu-national-heritage-monument-on-march-9 The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on March 9 BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking a direction to the Centre to  declare the 'Ram Sethu' a national heritage monument. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-sibling-ba2-remains-variant-of-concern-who Amid concerns of increasing presence of the BA.2 subtype of Omicron variant in some European and Asian countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday reinforced that the BA.2 sublineage should continue to be considered a variant of concern. https://opinionexpress.in/indo-frech-ties-free-from-sudden-shifts-surprise-jaishankar India's ties with France are based on a great sense of trust and it is a relationship that has been free from sudden shifts and surprises seen in other cases, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. https://opinionexpress.in/uttarakhand-harish-rawat-claims-video-shows-ballot-tampering Congress general secretary Harish Rawat has posted a video on social media that purportedly shows one person at an Army centre ticking and signing several postal ballot papers. https://opinionexpress.in/iphone-14-battery-life-may-increase-with-new-5g-chip Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 in or around September and now a new report suggests the upcoming iPhone will feature better battery life than iPhone 13 series, thanks to a new 5G chipset. https://opinionexpress.in/up-fourth-phase-2262-per-cent-voting-recorded-till-11-am An average of 22.62 per cent voting was recorded on Wednesday in the first four hours of polling in 59 Assembly constituencies spread over nine districts of Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission said. https://opinionexpress.in/singapores-daily-covid-19-cases-hit-record-26032-infections Singapore's health ministry has reported a record 26,032 COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours and asked patients with mild or no symptoms who have tested positive to consider self-recovery at home to reduce the pressure on the country's healthcare system. https://opinionexpress.in/oscars-to-present-8-awards-before-live-telecast In a big change, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have decided that winners for eight categories will be presented off air during the 2022 Oscars. https://opinionexpress.in/study-finds-limited-efficacy-of-covid-19-vaccines-against-omicron People who are double-vaccinated and those who have recovered from infection by previous strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have virtually no antibody protection against the Omicron variant, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-announces-sanctions-against-russian-oligarchs-banks President Joe Biden announced the US was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs on Tuesday, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law by invading Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/west-hits-back-with-sanctions-as-russia-pushes-into-ukraine Responding swiftly to Russian President Vladimir Putin's order sending troops to separatist regions of Ukraine, world leaders hit back with non-military actions Tuesday in hopes of averting a full-blown war in Europe. https://opinionexpress.in/suryakumar-ruled-out-of-sri-lanka-t20is-with-hairline-fracture In-form India batter Suryakumar Yadav was on Wednesday ruled out of the three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka owing to a hairline fracture on his hand. https://opinionexpress.in/its-official-shibani-dandekar-adds-akhtar-to-her-last-name Actress-VJ Shibani Dandekar has added husband Farhan Akhtar's last name on her social media account. https://opinionexpress.in/sanya-malhotra-to-star-in-the-great-indian-kitchen-remake Actress Sanya Malhotra has teamed up with creator-producer, Harman Baweja, for the Hindi remake of 'The Great Indian Kitchen'. https://opinionexpress.in/carnage-in-russian-stock-market Russian stocks plunged and the ruble slid closer to a record low on Tuesday as investors reacted to President Vladimir Putin's decision to order troops into eastern Ukraine, CNN reported. https://opinionexpress.in/nawab-malik-being-grilled-by-ed In a major development, Nationalist Congress Party National Spokesperson and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-questions-maha-minister-nawab-malik-in-money-laundering-case The ED on Wednesday questioned Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik in a money laundering probe linked to the activities of the Mumbai underworld, fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-recovers-over-300-pts-tracking-steady-asian-peers The BSE gauge Sensex staged a bold recovery of over 300 points to revisit the 57,600-level in opening deals on Wednesday, prompted by steady Asian bourses, despite lingering geopolitical worries in eastern Europe. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-india-dip-to-164522 India logged 15,102 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,28,67,031, while the active cases  declined to 1,64,522, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/83-pads-up-for-television-premiere-ditches-the-ott-route Ranveer Singh starrer sports drama ‘83 is taking the broadcasting route before it makes its way to the digital medium. The film, directed by Kabir Khan, earlier found itself in troubled waters as the third wave affected its theatrical run. https://opinionexpress.in/deepti-richa-only-bright-spots-for-india-in-latest-icc-odi-rankings In spite of India having a disappointing showing so far in the five-match WODI series in New Zealand, there were a few positives for the tourists in the latest ICC ODI Rankings as Deepti Sharma gained two places to No.18 in the batters' rankings and also climbed six spots to No.13 in the bowlers' rankings. https://opinionexpress.in/john-abraham-to-star-in-action-thriller-tehran Bollywood's action hero John Abraham has joined hands with producer Dinesh Vijan for the first time for an upcoming action thriller christened 'Tehran'. It is slated to release on January 26, 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-aap-ready-for-post-poll-alliance-to-keep-bjp-out Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, has said if there is a hung Assembly in Uttar Pradesh, then AAP will enter into a post-poll alliance to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/four-army-jawans-injured-in-road-accident-in-jks-baramulla Four Army soldiers were injured on Tuesday when their vehicle met an accident in J&K's Baramulla district. https://opinionexpress.in/thailand-raises-covid-alert-level-amid-rising-new-infections Thailand on Monday raised its Covid-19 alert level to the second-highest tier following a rising number of new infections linked to the spread of the Omicron variant. https://opinionexpress.in/teslas-autopilot-feature-being-probed-by-german-regulators-report Electric vehicle company Tesla's automated lane changing system, known as Autopilot, is being probed by German regulators, newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hear-pegasus-snooping-case-on-friday The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the case relating to the Pegasus surveillance scandal on February 25, after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested for a new date before the Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, pointing out that he is supposed to be arguing a different part-heard case on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/bajrang-dal-activists-murder-2-more-detained-in-shivamogga Two more persons have been detained in connection with the murder of a 28-year-old Bajrang Dal activist here, police sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-economy-growing-at-92-among-fastest-growing-large-economies-says-niti-ceo The Indian economy is growing at 9.2 per cent and is expected to grow at similar rates in the coming years, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-orders-forces-to-maintain-peace-in-eastern-ukraine The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin is ordering forces to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-president-to-nation-we-are-not-afraid-of-anyone Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told the nation that Ukraine is “not afraid of anyone or anything." https://opinionexpress.in/escalation-of-tension-along-russia-ukraine-border-matter-of-deep-concern-india-at-un The escalation of tension along the Russia-Ukraine border is a matter of deep concern and the developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region, India has told the UN Security Council, calling for restraint on all sides. https://opinionexpress.in/un-security-council-to-meet-urgently-on-ukraine-crisis The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday night after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian troops. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-meets-counterparts-from-bangladesh-south-korea-czech-republic-eu-in-paris External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Bangladesh, South Korea, the Czech Republic and the European Union in Paris, discussing issues of mutual interest and ways to step up bilateral engagement. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hear-on-wednesday-plea-seeking-cancellation-of-offline-board-exams-for-classes-10-12 The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear tomorrow a plea seeking cancellation of offline board examinations for classes 10 and 12 to be conducted by the CBSE and several other boards this year. https://opinionexpress.in/instagram-quietly-limits-daily-time-limit-option Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram reportedly appears to have quietly removed the ability for mobile users to set a lower daily time limit reminder than 30 minutes. https://opinionexpress.in/big-b-turns-narrator-for-prabhas-starrer-radhe-shyam Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is joining the team of 'Radhe Shyam' as he turns narrator for the upcoming pan-India film starring Prabhas and Pooja Hegde. https://opinionexpress.in/cummins-hazlewood-and-starc-to-be-rested-for-pak-limited-overs-series The Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will sit out of the three One-Day Internationals and one-off T20 International against Pakistan to be played after the three-match Test series beginning in Rawalpindi on March 4. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-crashes-over-1000-pts-as-russia-ukraine-crisis-worsens The BSE benchmark Sensex tanked over 1,000 points and the NSE Nifty cracked below the key 17,000-level in opening deals on Tuesday, mirroring a rout in the global equity markets. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-13405-fresh-covid-19-cases-235-deaths India on Tuesday reported a further decline in fresh Covid infections with 13,405 cases and 235 fatalities in the past 24 hours.With 235 Covid-related deaths, the toll has mounted to 5,12,344, the Union Health Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-vs-cyrus-sc-agrees-to-hear-review-petition-by-cyrus-investments-in-open-court The Supreme Court has agreed to conduct an open court hearing on a review petition filed by Cyrus Investments against its verdict, accepting all contentions of the Tata conglomerate and setting aside the NCLAT order, which restored Cyrus Mistry as the Executive Chairman of the Tata conglomerate. https://opinionexpress.in/amidst-high-tension-putin-signs-decrees-recognising-two-independent-republics-in-ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states. https://opinionexpress.in/boris-johnson-to-confirm-living-with-covid-plan-in-uk British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared a “moment of pride” on Monday as he updated the UK Cabinet on his “living with COVID” plan, which would mark the end of all legal restrictions associated with the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-holds-wide-ranging-and-productive-talks-with-french-counterpart-in-paris External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held wide-ranging and productive talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian here during which he discussed bilateral cooperation, Indo-Pacific and the Ukraine situation. https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-wraps-shoot-of-bhakshak "Badhaai Do" actor Bhumi Pednekar has completed filming for her upcoming movie "Bhakshak", the makers announced Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/hijab-row-ktaka-hc-resumes-hearing-many-students-boycott-exams A three-judge panel of Karnataka High Court, formed to look into the petitions on hijab row, resumed hearing on Monday afternoon. https://opinionexpress.in/hrithiks-rumoured-girlfriend-saba-azad-joins-the-actor-for-family-lunch Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan was joined by his rumoured girlfriend actress Saba Azad for a family lunch. Hrithik's uncle and music composer Rajesh Roshan took to his Instagram to share a picture of the family. https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-violence-family-members-of-deceased-farmers-move-sc-against-grant-of-bail-to-ashish-mishra A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging grant of bail by the Allahabad High Court to Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, who was arrested in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that killed eight people including four farmers on October 3 last year. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-court-sentences-lalu-to-five-years-in-prison-in-fodder-scam-case A special CBI court on Monday sentenced RJD supremo Lalu Prasad to five years in prison and slapped a fine of Rs 60 lakh on him in connection with the Rs 139 crore Doranda treasury embezzlement case of the fodder scam. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-naval-might-in-full-display-at-presidents-fleet-review India's maritime defence might was on full display as President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday conducted the Fleet Review off the Visakhapatnam coast in Bay of Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/union-budget-will-be-of-great-help-in-implementing-national-education-policy-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Union Budget for 2022-23 will be of great help in implementing the National Education Policy on the ground and asserted that the decision to set up a National Digital University can solve the problem of shortage of seats in educational institutions in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/study-finds-cause-of-inflammation-clotting-in-severe-covid-patients Scientists have discovered that "rogue" antibodies found circulating in the blood of Covid-19 patients have the potential to cause cells to lose their resistance to clotting. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-agrees-to-listing-of-plea-seeking-cancellation-offline-board-exams-for-classes-10-12 The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list for hearing a plea seeking cancellation of offline physical board examinations for classes 10 and 12 to be held by CBSE and other several boards this year. https://opinionexpress.in/sony-playstation-5-to-go-on-pre-orders-in-india-on-tuesday Sony PlayStation 5 was set to go on pre-orders from Tuesday (February 22) in India. The console will be available for pre-booking at 12 noon at retail stores. https://opinionexpress.in/with-shamshera-set-to-release-vaani-kapoor-talks-about-her-year-ahead A Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor, who is all set to be seen again in the big ticket action spectacle 'Shamshera', is hoping that 2022 is her best year in Hindi cinema. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-accepts-in-principle-meeting-with-putin-if-russia-does-not-invade-ukraine-white-house President Joe Biden has accepted "in principle" a meeting with President Vladimir Putin provided Russia does not invade Ukraine, the White House has said, in a last-ditch diplomatic overture brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron to ease one of the worst security crises in Europe in decades. https://opinionexpress.in/not-hurt-by-wriddhis-comments-he-deserved-honesty-and-clarity-about-his-position-dravid India's head coach Rahul Dravid is not "hurt" by Wriddhiman Saha revealing the "difficult" conversation that the two had about his future as he firmly believes that the veteran keeper-batter "deserved the honesty and clarity" which was provided to him. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-plunges-over-600-pts-in-line-with-asian-peers Domestic equity gauge Sensex tumbled over 600 points in early session on Monday in line with sell-offs in global equities amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in eastern Europe. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-india-decline-to-202131 India logged 16,051 new coronavirus infections, taking the virus tally to 4,28,38,524, while the active cases dipped to 2,02,131, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-calls-alia-a-bimbo-says-gangubai-kathiawadi-has-wrong-casting Kangana Ranaut has taken a dig at actress Alia Bhatt by calling her a "bimbo" and filmmaker Karan Johar's 'papa ki pari". https://opinionexpress.in/people-want-cong-back-in-power-punjab-cm-channi Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday said that the people of Punjab have decided to bring the Congress party back to power with a huge majority. https://opinionexpress.in/gang-rape-of-minor-sc-stays-operation-of-death-sentence-awarded-to-convict The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of death sentence awarded to a man in a case of gang-rape of a seven-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh in 2018. https://opinionexpress.in/market-movement-and-global-cues-becoming-worrisome The week gone by had plenty of action and the first two days in particular shook the market. On Monday, BSESENSEX lost 1,747 points while NIFTY lost 532 points. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-plans-biggest-war-in-europe-since-1945-uk-pm Evidence suggests that Russia is planning "the biggest war in Europe since 1945", UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-to-accept-dogecoin-as-payment-at-supercharging-station Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that the company's supercharging station will accept cryptocurrency Dogecoin as payment. https://opinionexpress.in/heading-into-womens-odi-wc-in-good-head-space-wi-captain-taylor West Indies are heading into the upcoming women's ODI World Cup in New Zealand in a "good head space" with the team comprising a blend of youth and experienced players, who have learnt new things recently, reckons captain Stafanie Taylor. https://opinionexpress.in/shoot-of-ajay-devgns-bholaa-begins The shoot of Bollywood star Ajay Devgn-starrer “Bholaa”, a remake of 2019's Tamil hit “Kaithi”, is underway. https://opinionexpress.in/vitamins-cannot-reduce-death-risk-from-covid-19-study In view of several studies claiming efficacy of vitamins against Covid-19, a new research proves that taking immune-boosting supplements such as vitamin C, D and zinc do not lessen your chance of dying from the virus. https://opinionexpress.in/2118-voting-in-up-phase-3-poll-punjab-registers-1777-till-11-am The voting percentage till 11 a.m. in the third phase Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh was 21.18, and Punjab recorded 17.77 per cent in its single-phase poll on Sunday, the Election Commission said. https://opinionexpress.in/sehwag-reacts-to-sahas-screenshot-of-texts-from-a-respected-journalist Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has reacted to wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha's tweet of slamming an unnamed 'respected journalist'. https://opinionexpress.in/semicon-india-programme-receives-proposals-worth-205bn Centre has received 5 proposals for 'Semiconductor' and 'Display Fabs' manufacturing worth $20.5 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/fpis-pull-out-rs-18856-cr-from-indian-markets-in-feb-so-far Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have withdrawn a net Rs 18,856 crore from the Indian markets in February so far amid geopolitical tensions and chances of a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve. https://opinionexpress.in/vote-for-one-who-answers-fearlessly-rahul-to-voters-in-punjab With Punjab going to polls on Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people of the state to vote for the one who supports them and answers fearlessly. https://opinionexpress.in/samanthas-meditation-in-exotic-location-grabs-eyeballs Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who posted a series of updates from her latest visit to Athirappilly falls in Kerala, finds tranquility in meditation. https://opinionexpress.in/urban-civic-polls-tn-registers-6070-pc-poll-percentage-chennai-lowest-of-4359-pc Tamil Nadu registered a poll percentage of 60.70 per cent in the February 19 urban local bodies election that witnessed an interesting multi-cornered contest with the constituents of the opposition AIADMK alliance contesting on their respective party's own strengths, rather than remaining together, against the DMK combine. https://opinionexpress.in/how-assembly-polls-will-impact-presidential-and-rajya-sabha-elections The outcome of the five state elections will have an impact on the Presidential poll and will also bring some change in the Upper House of Parliament as except for Punjab the other four states were ruled by the BJP with brute majorities in UP and Uttarakhand. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-akhilesh-refutes-charge-of-terrorists-family-campaigning-for-sp Samajwadi Party president, Akhilesh Yadav, has strongly denied any links with any of the convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts which claimed 56 lives and injured over 200. https://opinionexpress.in/480-voting-in-punjab-up-registers-815-in-3rd-phase-till-9-am The voting percentage on Sunday till 9 a.m. in the third phase Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh was 8.15 per cent and 4.80 per cent in Punjab, the Election Commission said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-19968-new-covid-cases-673-deaths In the last 24 hours, India logged 19,968 new Covid-19 cases and 673 deaths, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/high-oil-prices-trade-deficit-to-subdue-rupee High Crude oil prices along with a wider monthly trade deficit is expected to subdue the Indian rupee in the coming week. https://opinionexpress.in/you-will-vomit-all-that-is-required-as-always-nse-yogi-to-md-ceo Former NSE MD and CEO, Chitra Ramkrishna, was told by the unknown 'yogi', "You will vomit all that is required as always", with reference to discussions with the PMO, Finance Ministry and SEBI on listing of stock exchanges. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-adityanath-says-bjp-will-win-300-plus-seats Launching a scathing attack on BJP turncoats, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the small-time leaders who ditched the saffron party are now struggling to secure seats. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-extend-losses-to-3rd-day-tracking-weak-global-cues Domestic equity gauges Sensex and Nifty extended their losing run for the third session in a row on Friday as participants remained cautious tracking other Asian markets amid geopolitical uncertainties in eastern Europe. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-katrina-kaif-resume-shooting-for-tiger-3-in-delhi Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif have started shooting for a new schedule for the third installment of the 'Tiger' franchise in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-welcomes-indias-position-on-ukraine-situation Russia on Friday welcomed India's position on the Ukraine crisis, amid spike in tensions between the NATO countries and Moscow over the situation in the eastern European nation. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-third-phase-crucial-for-sp-bjp As elections in Uttar Pradesh move into the third phase, the battle becomes increasingly crucial for the BJP as well as Samajwadi Party. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-pandemic-ups-substantial-decrease-in-mental-wellbeing-study People in the UK have experienced a "substantial decrease" in mental wellbeing since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, finds a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/grenade-attack-in-srinagar-policeman-injured A policeman was injured in a grenade attack by terrorists in Khwaja Bazaar area of the old city on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/criminal-case-filed-against-punjab-cm-in-bihar Following Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's allegedly derogatory remarks on the people of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, a criminal case was filed against him in a court in Bihar's Muzaffarpur and an application moved in a Patna police station on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-likely-to-grow-at-58-pc-in-oct-dec-sbi-report The country's gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to grow at 5.8 per cent in the third quarter of fiscal 2022, according to an SBI's research report. https://opinionexpress.in/in-up-khaki-gets-closer-to-khadi The transition from 'Khaki' to Khadi in Uttar Pradesh is becoming increasingly smooth. At least two officers from the police force have quit their jobs to contest elections this year. https://opinionexpress.in/up-2022-nitin-agarwal-work-to-retain-the-family-seat Once known as the king maker in Uttar Pradesh politics, former MP and minister, Naresh Agrawal, is preparing to retain the seat that he has held in the family for the past 36 years. This time he is working for his son, Nitin Agarwal, who is contesting the Hardoi seat for the forth time. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-likely-to-summon-ex-nse-ceo-chitra-ramakrishna The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is mulling to summon Chitra Ramakrishna, the former MD and CEO of National Stock Exchange (NSE). https://opinionexpress.in/withdrawn-274-recovery-notices-against-anti-caa-protestors-up-govt-sc-directs-refund The Uttar Pradesh government Friday told the Supreme Court that it has withdrawn 274 recovery notices and proceedings initiated against anti-CAA protestors in 2019 for damages caused to public and private properties. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-national-sentenced-to-one-year-in-jail-for-molesting-minor-girl-in-singapore A 30-year-old Indian national in Singapore was on Friday sentenced to one year in jail for molesting a minor girl, according to a media report. https://opinionexpress.in/pichai-unveils-100-mn-google-career-certificates-fund Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced a new $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund to prepare a skilled workforce for high-paying, high-growth jobs in fields like data analytics, https://opinionexpress.in/death-penalty-to-38-convicts-in-2008-ahmedabad-blasts-case-11-get-life-term A special court here on Friday awarded death sentence to 38 convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case, which claimed 56 lives and left over 200 injured. https://opinionexpress.in/sheena-bora-murder-case-sc-notice-to-cbi-maha-govt-on-indrani-mukerjea-bail-plea The Supreme Court Friday sought response from the CBI and the Maharashtra government on bail plea of Indrani Mukerjea who is the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case. https://opinionexpress.in/tamannah-bhatia-to-star-in-madhur-bhandarkars-babli-bouncer Actress Tamannaah Bhatia will be seen starring filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar's upcoming movie 'Babli Bouncer', a coming-of-age fictional story of a female bouncer, set in the real 'bouncer town' of North India - Asola Fatepur. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-reviewing-security-of-kumar-vishwas The central government is reviewing the security of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas and may give him protection through a central agency, official sources said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/father-could-only-afford-rs-60-for-me-to-train-at-uppal-stadium-india-bowler-siraj India pace bowler Mohammed Siraj has said that hardships were routine when he was in his formative years as a cricketer, adding that his father was an auto driver who could only afford to give him Rs 60 a day to go and train at the Uppal Stadium in Hyderabad. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-trade-negative-in-early-trade-sensex-down-180-pts India's key indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- declined marginally in early trade on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/korea-keeps-crowd-limits-as-omicron-causes-25-fold-spike South Korea will extend restaurant dining hours but maintain a six-person limit on private social gatherings as it wrestles with a massive coronavirus wave driven by the highly infectious omicron variant. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-16cline-logs-25920-new-covid-cases In the last 24 hours, India registered 25,920 new Covid-19 cases, marking a 16 per cent decline, said the Union Health Ministry on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/nawazuddin-siddiqui-bhumi-pednekar-to-star-in-sudhir-mishras-next-film-afwaah Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has roped in actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Bhumi Pednekar to headline his upcoming feature film, titled "Afwaah". https://opinionexpress.in/to-die-with-respect-is-it-too-much-to-ask-for I’m a Columbia University graduate in Public Health, working as Director at a renowned Health System in America. I help patients, physicians, nurses, other healthcare and non-healthcare professionals in improving quality and performance of 40 hospitals. My Dad was a physician in India until he passed away and ran a charitable clinic all his life. Fortunately, I have had the privilege of observing health systems at both these countries very closely. https://opinionexpress.in/to-take-it-or-not-the-silent-question-before-the-voters With the assembly elections in five states, the tool of freebies has again come to the aid of politicians to woo the voters. Does the freebie model of governance hold any future repercussions? https://opinionexpress.in/if-you-love-kashmir-and-kashmiri-souviniers-you-must-shop-from-the-brand-glee-kashmir Glee Kashmir, a brand that aims to provide digital space to kashmiri manufacturers and exporters without aiming for profit as business in snow falls down in the area and shops are closed for days. https://opinionexpress.in/why-should-the-consent-be-debated The recent introduction of an amendment bill by the Centre that seeks to bring about a gender age neutrality by making the legal marriageable age of women at par with the men, has attracted quite a roar from those in the opposition and also amongst the masses. https://opinionexpress.in/hijabrow-to-wear-or-not-to-wear Hailing from the rural hinterlands of Haryana, I have witnessed various instances of classroom policing over girl students for going against the “rules” set up by the school authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/feminism-and-despair-in-literature I used to know a man who hit his wife repeatedly. I didn’t understand it. Once, I asked him the dreaded question and he said that she deserved it. https://opinionexpress.in/google-honours-worlds-first-chickenpox-vax-creator-with-doodle Google on Thursday celebrated the 94th birth anniversary of Japanese virologist Dr Michiaki Takahashi, who developed the world's first vaccine against chickenpox with a Doodle. https://opinionexpress.in/hijab-row-60-students-return-home-from-udupi-college Around 60 final year students of the government G Shankar memorial women's first grade degree college in Udupi on Thursday returned home after they were told to take off their hijabs by college authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/rather-than-admitting-mistakes-bjp-govt-blaming-nehru-for-peoples-problems-manmohan-singh The BJP had been in power for more than seven years and was still blaming first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the problems of the people, former prime minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh said on Thursday in a scathing attack against the Modi-led government. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-airborne-particles-can-infect-over-200-feet-study Small coronavirus respiratory particles can remain moist and airborne for a longer time and at greater distance than scientists have thought so far. https://opinionexpress.in/disco-king-bappi-lahiri-cremated Singer-composer Bappi Lahiri, who enthralled Hindi cinema lovers with his disco-infused tunes in the 80s and 90s, was cremated here in the presence of family, friends and industry colleagues on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/winning-man-of-the-match-on-debut-is-dream-come-true-for-leg-spinner-ravi-bishnoi India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who came in for high praise from skipper Rohit Sharma for his superb bowling that helped the hosts win the first T20I against West Indies, said winning the Man of the Match award in his debut match was a dream come true for him. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-sets-aside-punjab-haryana-hc-order-on-quota-in-pvt-sector-jobs-for-haryana-residents The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court order granting an interim stay on a Haryana law providing 75 per cent quota in private sector jobs for residents of the state. https://opinionexpress.in/india-tablet-market-witnesses-4-yoy-growth-despite-chip-shortage-report In Q4 2021, the overall India tablet market grew 31 per cent year-on-year, while for the entire year it grew 4 per cent YoY, a new report revealed on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-condoles-loss-of-lives-during-wedding-ritual-in-kushinagar Condoling the loss of lives during a wedding ritual at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the incident as heart-rending. https://opinionexpress.in/vistaras-amritsar-bound-flight-makes-emergency-landing An Amritsar-bound Vistara flight had to make an emergency landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, after it developed a technical snag on Thursday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/i-t-dept-raids-former-nse-md-chitra-ramkrishna The Income Tax Department on Thursday raided premises linked to former NSE MD and CEO Chitra Ramkrishna in Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation against her and others, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-can-happen-anytime-now-white-house A Russian invasion of Ukraine can happen anytime now, the White House said Wednesday as President Joe Biden announced plans to dispatch Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Tony Blinken to attend the Munich conference to meet world leaders and unite them against Moscow. https://opinionexpress.in/13-killed-after-falling-into-well-in-ups-kushinagar-at-marriage-function Thirteen women and children, all girls, died after falling into a well while performing a marriage ritual in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district, police said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pandemic-escalated-india-tablet-market-sales-despite-chip-shortage-report In Q4 2021, the overall India tablet market grew 31 per cent year-on-year, while for the entire year it grew 4 per cent YoY, a new report revealed on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/11-bn-worth-illicit-cryptocurrencies-in-circulation Cryptocurrencies have made criminals richer and in 2021, criminals held $11 billion worth of funds with known illicit sources, compared to just $3 billion at the end of 2020, a new report has revealed. https://opinionexpress.in/ajay-devgn-starts-shooting-for-drishyam-2 The shooting for the sequel of 'Drishyam' starring Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has commenced. Abhishek Pathak is set to direct the next chapter in this franchise. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-t20i-rohit-suryakumar-ravi-bishnoi-lead-india-to-a-win-over-west-indies Solid bowling performance on his debut by leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2/17) followed by a quickfire knock by Rohit Sharma and a superb finishing effort from Suryakumar Yadav helped India thrash West Indies by six wickets in the first T20I and take 1-0 lead in three-match series on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/coman-rescues-1-1-draw-for-bayern-munich-at-salzburg-in-cl Kingsley Coman scored late to salvage a 1-1 draw for Bayern Munich at Salzburg in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/india-adds-30757-covid-19-cases-tally-increases-to-42754315 With 30,757 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases rose to 4,27,54,315, while the recovery rate crossed the 98 per cent-mark again, according to Union health ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-extend-losses-sensex-down-over-200-pts India's key indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- extended their losses from the previous session and declined marginally in early trade on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-tech-giant-huawei-raided-over-tax-evasion-firms-says-cooperating The Income Tax department on Wednesday carried out raids at multiple premises linked to Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei across the country in connection with alleged tax evasion. https://opinionexpress.in/role-of-dawoods-brother-emerges-during-questioning-of-qureshi-in-pmla-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved an application before the concerned court seeking permission to question Dawood Ibrahim's brother Iqbal Kaskar in money laundering case. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2022-faf-du-plessis-shreyas-and-dhawan-likely-to-lead-rcb-kkr-pbks With the IPL mega auction done and dusted, the focus now shifts to potential captaincy candidates for the franchises who still don't have a designated captain before the start of the 15th edition of the cash-rich league. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-adds-paytm-payment-gateway-for-tips-in-india Micro-blogging site Twitter on Wednesday announced that it has partnered with Paytm Payments Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of digital payments and financial services platform Paytm, as a payments partner for Tips in India. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-refuses-to-refer-to-larger-bench-appeals-against-hc-order-quashing-105-per-cent-vanniyar-quota The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to refer to a larger bench a batch of appeals against a Madras High Court order which quashed the 10.5 per cent reservation provided to Vanniyars, a Most Backward Community (MBC) in Tamil Nadu, in government jobs and admission to educational institutions. https://opinionexpress.in/sp-goons-attacked-union-minister-s-p-singh-baghels-convoy-in-karhal-alleges-up-dy-cm Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday alleged that Union Minister S P Singh Baghel's convoy was "attacked by Samajwadi Party goons" in Mainpuri district's Karhal where he is contesting against Akhilesh Yadav. https://opinionexpress.in/man-tries-to-enter-nsa-dovals-residence-detained-by-delhi-police An unidentified person was on Wednesday detained by the Delhi Police after he tried to enter the residence of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. https://opinionexpress.in/mirza-hradecka-pair-advances-to-quarterfinals-of-dubai-tennis-championships Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Lucie Hradecka eked out a hard-fought win to advance the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships here. https://opinionexpress.in/criminal-politicians-will-be-free-again-if-akhilesh-comes-to-power-shah Attacking Samajwadi Party in its founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's parliamentary constituency Mainpuri, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said 'criminal' politicians like Azam Khan and Mukhtar Ansari will be out of jail again if that party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/man-of-incredible-melody-bollywood-celebs-mourn-bappi-lahiris-demise Bollywood celebrities have been mourning the death of India's 'Disco King' Bappi Lahiri since the news broke that he had passed away at the age of 69 at a suburban hospital in Mumbai's Juhu area in the early hours of Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-rejects-ansals-plea-for-suspension-of-jail-term-in-uphaar-tragedy-evidence-tampering-case In a major setback for real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected their plea seeking suspension of the seven-year sentence in the Uphaar tragedy evidence tampering case. https://opinionexpress.in/skorea-reports-record-high-of-90443-new-covid-cases South Korea's daily number of Covid cases hit a record high amid the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, the health authorities said Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/renowned-music-composer-bappi-lahiri-passes-away-at-69 Veteran singer-music director Bappi Lahiri -- who wielded the baton at the age of 17 -- passed away here in the early hours of Wednesday, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-30615-new-covid-cases-514-deaths India reported 30,615 fresh Covid infections in a span of 24 hours, a marginal rise from 27,409 cases reported on the previous day, said the Union Health ministry on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-equities-a-tad-up-in-early-trade India's key indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- extended their gains from the previous session and rose marginally in early trade on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-vs-west-indies-kohli-in-great-mental-space-knows-how-to-handle-pressure-says-rohit India captain Rohit Sharma on Monday brushed aside concerns over Virat Kohli's form, saying the stylish batter is in "great mental space". https://opinionexpress.in/hardik-patel-moves-guj-hc-seeking-stay-of-conviction-in-rioting-case-ahead-of-assembly-polls In view of the Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled to be held in December, Congress leader Hardik Patel has approached the High Court seeking an urgent hearing on his plea against conviction in the 2015 Visnagar riot case. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-1-kg-ghee-free-ration-to-poor-for-5-years-if-sp-comes-to-power-says-akhilesh-yadav SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday promised a kilo of 'ghee' to the poor along with free ration for five years if his party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh while claiming that the BJP government was set to discontinue its own free-ration scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/can-hormone-therapy-cut-covid-deaths-in-elderly-women  Low oestrogen levels in elderly women may increase their risk of death due to Covid-19, according to a study that suggests exploring hormone therapy to reduce infection severity. https://opinionexpress.in/new-poster-from-bachchhan-paandey-showcases-akshay-kumars-rugged-avatar Bollywood star Akshay Kumar's new poster from his upcoming film 'Bachchhan Paandey' was revealed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/rajnath-calls-on-manipur-militants-to-shun-violence-come-for-peace-talks Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on insurgent outfits in Manipur to shun violence and come for peace talks with the Centre. https://opinionexpress.in/94th-academy-awards-twitterati-can-vote-for-their-favourite-film The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has granted special powers to Twitter users to vote for their favourite film for the 94th Academy Awards, reports Variety. https://opinionexpress.in/india-driving-force-of-quad-says-white-house India is a driving force of the Quad and an engine for regional growth, said the White House, days after foreign ministers of the countries, which are part of the grouping, met in Melbourne. https://opinionexpress.in/foldable-smartphone-shipments-to-exceed-30mn-in-2024 Foldable smartphone shipments are forecast to increase by a CAGR of 53 per cent between 2021 and 2024 to exceed 30 million in 2024 worldwide, a new report revealed. https://opinionexpress.in/fodder-scam-cbi-court-convicts-lalu-in-rs-139-cr-doranda-treasury-case A special CBI court on Tuesday convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad in the Rs 139.5 crore Doranda treasury embezzlement case. https://opinionexpress.in/icc-womens-cricket-world-cup-2022-sees-massive-jump-in-prize-money The winner of the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held across six venues in New Zealand from March 4 onwards, will be richer by USD 1.32 million -- double the amount that was awarded to the victors of the 2017 edition in England. https://opinionexpress.in/ukraine-russia-crisis-what-to-know-as-diplomacy-steps-up Diplomatic efforts to head off what U.S. Officials have warned could be an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine entered a new round on Monday. Russia's top diplomat advised President Vladimir Putin to continue talks and Germany's chancellor met the Ukrainian president. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-decline-to-423127 New COVID-19 cases in India were recorded below 30,000 after 44 days, taking the virus tally to 4,26,92,943, while the active cases dipped to 4,23,127, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-allows-future-retail-to-move-delhi-hc-to-seek-resumption-of-nclt-proceedings The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Future Retail to move Delhi High Court to seek permission for the continuation of the proceedings in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) regarding the sanction for its Rs 27,513-crore transaction with Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-conducts-searches-in-mumbai-in-underworld-linked-action The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted multiple searches in Mumbai as part of a money laundering probe linked to the operations of the underworld, illegal property deals and hawala transactions, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/bheemla-nayak-shoot-to-wrap-up-soon Actors Pawan Kalyan and Rana Daggubati-starrer 'Bheemla Nayak' are gearing up for its release soon. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-recovers-315-pts-in-opening-trade-it-fmcg-shares-lend-support The BSE gauge Sensex recovered over 315 points to trade at 56,721 in opening deals on Tuesday, on emergence of buying mainly in IT and FMCG stocks, despite a lacklustre trend in global markets due to the Ukraine crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-women-suffer-3-wicket-loss-to-nz-in-second-odi India suffered a three-wicket loss to hosts New Zealand in the second women's ODI here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/actors-moving-to-ott-not-motivated-by-pandemic-says-ajay-devgn Superstar Ajay Devgn on Monday said the shift to streaming platforms for many actors is more about finding the "right subject" in the long format of storytelling rather than a move motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-allows-cbi-to-probe-death-of-17-year-old-girl-in-thanjavur The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the CBI to probe the death by suicide of a 17-year-old girl in Thanjavur, who was allegedly coerced to convert to Christianity. https://opinionexpress.in/india-maldives-hold-dialogue-to-expand-defence-cooperation Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar has held "very productive" talks with the top military brass of the Maldives to further bolster bilateral defence and security cooperation amid concerns over China's increasing footprint in the Indian Ocean. https://opinionexpress.in/dhanush-starrer-maaran-to-release-on-disneyhotstar South star Dhanush-led action thriller "Maaran" is set to release on Disney+Hotstar, the streamer announced on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-to-ban-54-chinese-apps-posing-threat-to-national-security The Centre is all set to ban 54 Chinese mobile applications which are posing threat to national security, the sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/isros-first-launch-in-2022-pslv-c52-successfully-launches-earth-observation-2-small-satellites Marking the first launch mission of the year 2022, Indian Space Research Organisation's earth observation satellite EOS-04 and two small satellites were successfully placed into the intended orbit by the PSLV-C52 rocket on Monday, a feat described by the ISRO as a "marvellous accomplishment". https://opinionexpress.in/19-per-cent-polling-recorded-in-ukhand-till-11-am Long queues of voters were seen outside polling booths as polling began on Monday at 8 am to the 70 assembly seats spread over 13 districts of Uttarakhand. https://opinionexpress.in/nawazuddin-siddiqui-nupur-sanon-to-star-in-noorani-chehra "Noorani Chehra", starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and debutante Nupur Sanon, went on floors Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/intel-designing-energy-efficient-crypto-chip-jack-dorsey-1st-buyer Chip-maker Intel is working on a crypto chip that will be energy-efficient and Jack Dorsey-owned fintech company Block (formerly known as Square) will be one of the first buyers of the chip. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-strategic-partnership-in-defence-of-democracy In a neatly executed intelligence-based counter-terror operation on February 3, the US Special Forces organised a night raid on the safe house being used by ISIS chief Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al- Qurayshi at Atmeh near the border with Turkey in Idlib province of Syria, which resulted -- after a longish encounter -- in Qurayshi exploding a bomb that killed him and his family. https://opinionexpress.in/post-bigg-boss-15-rakhi-sawant-decides-to-part-ways-with-husband-ritesh Reality TV star Rakhi Sawant has announced her separation from husband Ritesh, whom she had introduced in "Bigg Boss 15". https://opinionexpress.in/tmc-on-course-for-big-win-in-four-municipal-corporations-in-bengal The Trinamool Congress on Monday was ahead in all the four municipal corporations in West Bengal where polls were held on February 12, as per data available on the State Election Commission's website. https://opinionexpress.in/india-adds-34113-covid-19-cases-active-cases-fall-below-5-lakh-after-37-days India on Monday reported 34,113 fresh coronavirus infections that took its tally to 4,26,65,534, while active cases dropped below 5 lakh after around 37 days, according to Union health ministry data. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-pays-homage-to-pulwama-attack-victims Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid homage to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who lost their lives in a terrorist attack on their convoy in Pulwama in 2019, and said their bravery and supreme sacrifice motivate every Indian to work towards a strong and prosperous country. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-average-voter-turnout-of-945-per-cent-recorded-till-9-am An average voter turnout of 9.45 per cent was recorded till 9 am on Monday in Uttar Pradesh, where polling is underway in 55 assembly seats spread across nine districts. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-crashes-over-1500-pts-in-opening-deals-on-geopolitical-worries The BSE gauge Sensex tanked over 1,500 points to crack below the 57,000-mark and the NSE Nifty slipped below the 17,000-level in the opening session on Monday, amid heightened tension over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. https://opinionexpress.in/smith-expected-to-recover-fully-from-concussion-within-a-week-to-be-fit-for-pak-tour-next-month Senior Australia batter Steve Smith is expected to make a full recovery within a week from his latest concussion episode and be available for the tour of Pakistan next month. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-receives-16-proposals-for-metro-projects-from-statesuts With an aim to provide speedy and clean urban transport system to the public, seven states and two Union Territories have sent 16 proposals for the expansion/fresh construction of metro rail projects to the Centre. https://opinionexpress.in/rudra-the-edge-of-darkness-poster-features-ajay-devgns-titular-character-in-thematic-pit-of-darkness The makers of Ajay Devgn-starrer web series, 'Rudra: The Edge of Darkness', released a poster featuring the actor in an overhead shot. https://opinionexpress.in/assembly-polls-sp-in-up-cong-in-goa-have-advantage-over-bjp-says-senas-raut Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party has an edge over the ruling BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls currently underway. https://opinionexpress.in/england-batter-liam-livingstone-fetches-1150-crore-from-punjab-kings England batter Liam Livingstone fetched a staggering 11.50 crore deal from Punjab Kings, who also roped in West Indies fast bowler Odean Smith for Rs 6 crore on the second day of the IPL auctions here Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/mayawati-hits-out-at-bjp-for-its-refusal-to-acknowledge-issue-of-unemployment Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati hit out at the ruling BJP on Sunday, saying its refusal to acknowledge the issue of unemployment in the country stems from its "arrogant thinking". https://opinionexpress.in/hijab-row-as-high-schools-reopen-tomorrow-bommai-confident-about-peace A day ahead of high schools across the state up to class 10 that were shut in the wake of the Hijab row, reopening, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday expressed confidence that peace and normalcy will prevail. https://opinionexpress.in/how-covid-variants-escape-cellular-immune-response A team of Spanish researchers have identified a number of existing strains of SARS-CoV-2, as well as future variants, which have the potential to escape the immune system's cytotoxic T cell response in some portion of the population. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-singh-shares-his-excitement-and-love-for-naatu-naatu-song-from-rrr Bollywood hero Ranveer Singh, who had been live on his Instagram, shared his excitement over Ram Charan and Jr NTR's upcoming cinematic wonder 'RRR'. https://opinionexpress.in/loot-escape-is-modi-govts-flagship-scheme-for-bank-fraudsters-cong The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre for the bank frauds allegedly committed by Gujarat-based ABG Shipyard owned by Rishi Agarwal and others for duping 28 Banks, including State Bank of India. https://opinionexpress.in/countdown-for-launch-of-indias-eye-in-the-sky-satellite-begins The Indian space agency on early Sunday morning began the countdown for the Monday morning launch of its PSLV-C52 rocket carrying the country's radar imaging satellite RISAT-1A renamed as Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-04). https://opinionexpress.in/this-is-how-google-aims-to-protect-your-privacy-in-ad-filled-web Google has detailed its objectives to respect users' privacy while maintaining a well functioning ad-funded web. https://opinionexpress.in/was-waiting-to-collaborate-with-anubhav-sinha-says-rajkummar-rao In his 12 year-long journey in Bollywood, actor Rajkummar Rao may have worked with some of the finest filmmakers but he says working with director Anubhav Sinha on the upcoming movie “Bheed” was special. https://opinionexpress.in/madrid-held-at-villarreal-before-psg-bale-makes-rare-start The only positive that Real Madrid could take away from its scoreless draw with Villarreal was Gareth Bale, whose good form belied his return to the pitch after more than five months on the sidelines. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-dip-to-537045 Daily new COVID-19 cases in the country dipped below 50,000 after around 40 days, taking the country's virus tally to 4,26,31,421, while the active cases declined to 5,37,045, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/mcap-of-nine-of-top-10-cos-erodes-by-over-rs-1-lakh-cr-tcs-biggest-drag Nine of the 10 most valued companies together lost Rs 1,03,532.08 crore in market valuation last week, with Tata Consultancy Services emerging as the worst loser. https://opinionexpress.in/from-hooda-krunal-to-ashwin-buttler-ipl-mega-auction-has-turned-foes-into-teammates In his own words, all-rounder Deepak Hooda was left "demoralised, depressed and under pressure" after a well documented spat with his Baroda state team captain, Krunal Pandya. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-auction-ishan-kishan-hits-jackpot-as-young-india-players-clinch-million-dollar-plus-deals Jharkhand's flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was well on his way to become the biggest buy of the IPL mega auction here on Saturday with Mumbai Indians retaining him for more than Rs 15 crore while his India teammate Shreyas Iyer also clinched a staggering deal of over Rs 12 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders. https://opinionexpress.in/kkr-get-shreyas-iyer-for-rs-1225-cr-rabada-bags-million-dollar-deal-from-punjab Stylish India international Shreyas Iyer predictably became the highest paid player among the marquee set with Kolkata Knight Riders making a whopping bid of Rs 12.25 crore after an intense price war at the Indian Premier League auction here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-indo-pacific-strategy-to-back-indias-rise-regional-leadership-in-countering-china US President Joe Biden's administration has outlined its Indo-Pacific strategy that would "support Indias continued rise and regional leadership", as Washington seeks to counter China's attempts at global domination. https://opinionexpress.in/woman-dsp-rank-officer-to-probe-gaighat-shelter-home-case-patna-hc The Patna High Court on Friday directed the district police to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by woman DSP rank officer to investigate Gaighat shelter home sexual assault case. https://opinionexpress.in/post-vax-exercise-bumps-up-antibodies-study Around 90 minutes of mild- to moderate-intensity exercise directly after the flu or the Covid-19 vaccine may provide an extra immune boost, suggests a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-tech-spending-to-grow-87-in-2022-highest-in-asia-pacific The tech spending in India is likely to grow 8.7 per cent in 2022, one of the highest growth rates in the Asia Pacific region, according to a new report. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-back-after-facing-hour-long-outage Twitter was back after facing an hour-long outage that affected both the web and mobile apps in some parts of the world. https://opinionexpress.in/crpf-officer-killed-in-naxal-encounter-in-chhattisgarh A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer was killed during an exchange of fire with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's left-wing extremism affected Bijapur district on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/manushi-chhillar-worked-hard-on-myself-to-play-princess-sanyogita Former beauty queen and debutante Manushi Chhillar currently awaits the release of her maiden film 'Prithviraj'. https://opinionexpress.in/motivated-comments-on-indias-internal-issues-not-welcome-mea-on-hijab-row India on Saturday rejected criticism by some countries over the simmering dress code row in certain educational institutions in Karnataka and said that "motivated comments" on the country's internal issues are not welcome. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-wodi-new-zealand-crush-india-by-62-runs-despite-mithali-half-century Skipper Mithali Raj's well-crafted half-century went in vain as Indian batting flopped once again with the visitors losing the first WODI against New Zealand by 62 runs here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/three-al-badr-terrorists-arrested-in-jks-sopore Three terrorists of the Al-Badr proscribed outfit were arrested along with arms and ammunition on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore area, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-mega-auction-the-aussie-brigade-is-here-to-make-hay Australian cricketers will make up the greatest overseas portion in the two-day Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction, scheduled to commence later in the day here, with the likes of Test captain Pat Cummins, left-handed opener David Warner, top-order batter Steve Smith, limited-overs specialist Mitch Marsh and pace bowler Josh Hazlewood. https://opinionexpress.in/current-situation-at-lac-arisen-due-to-disregard-of-written-agreements-by-china-jaishankar The current situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has arisen due to the disregard of written agreements by China not to mass soldiers at the border, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-logs-50407-new-cases-804-deaths India saw a single day rise of 50,407 coronavirus infections, which took the tally of cases to 4,25,86,544, while the active cases have declined to 6,10,443, according to Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-seeks-to-know-if-cases-pertaining-to-quota-in-pvt-sector-be-considered-together The Supreme Court Friday sought to know whether parties concerned are agreeable that cases pertaining to quota in private sector on the basis of domicile be considered together. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-outperforms-samsung-in-global-smartphone-market-reports Samsung Electronics was outpaced by Apple in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021 in terms of global smartphone shipments, reports showed on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-sons-board-renews-chandrasekarans-term-as-executive-chairman The Board of Tata Sons on Friday approved the reappointment of N. Chandrasekaran as the Executive Chairman for the next five years. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-sinks-773-pts-nifty-slumps-below-17400 Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled 773 points on Friday, tracking huge losses in IT and financial stocks amid a fresh sell-off in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/karan-bipasha-talk-about-their-married-life-on-the-kapil-sharma-show Actor couple Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover has a fun banter about their married life on 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-attacks-cong-in-ukhand-says-it-divides-people-on-caste-religion Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of dividing people on caste, region and religion, as he sought another mandate for the BJP, promising it will take development in Uttarakhand to “Himalayan heights”. https://opinionexpress.in/shabana-blows-holes-into-kanganas-afghanistan-argument Hindi cinema star Shabana Azmi has responded strongly to actress Kangana Ranaut for her recent comments on the ongoing hijab row in Karnataka. https://opinionexpress.in/ranbir-kapoors-shamshera-to-release-in-theatres-on-july-22 Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor-led “Shamshera” is set to release theatrically on July 22, the producers announced on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-recalls-over-575k-vehicles-due-to-boombox-features Electric car maker Tesla is reportedly recalling 578,607 vehicles over a potential issue with the Boombox feature. https://opinionexpress.in/ebola-virus-can-hide-in-brain-recur-even-after-treatment-study Ebola virus, which can persist in certain areas of the body, can re-emerge to cause fatal disease, even long after treatment with monoclonal antibodies, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/hijab-row-ktaka-hc-requests-state-govt-to-reopen-schools-says-no-to-hijab-and-saffron-shawls-in-classrooms The Karnataka High Court, which is hearing the petitions against the Hijab ban, has requested the state government to reopen educational institutions and also restrained the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab and any religious flag within the classroom. https://opinionexpress.in/hijab-row-sc-says-will-protect-fundamental-rights-of-citizens-take-up-plea-at-appropriate-time The Supreme Court Friday said it would protect the Constitutional rights of every citizen and take up at an “appropriate time” the pleas challenging a direction of the Karnataka High Court asking students not to wear any religious clothing in educational institutions, and emphasised that these issues should not “spread” at “national level”. https://opinionexpress.in/india-win-toss-elect-to-bat-against-wi-in-3rd-odi India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat against the West Indies in the third and final ODI here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/quad-foreign-ministers-meet-amid-ukraine-crisis The foreign ministers of the Quad grouping of India, the US, Australia and Japan on Friday held extensive talks in Melbourne amid escalating tension between Russia and NATO countries over Ukraine, the Afghan crisis and increasing concerns over China's "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific region. https://opinionexpress.in/this-budget-forward-looking-has-vision-for-india-at-100-sitharaman The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said in the Rajya Sabha that the General Budget 2022-23 stood for continuity, was forward looking and has a vision for 'India at 100'. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-spread-these-things-to-a-larger-level-sc-on-pleas-challenging-hc-order-on-hijab Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Friday orally told the counsel of a petitioner, challenging the Karnataka High Court interim order in the Hijab matter, to think whether it is proper to bring the issue at the national level. https://opinionexpress.in/gehraiyaan-a-slow-burn-captivating-noir-drama Director: Shakun Batra. Cast: Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa, Naseeruddin Shah and Rajat Kapoor. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-records-58077-new-cases-657-deaths India saw a single day rise of 58,077 coronavirus infections, which took the tally of cases to 4,25,36,137, while the active cases have declined to 6,97,802, according to Union health ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slumps-over-600-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tests-17400 Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 600 points in the opening session on Friday, mainly due to weakness in IT and financial stocks amid a weak trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/will-not-retire-till-punjab-rid-of-corrupt-politicians-amarinder Launching yet another scathing attack on the Congress over the nomination of Charanjit Singh Channi as chief ministerial candidate even after his kin was "caught with mafia earnings", Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday declared that he will not retire till he will get the state rid of such corrupt people. https://opinionexpress.in/us-regulatory-agency-sues-tesla-for-racial-discrimination-harassment The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DEFH) has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk-run Tesla, alleging systematic racial discrimination and harassment at its Fremont manufacturing plant in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/india-raises-concern-over-hostile-activities-in-uk-seeks-action India and the UK on Thursday discussed various issues related to homeland security and other issues in the 4th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue in a virtual mode. https://opinionexpress.in/prince-charles-tests-covid-positive-goes-into-self-isolation Britain's Prince Charles has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating, said Clearance House, the official Twitter account of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ishan-kishan-is-the-only-one-you-can-realistically-groom-for-world-cup-says-pragyan-ojha Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha said that India should groom young cricketer Ishan Kishan for the World Cup to be played in Australia. He added that team management should give Kishan more chances to gain his confidence ahead of the World Cup. https://opinionexpress.in/espncricinfo-awards-rishabh-pant-wins-test-batting-award-kane-williamson-gets-captain-of-year India's prolific wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant won top 'Test batting' prize for his 89 not out, which shattered Australia's unbeaten record at Gabba and helped India win the Border Gavaskar Trophy last year while New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was adjudged 'Captain of the Year' at the 15th Annual ESPNcricinfo awards. https://opinionexpress.in/sharechat-mx-media-merge-their-short-video-apps-in-mega-deal Heralding a new era for the Indian short-video making apps since the ban on Chinese platforms, Mohalla Tech, the parent company of homegrown social media apps Moj and ShareChat, and MX Media Co Ltd on Thursday decided to "strategically merge" their short-video platforms Moj and MX TakaTak in a deal that could be around $600-$700 million (Rs 4,500 crore-Rs 5,500 crore). https://opinionexpress.in/iifa-postponed-to-may-20-21-following-global-covid-spread The International Indian Film Academy Awards 2022 also known as IIFA, which were earlier scheduled to be held in March 2022, have been postponed following the rapidly changing public health situation and the spread of COVID-19 globally. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-infection-rate-declined-significantly-health-ministry The Union Health Ministry on Thursday said that the rate of Covid infection spread has come down significantly in last some days. The country is reporting below one lakh Covid cases for last four days, said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/ruturaj-recovers-out-of-isolation India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had tested positive for COVID-19, has recovered and is out out of isolation. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-measures-for-msmes-contact-intensive-sectors-augur-well-for-economy-say-financial-experts A status quo in repo rate underlines RBI's priority in supporting GDP growth amid the lingering impact of the pandemic, while additional measures for MSMEs, contact-intensive sectors and digital transactions augurs well for the overall economic health, financial market participants said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-first-phase-over-60-pc-turnout-recorded Over 60 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first phase of polling held on Thursday across 58 assembly constituencies in 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/mk-stalin-remains-nightmare-for-bjp-in-tn-udayanidhi-stalin DMK youth wing secretary and Member of Legislative Assembly, Udayanidhi Stalin has said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin remains a nightmare for the BJP in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-over-20-percent-voting-till-11-am Amid reports of technical snag in EVMs at some places, polling is going on peacefully in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday with an average of over 20 per cent votes being cast in the first four hours, Election Commission officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-consider-listing-plea-on-karnataka-hijab-row The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider a submission seeking the listing of a plea for transferring a case on the hijab row from the Karnataka High Court to itself. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-pm-modi-urges-people-to-cast-votes Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged people eligible to vote in the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls to participate in the exercise enthusiastically. https://opinionexpress.in/global-kashmiri-pandit-diaspora-releases-historic-homeland-manifesto At a global public event, GKPD released the results of a two yearlong study by eminent, international scholars and human rights practitioners on the way forward for the just and sustainable return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-prohibits-import-of-foreign-made-drones The Centre on Wednesday prohibited the import of foreign-made drones, so as to promote the domestic drone manufacturing industry. https://opinionexpress.in/tamil-eelam-will-become-reality-in-not-too-far-future-visvanathan-ians-interview Tamil Eelam will become a reality is not too far future, said Rudrakumaran Visvanathan, the 'Prime Minister' of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) which aims to realise accountability of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide committed by Sri Lanka against Tamil minority, in an exclusive interview with IANS. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-2022-23-lacks-long-term-vision-kapil-sibal Senior Congress MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said in the Rajya Sabha that the Union Budget 2022-23 lacks long term plan and vision. https://opinionexpress.in/vote-with-your-wallet-to-drive-climate-action We all have heard many times that environmental advocates and sustainability enthusiasts say that we should be "voting with our wallets." We, as consumers, have the power to change the marketplace and the world by selecting sustainable brands that care about people and the world. https://opinionexpress.in/hijab-row-karnataka-hc-refers-matter-to-larger-bench A single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court, hearing petitions seeking relief regarding wearing of hijab in colleges, on Wednesday referred the case to a larger bench. https://opinionexpress.in/alliance-airs-atr-plane-flies-without-engine-cover-from-mumbai-to-bhuj-dgca-starts-probe-into-incident An Alliance Air flight from Mumbai to Bhuj, carrying 70 passengers, flew without engine cover that was later retrieved from the runway at the city airport on Wednesday, prompting aviation regulator DGCA to start a probe into the incident, according to an official. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-25-percent-candidates-in-second-up-elections-phase-have-criminal-cases Nearly 25 per cent candidates contesting the second phase of UP elections have a criminal background. https://opinionexpress.in/ahmedabad-based-new-ipl-franchise-to-be-called-gujarat-titans The new Ahmedabad-based IPL team, owned by CVC Capital, will be called Gujarat Titans, the franchise revealed on Wednesday, days ahead of the mega auction. https://opinionexpress.in/new-india-is-china-nirbhar-rahul-queries-pm-on-statue-of-equality Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has used the 'Statue of Equality' as ammunition for his latest salvo against the Prime Minister and his 'New India' and 'Atma Nirbhar' slogans. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-to-visit-australia-philippines-from-feb-10-15-mea External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin a six-day visit to Australia and the Philippines beginning Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-antiviral-drug-combo-highly-effective-against-covid-19-study Combining the antiviral remdesivir or molnupiravir with the experimental drug brequinar blocks the reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that causes COVID-19, in lung cells and in mice, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/wi-win-toss-opt-to-bowl-in-2nd-odi-against-india-pollard-misses-out-due-to-niggle Stand-in West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bowl in the second ODI against India here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/raveena-tandon-finishes-dubbing-for-kgf-chapter-2 Actor Raveena Tandon has finished dubbing for her part in the upcoming movie "KGF: Chapter 2" and thanked the team, including South star Yash, for a fantastic experience on the film. https://opinionexpress.in/bsf-foils-pak-drone-bid-to-smuggle-drugs-pistol-into-punjab The Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday claimed to have foiled a narcotics and weapon smuggling bid by a drone along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/mission-impossible-7-how-covid-blew-up-budget-of-tom-cruises-spy-sequel 'Mission: Impossible 7' director Christopher McQuarrie talked up a sequence that saw actor Tom Cruise drive his motorcycle off a cliff in Norway. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-issues-notice-on-amazon-plea-challenging-delhi-hc-stay-on-arbitration-with-future-group The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice on an appeal by Amazon challenging a division bench order of the Delhi High Court, which stayed the ongoing arbitration proceedings with the Future Group, in connection with the 2019 deal between the firms. https://opinionexpress.in/youth-trapped-in-mountain-cleft-rescued-by-army-team After being trapped in a cleft on a mountain face in Malampuzha area of Palakkad district in Kerala for nearly two days, rescue teams of the Army were able to reach Babu, provide him food and water and then haul him to safety. https://opinionexpress.in/sanjay-raut-claims-some-people-asked-him-to-help-in-toppling-maha-govt-writes-to-vice-president-naidu Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has written a letter to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, claiming he was approached by “certain people” who asked him to assist in toppling the MVA government in Maharashtra so that the state could be forced into mid-term elections. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-womens-team-suffers-18-run-loss-to-nz-in-one-off-t20-international Batting let India down as they suffered an 18-run defeat to hosts New Zealand in the one-off women's T20 International here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-decline India logged 71,365 new coronavirus infections taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,24,10,976, while the active cases declined to 8,92,828, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-over-400-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-above-17350 Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 400 points in the opening session on Wednesday, following gains in IT and financial stocks, amid a firm trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/declaring-cms-face-is-a-biggest-mistake-of-congress-amarinder Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said the Congress had made a big mistake by announcing a chief minister's face as "a chief minister should be decided on grounds of capability and not on the metric of caste, be it a Scheduled Caste, Jat or Hindu, which they had done." https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-adani-becomes-asias-richest-person The Indian coal mining tycoon Gautam Adani has become Asia's richest person thanks to a push into green energy that has boosted his fortune to $88.5bn, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/china-backed-pak-being-set-up-as-challenger-to-india-in-auto-components-textiles India is likely to face rising competition from Pakistan in sectors including auto parts and textiles in the near future, Chinese state media has claimed. https://opinionexpress.in/will-smith-to-travel-from-south-pole-to-north-pole-in-series-from-national-geographic Hollywood star Will Smith will be covering both ends of the Earth in a series for National Geographic. https://opinionexpress.in/hijab-row-turns-violent-in-ktaka-stone-pelting-lathi-charge-incidents-reported Even as the High Court started hearing the matter, the Hijab row turned violent in Karnataka on Tuesday as incidents of stone pelting and lathi-charge were reported in the state at Pre-University Colleges. According to sources, many students were injured in the stone pelting. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-govt-to-conduct-census-of-people-who-gave-up-liquor The Nitish Kumar government has decided to conduct a census of those people who have managed to give up liquor since the Prohibition Act was imposed in Bihar in April 2016. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-accepts-settlement-between-adani-power-gujarat-urja-vikas-nigam-in-rs-11k-crore-ppa-dispute The Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted the compromise reached between Adani Power (Mundra) Ltd. and Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (GUVNL), over the supply of electricity. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-associated-strokes-link-to-higher-disability-death-risk Among the many hard lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic is that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid infections, can affect every organ system in the body, including the brain. https://opinionexpress.in/logitech-g435-a-youthful-gaming-headphone-under-rs-10k Logitech G, a sub-brand of Switzerland-based tech firm Logitech known for products such as gaming mice, headsets, and keyboards has brought a new gaming gaming headset to the Indian market. https://opinionexpress.in/russias-daily-covid-19-cases-drop-for-1st-time-in-nearly-one-month Russia registered 171,905 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, fewer cases for the first time since January 10, taking the national tally to 12,982,023, the official monitoring and response center said. https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-kumar-tiger-shroff-to-star-in-bade-miyan-chote-miyan Action stars Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff will be starring in director Ali Abbas Zafar's upcoming action entertainer 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'. https://opinionexpress.in/india-successfully-decommissions-insat-4b-satellite Indian space agency has said it has successfully decommissioned its communication satellite INSAT-4B last month. https://opinionexpress.in/new-zealand-loses-kane-williamson-for-south-africa-tests Captain Kane Williamson will miss New Zealand's two-test home cricket series against South Africa with an elbow injury. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-climbs-over-150-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-above-17200 Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 150 points in opening trade on Tuesday, tracking gains in index majors Maruti, Titan and Bajaj Finserv amid a mixed trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-67597-new-covid-cases-1188-deaths India saw a single-day rise of  67,597 new coronavirus infections that rose its tally to 4,23,39,611, while the active cases fell below 10 lakh after around 27 days, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-gave-false-facts-centre-to-sc-seeking-recall-of-probe-in-hindustan-zinc-case The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain the Centre's plea seeking to recall its direction for registration of a regular case by the CBI to probe into the decision for 26 per cent stake sale in Hindustan Zinc Ltd in 2002, even as it informed the top court that the CBI gave "false facts" in the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-starrer-kabhi-eid-kabhi-diwali-locked-for-eid-2023 Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's upcoming film 'Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali' is all set to release on Eid 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/its-going-to-be-about-who-gets-the-best-indians-at-ipl-auction-agarkar Former India all-rounder Ajit Agarkar believes that the upcoming IPL auction will be mostly about which teams will get the best Indian players and make the team around them. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-requests-owaisi-to-accept-z-category-security Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday requested Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, to accept Z category security offered by the government after a recent attack on his car. https://opinionexpress.in/chahal-reveals-sharma-told-him-to-focus-more-on-googly-ahead-of-first-odi India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal revealed that captain Rohit Sharma had told him to focus more on bowling googly ahead of the first ODI against the West Indies. https://opinionexpress.in/tripura-violence-sc-slams-police-for-sending-notices-despite-its-order The Supreme Court Monday slammed Tripura Police for sending notices to people for social media posts over alleged communal violence in the state despite its interim restraining order. https://opinionexpress.in/intex-to-launch-new-smartwatch-fitrist-vogue-in-india Expanding its wearable technology device segment, Indian electronics manufacturer Intex on Monday announced that it is preparing to launch its latest smartwatch, the FitRist Vogue. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cms-nephew-accepted-he-received-rs-10-cr-cash-for-sand-mining-transfer-in-state-ed Bhupinder Singh alias Honey, the arrested nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, has "accepted" that he received Rs 10 crore cash in lieu of facilitating sand mining operations and transfer or posting of officials in the border state, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed in a statement on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/asha-bhosle-remembers-sister-lata-mangeshkar-what-a-wonderful-childhood-it-was Veteran singer Asha Bhosle on Sunday remembered her elder sister and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, and posted a childhood picture of the duo, reminiscing the years they spent together. https://opinionexpress.in/crypto-money-laundering-via-dark-web-remains-a-concern As we navigate through the debate on crypto's future in India, mere imposing a 30 per cent tax on digital assets is not enough as money laundering and hawala-based transactions are growing significantly via cryptocurrencies on the Dark Web, putting India's national security at risk, warn experts. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-files-uapa-case-against-dawood-d-company The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday filed a case against underworld don Dwaood Ibrahim and others under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. https://opinionexpress.in/kamal-haasan-pays-tribute-to-queen-of-music-from-indore Actor-politician Kamal Haasan paid rich tributes to singing sensation Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on Sunday, saying she overcame barriers of language through her music and mesmerised hearts. https://opinionexpress.in/majority-kids-suffer-no-post-covid-syndrome-after-omicron-study Most children carry the Omicron strain of Covid-19 without any consequences for their health, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/cisce-announces-first-term-board-exam-results-for-classes-10-12 The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Monday announced the first-term board examination results for classes 10 and 12. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-attacks-govt-on-issue-of-unemployment Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the government on the issue of unemployment, and cited a survey to say that the good days are elusive. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-equities-extend-losses India's key benchmark equity indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- extended their losses from the previous week and traded marginally in the red during early trade on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-to-let-you-send-direct-message-straight-from-a-tweet Twitter is testing a new feature to let people send a Direct Message (DM) straight from a tweet and it has not gone well with users who feel the new tool will make them more susceptible to online harassment. https://opinionexpress.in/there-were-challenges-but-my-only-aim-was-to-improve-as-a-player-washington Washington Sundar has had to endure a painful five months away from the game due to a finger injury but the lanky Tamil Nadu off-spinner says he used the forced break to get better as a cricketer as that was all he could control. https://opinionexpress.in/rajya-sabha-pays-homage-to-lata-mangeshkar-proceedings-adjourned-for-one-hour Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Monday adjourned for an hour after paying homage to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-falls-225-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-dips-below-17500 Equity benchmark Sensex fell 225 points in opening trade on Monday, tracking losses in index majors HDFC twins, Infosys and Maruti amid persistent foreign fund outflows and a mixed trend on Asian bourses. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-83876-fresh-covid-19-cases-895-more-deaths India on Monday reported 83,876 fresh COVID-19 cases that took its total tally to 4,22,72,014, according to Union health ministry data. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-wi-1st-odi-india-starts-with-six-wicket-win-to-go-1-0-up On the back of a quick 60 from captain Rohit Sharma and an unbeaten stand of 62 for the fifth wicket between Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Hooda, India scripted a six-wicket win over West Indies in the series opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/rising-crude-oil-prices-to-subdue-rupee Rising crude oil prices along with foreign fund outflows are likely to weaken the Indian rupee against the US dollar in the near term. Besides, the Reserve Bank of India's upcoming monetary policy review will also have a bearing on the rupee's movement. https://opinionexpress.in/most-effective-herbs-to-prevent-cancer Nutraceuticals, functional foods, and supplemental micronutrients have the potential to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. A variety of natural dietary herbs have even been shown to have a potential role in the prevention and treatment of cancer, and are regarded as an effective strategy by Nutraceutical experts all over the world. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-offers-role-in-resolving-us-china-dispute Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that Prime Minister Imran Khan as saying that Pakistan was ready to play its role in resolving the dispute between the US and China, The News reported. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-declares-channi-as-congress-cm-face-for-punjab Just two weeks ahead of Assembly polls in the Congress-ruled Punjab, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday announced incumbent Charanjit Singh Channi as the party's chief ministerial face for the polls. https://opinionexpress.in/india-pays-last-respects-to-nightingale-of-india Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening paid his respects to the mortal remains of legendary singer Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, whom he referred to as his 'Badi Didi' (elder sister). https://opinionexpress.in/emergence-of-a-statesman Himanta Biswa Sarma, who took over as the chief minister of Assam in May 2021, represents important transitions in Indian politics. https://opinionexpress.in/sbi-q3fy22-yoy-net-profit-up-62-at-over-rs-8k-cr Lending major State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday reported its highest quarterly net profit at Rs 8,432 crore in Q3FY22. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-grants-bail-to-differently-abled-man-in-ndps-and-mcoca-case The Supreme Court has granted bail to a differently-abled man accused in a case lodged under the anti-narcotics law and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), saying he has been in custody for four years and this would logically give him a break from the alleged syndicate. https://opinionexpress.in/severe-covid-patients-had-less-access-to-monoclonal-antibody-therapy Due to unequal distribution, people over the age 65 at the highest risk for severe Covid-19 have often been the least likely to receive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), according to new research. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-expands-its-downvote-test-worldwide Micro-blogging site Twitter is expanding its experimental downvote test worldwide. https://opinionexpress.in/india-rejects-teslas-call-for-tax-benefits-report The Indian government has turned down a demand of tech billionaire Elon Musk's electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla for tax breaks to import electric cars, saying rules already allow bringing in partially-built vehicles and assembling them locally at a lower levy, Bloomberg reported on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/run-lola-run-star-franka-potente-send-best-wishes-to-taapsee-pannu-for-looop-lapeta Actor Franka Potente, who played the lead in the German movie “Run Lola Run”, gave a shout to Taapsee Pannu and the team for the film's Hindi adaptation "Looop Lapeta". https://opinionexpress.in/us-death-toll-from-covid-19-hits-900000-sped-by-omicron Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the US death toll from COVID-19 hit 900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000. https://opinionexpress.in/57-magnitude-earthquake-jolts-jk An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, while no reports of any casualty or damage to property was received from anywhere so far. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-bsp-releases-list-of-54-candidates-fields-khwaja-samsuddin-against-adityanath The BSP on Saturday released a list of 54 candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, fielding Khwaja Samsuddin against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur Urban constituency. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-speaks-to-j-k-lg-after-earthquake Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to enquire about the situation there following an earthquake. https://opinionexpress.in/blinken-to-meet-jaishankar-reaffirm-vitally-important-strategic-partnership-us-official US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to "reaffirm our vitally important strategic partnership" when they are in Australia for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Quad bloc next week, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-comes-in-support-of-hijab-wearing-students-says-country-robbing-future-of-daughters Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the country is robbing the future of daughters by letting the hijab come in the way of girl education. https://opinionexpress.in/dakota-johnson-to-play-first-female-superhero-in-universe-of-marvel-characters After the massive success of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', Sony is looking to expand on its universe of Marvel characters as sources say that actress Dakota Johnson is in talks to star in the studio's Madame Web movie. https://opinionexpress.in/indigos-q3fy22-net-profit-up-over-rs-129-cr-rahul-bhatia-appointed-md Airline major IndiGo on Friday reported a net profit of Rs 129.8 crore on a year-on-year basis in Q3FY22. https://opinionexpress.in/j-k-two-militants-killed-in-encounter-with-security-forces-in-srinagar Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed in an encounter with security forces here in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/blinken-to-meet-jaishankar-reaffirm-vitally-important-strategic-partnership US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to "reaffirm our vitally important strategic partnership" when they are in Australia for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Quad bloc next week, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific. https://opinionexpress.in/out-justin-langer-quits-as-australian-mens-cricket-coach Faced with months of reported complaints by senior players over his rigid coaching style and an apparently uncompromising Cricket Australia board of directors, Justin Langer resigned as coach of the Australian men's cricket team on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-adds-over-127-lakh-fresh-covid-cases-more-than-1k-deaths India on Saturday recorded 1,27,952 fresh coronavirus cases that took its infection tally to 4,20,80,664, while the number of active cases declined further to 13,31,648, according to Union health ministry data. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-falls-over-140-pts-nifty-defends-17500 Falling the second consecutive session, equity benchmark Sensex dropped over 140 points on Friday, tracking weakness in banking and energy stocks amid a mixed trend overseas. https://opinionexpress.in/amazon-earned-97-bn-from-ad-services-in-q4-now-behind-google-fb E-commerce giant Amazon has disclosed revenue from its fast-growing advertising business for the first time and in the fourth quarter of 2021, its advertising services grew 32 per cent (on-year) to $9.7 billion globally. https://opinionexpress.in/porn-case-sc-grants-protection-from-arrest-to-sherlyn-chopra The Supreme Court Friday granted protection from arrest to actress Sherlyn Chopra in porn films racket case. https://opinionexpress.in/gangubai-kathiawadi-trailer-alia-vijay-raaz-steal-the-show The trailer of Alia Bhatt's upcoming biographical crime drama 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' was released on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/higher-education-institutes-coaching-centres-schools-for-class-9-12-to-reopen-from-feb-7-in-delhi The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Friday decided to reopen higher education institutions and coaching centres along with schools for class 9-12 from February 7 amid dipping Covid cases in the city, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/committed-to-forming-msp-panel-govt The government is committed to forming a panel on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Election Commission has said it can be done after the polls are over, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/study-finds-inhaling-nitric-oxide-can-kill-sars-cov-2-virus A study involving doctors and scientists has found that inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) is virucidal and kills the SARS-CoV-2 virus, apart from preventing its effective attachment to human host cells. https://opinionexpress.in/post-rrr-is-alia-bhatt-eyeing-another-film-with-jr-ntr A hint dropped by Alia Bhatt at the trailer screening of 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' in Mumbai on Thursday evening has intensified speculation that she will join hands with her 'RRR' lead star Jr NTR for an upcoming Telugu movie. https://opinionexpress.in/adityanath-files-nomination-from-gorakhpur-urban-seat Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday filed nomination from the Gorakhpur Urban assembly seat in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. https://opinionexpress.in/refund-homebuyers-before-feb-28-sc-on-supertech-twin-tower-demolition The Supreme Court said that homebuyers, who had paid for flats in Supertech's 40-storey twin tower in Noida to be demolished on court's order, have to be refunded on or before February 28. https://opinionexpress.in/new-mtv-roadies-host-sonu-sood-says-its-all-about-pushing-boundaries Well-known Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, who will helm the 18th season of the adventure reality show 'MTV Roadies', says it captures the spirit of young people who strive to push their boundaries. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-punjab-cms-nephew-on-charges-of-money-laundering-eds-adds-details The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Bhupinder Singh alias Honey, nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal sand mining in the border state, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/snapchat-finally-gets-profitable-daily-users-hit-319-mn Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has become profitable for the first time, with reaching 319 million daily active users (DAUs) -- a 20 per cent growth (on-year). https://opinionexpress.in/allu-arjun-meets-puneeth-rajkumars-family-to-pay-his-homage Tollywood superstar Allu Arjun paid a visit to late beloved Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar's home in Bengaluru on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/athletic-finally-beats-madrid-returns-to-copa-semifinals It took a goal near the end for Athletic Bilbao to finally get the better of Real Madrid and reach the Copa del Rey semifinals for the third straight season. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-steady-in-morning-session-ongc-top-gainer After a sharp fall during the previous session, the Indian equities traded steady in early trade on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-dip-to-1435569 India added 1,49,394 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total virus tally to 4,19,52,712, while the active cases further declined to 14,35,569, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tumbles-770-pts-nifty-tests-17500 Equity benchmark Sensex slumped 770 points to close below the 59,000-mark on Thursday as selling pressure intensified towards the fag-end amid profit-booking in IT and finance counters. https://opinionexpress.in/india-taking-up-issues-of-pending-salaries-in-gulf-countries External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that the government has taken up the issue of pending salaries of Indian workers with the Gulf countries. https://opinionexpress.in/chandrayaan-3-scheduled-for-launch-in-august-2022-lok-sabha-told The Department of Space has planned as many as 19 missions this year even as the Chandrayaan-3, the next phase of India's mission to the moon, is scheduled for August 2022, the government told the Lok Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/whatsapp-to-get-message-reactions-on-iphone-android-soon Few months ago, WhatsApp had started developing iMessage-like reactions for its app and now the company seems almost ready to release this feature. https://opinionexpress.in/t-series-gets-into-ott-space-announces-lineup-of-content-creators Music label and film studio T-Series is all set to expand into OTT space. Their web content strategy will entail focusing on creating content for different media platforms spanning the genres of action thrillers, murder mysteries, biopics and even jailbreak dramas. https://opinionexpress.in/we-are-witnessing-trailers-of-future-conflicts-army-chief India is witnessing trailers of future conflicts and its adversaries will continue with efforts to achieve their strategic aims, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said on Thursday delving into national security challenges emanating from China and Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-owners-report-dozens-of-instances-of-phantom-braking Tesla vehicles are inexplicably slamming on their brakes for no reason, frightening owners and eliciting over 100 complaints to the federal government in the last three months alone, media reports say. https://opinionexpress.in/examining-privilege-notice-against-it-minister-vaishnaw-says-naidu Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said he is examining the privilege motions moved against Union Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw for 'misleading' parliament on the Pegasus issue. https://opinionexpress.in/deepika-padukone-on-15-years-in-hindi-cinema-hope-the-journey-always-continues Between being a blank slate and someone who is certain about their skills, Deepika Padukone says she wishes to be a blend of both as the actor completes 15 years in Hindi cinema in 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-we-have-set-many-milestones-says-yogi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, claimed that his government in the past five years had set up several milestones. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-refuses-to-postpone-gate-examination-scheduled-for-february-5 The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to postpone the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Exam (GATE), which is scheduled to be held on February 5, in view of Covid restrictions in many parts of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/why-covid-19-patients-lose-their-sense-of-smell US researchers have found the mechanism behind the loss of smell among people infected with Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/people-of-punjab-want-aap-to-form-next-govt-in-state-mann People of Punjab are tired of giving chances to the Congress and the SAD for the last 44 years and now want the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to be in the saddle, says the party's chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann. https://opinionexpress.in/dhoni-to-be-seen-in-new-age-graphic-novel-atharva-the-origin Giving comic lovers and M.S. Dhoni fans a reason to rejoice, Virzu Studio in association with MIDAS Deals, has released the motion poster of its upcoming mega-budget graphic novel 'Atharva - The Origin' https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-opens-up-about-getting-into-the-skin-of-her-badhaai-do-character Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who is gearing up for her upcoming release 'Badhaai Do', has said that her character in the film is very different from her because she does not enjoy many of the privileges we take for granted. https://opinionexpress.in/skipper-dhull-leads-india-to-fourth-consecutive-u-19-world-cup-final Skipper Yash Dhull gave a glimpse of his rare talent with a well-paced hundred which guided powerhouse India into its fourth consecutive U-19 World Cup final with an emphatic 96-run win over Australia here. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-drops-over-100-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-17750 Equity benchmark Sensex declined over 100 points in opening trade on Thursday, tracking losses in index majors HDFC, Infosys and Wipro. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-decline-to-1533921 With 1,72,433 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,18,03,318, while the active cases decreased to 15,33,921, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/drone-skilling-via-itis-next-frontier The drone is the next big technology that will impact our country. Not only for creating light shows as seen during the Beating Retreat ceremony, the government now focuses on drone technology to empower agritech startups, along with creating a skilled workforce for that via various Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). https://opinionexpress.in/maha-bjp-mla-nitesh-rane-surrenders-before-sindhudurg-court In a huge loss of face, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane -- son of Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane -- surrendered before a Sindhudurg Court, here on Wednesday afternoon. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-indulging-in-politics-of-negativity-akhilesh-yadav Those talking of the Kairana exodus will have to migrate out of Uttar Pradesh after the assembly polls, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Wednesday as he accused the BJP of indulging in politics of negativity. https://opinionexpress.in/bcci-expecting-to-hit-a-massive-six-with-its-latest-ipl-media-rights-sale The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expecting a windfall from the media rights deal ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Season 15. https://opinionexpress.in/yeh-kaali-kaali-ankhein-season-2-to-go-on-floors-soon  The second season of the web series 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' starring Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anchal Singh, Shweta Tripathi, Saurabh Shukla and Anantvijay Joshi was announced on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/issue-of-irregularities-in-railway-recruitment-exam-raised-in-rs Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday asked the government to examine the allegations of irregularities in the Railways' Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) and Level 1 exams leading to violence in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh last month. https://opinionexpress.in/kgf-star-yash-plays-cricket-with-local-boys Video and photos of KGF star Yash playing cricket with local boys in the coastal town of Kundapur in Karnataka's Udupi district have gone viral on social media and are being appreciated by one and all. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-collegium-recommends-elevation-of-6-judicial-officers-as-delhi-hc-judges The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana has recommended to the Centre the names of six judicial officers for appointment as judges of the Delhi High Court. https://opinionexpress.in/only-india-bdesh-have-i-t-limits-much-higher-than-average-income Only India and Bangladesh have income tax limits that are much higher than the average income. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-chairman-asks-mps-to-ensure-smooth-functioning-of-house-says-disruptions-disturbing Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday asked MPs to ensure smooth functioning of the House during the ongoing Budget session and said they should conduct themselves in a manner befitting the trust citizens still have in India's parliamentary democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/encounter-in-j-k-terrorist-killed An unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/bhool-bhulaiyaa-2-to-now-hit-the-cinemas-on-may-20 Actor Kartik Aaryan's upcoming film 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' will not be clashing at the box office with filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli's movie 'RRR' as it is now scheduled to hit the screens on May 20. https://opinionexpress.in/skoreas-new-cases-top-20000-for-first-time-amid-raging-omicron-spread South Korea's daily virus cases on Wednesday exceeded 20,000 for the first time since the country reported its first virus case two years ago, due to the fast spread of the Omicron variant. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-watch-helping-the-elderly-meet-daily-activity-goals-study A team of researchers who used activity data shared from the Apple Heart and Movement Study has found that participants ages 65 and older were more likely than their younger counterparts to stay on track, meeting their goal of at least 150 minutes of activity per week. https://opinionexpress.in/open-enquiry-acb-records-statement-of-param-bir-singh The Anti-Corruption Bureau has recorded the statement of former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh in connection with an open enquiry being conducted against him on a complaint lodged by a police inspector, an official said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/amitabh-bachchan-starrer-jhund-to-hit-theatres-on-march-4 After multiple delays due to COVID-19, megastar Amitabh Bachchan's sports drama "Jhund" will be theatrically released on March 4. https://opinionexpress.in/west-indies-arrive-for-limited-over-series-against-india On a high after beating England in a T20I rubber, the visiting West Indies team arrived here this morning for its upcoming limited overs series against India. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-over-400-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-breaches-17650-level Equity benchmark Sensex climbed over 400 points and the Nifty breached the 17,650-level in the opening session on Wednesday, a day after the Union Budget proposed higher spending on infrastructure to boost economic growth and job creation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-161-lakh-covid-cases-1733-fatalities With 1,61,386 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases increased to over 4.16 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/why-congress-g23-is-right Kapil Sibal pushes for CWC elections again, says party not people’s choice anymore and needs actionable revival plan The problem with Congress is that anybody with a prescriptive formula to revive it is usually considered a rebel than a well-meaning loyalist or dismissed as a defector, usually to the other national party. It matters little that in the process of losing some of its best men and women, it is slowly losing its relevance as a national party, and now even as a regional party, trailing at third and fourth positions. In fact, if the status quo continues, then the BJP would be the only national party in the country and the Congress would be left with a rump of its own making. Yet the leadership is unmoved as it suffers debacle after debacle in each election with no attempt to even discuss the real state of affairs except finding a scapegoat or traitor to the cause. The last particularly applies to ambitious young leaders who want legacy over oblivion. And considering the way 23 of the party’s senior loyalists were sidelined in August for writing a “dissent letter” and pleading for inner-party democracy, the party’s first family, the Gandhis, have decided that their gatekeeping writ, that is no longer earned but rests solely on history, will not be challenged even if the party hurtles down the road to perdition. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-cheer-budget-tata-steel-lt-among-top-gainers The Indian equities have continued gains from the morning session and closed sharply higher on the Budget day as the Centre continued with its strong capital expenditure spending for FY23. https://opinionexpress.in/mark-zuckerbergs-cryptocurrency-dream-evaporates Facing regulatory hurdles, the cryptocurrency dream of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is officially over as the company has sold its digital coin known as Diem for around $200 million to Silvergate, a crypto-focused bank. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-60k-cr-allotted-for-har-ghar-jal-38-cr-households-to-benefit The central government has allotted Rs 60,000 crore to cover 3.8 crore households in FY 2022-23 under 'Har Ghar Jal', 'Nal Se Jal Scheme', launched in August 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/vande-bharats-third-prototype-has-to-be-rolled-out-first Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement of 400 Vande Bharat trains over the next three years seems to be a tall target as the third prototype is yet to be rolled out, an Indian Railway official said. https://opinionexpress.in/crypto-party-over-in-india-with-30-tax-on-digital-assets Hitting hard private cryptocurrency exchanges and apps which are luring millions, especially the young, into investing their hard-earned money in Bitcoin and other digital tokens, the government on Tuesday announced a 30 per cent tax on any income from the transfer of virtual digital assets, specifying that no deductions and exemptions will be allowed. https://opinionexpress.in/chiranjeevi-starrer-acharya-to-hit-theatres-on-april-29 The makers of Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan-starrer 'Acharya' have finalised the new release date. The Koratala Siva's directorial will now hit theaters on April 29. https://opinionexpress.in/sitharaman-chooses-growth-with-a-budget-for-india100 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that Union Budget 2022-23 seeks to lay the foundation and give a blueprint to steer the economy over the 'Amrit Kaal' of the next 25 years - from India at 75 to India at 100. https://opinionexpress.in/teslas-new-feature-to-disable-seat-controls-if-excessive-changes-done Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle company Tesla's new vehicles rolling out of the factory will include a feature designed to prevent abuse of the seat adjustment controls. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-is-betrayal-of-salaried-middle-classes-congress The Congress on Tuesday accused Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the country's salaried and middle classes by not announcing any relief measures for them in the Union Budget. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-get-its-own-digital-currency-by-rbi-next-year-fm Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced the launch of India's own digital currency by the RBI next year that will be based on Blockchain technology, while the much-expected Cryptocurrency Bill is yet to see the light of the day. https://opinionexpress.in/ba2-sub-variant-more-contagious-evades-vax-protection-study The BA.2 Omicron subvariant is inherently more contagious than the original BA.1 strain among both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, according to a Danish study. https://opinionexpress.in/2k-km-of-rail-network-to-be-brought-under-kawach-tech-fm Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that about 2,000 km of rail network will be brought under the indigenous world-class technology KAWACH. She also said that 400 new 'Vande Bharat' trains will be manufactured in the next three years. https://opinionexpress.in/100-pm-gati-shakti-cargo-terminals-to-be-developed-in-3-years-fm Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that 100 cargo terminals will be developed during the next three years under the PM Gati Shakti master plan. https://opinionexpress.in/kisan-drones-for-crop-assessment-sitharaman Kisan Drones for crop assessment, land records and spraying of insecticides would be promoted, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/big-relief-for-future-group-sc-sets-aside-hc-directions-for-coercive-steps In a relief to Future group companies, the Supreme Court on Monday set aside Delhi High Court order, which initiated coercive steps against the firm and its promoters for alleged violation of the emergency award (EA) passed by the Singapore Arbitration Tribunal. https://opinionexpress.in/abducted-arunachal-teen-kicked-given-electric-shock-in-chinese-custody-alleges-father The Indian teenager who was allegedly abducted by the Chinese army from Arunachal Pradesh was reunited with his family, an official said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-announces-rs-10-lakh-aid-to-gang-rape-victim Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to the 20-year-old woman who was allegedly gang-raped in Kasturba Nagar, and added that the government will appoint an able lawyer to represent her in a fast-track court. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-equities-open-sharply-high-ahead-of-fy23-budget-all-sectoral-indices-up The Indian equities extended their gains from Monday and opened sharply higher in early trade on Tuesday ahead of the Union Budget 2022-23. https://opinionexpress.in/fm-says-growth-to-be-at-92-highest-in-the-world Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget on Tuesday said that India is set to clock growth rate of 9.2 per cent, which could be the highest in the world in the current fiscal. https://opinionexpress.in/captaincy-just-an-honour-and-responsibility-nothing-changes-for-kohli-gautam-gambhir Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has said that he is sure nothing would have changed for Virat Kohli now that he is no longer India's skipper in all formats and the stylish batter would be thinking in the same manner. https://opinionexpress.in/sony-acquires-gaming-legend-bungie-for-36-bn Japanese giant Sony is acquiring Bungie, the developer of Destiny and the original creator of the hugely popular Halo franchise, for $3.6 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/nirmala-sitharaman-meets-prez-ahead-of-budget-presentation Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Ministers of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary and Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday met President Ram Nath Kovind ahead of the Union Budget 2022-23 presentation. https://opinionexpress.in/fdi-under-modi-govt-nearly-58-per-cent-of-last-two-decades The Economic Survey 2021-22 has highlighted the track record of the Narendra Modi-led government in garnering FDI for India as compared to the previous regimes of the past two decades. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-keep-ex-gratia-claims-of-covid-19-victims-kin-pending-if-not-filed-online-hc-tells-maha-govt The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government through an interim order to not keep pending the applications made for ex-gratia claims by kin of COVID-19 victims, merely because those were not filed online. https://opinionexpress.in/ba2-will-quietly-replace-omicron-australian-scientists The BA.2 sub variant of Omicron may not increase infection numbers as the original strain or Delta, instead quietly replace Omicron, Australian scientists have said. https://opinionexpress.in/nagarjuna-readies-for-crucial-schedule-in-filming-of-the-ghost Akkineni Nagarjuna, who has been basking in the success of his latest Sankranthi movie 'Bangarraju', is all set to join the sets of his upcoming movie 'The Ghost' in Dubai. https://opinionexpress.in/economy-well-placed-to-take-on-fy23-challenges-eco-survey The Indian economy is well placed to take on the challenges of 2022-23, suggest macro-economic stability indicators, said Economic Survey 2021-22 which was presented in the Parliament on Monday by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. https://opinionexpress.in/compensation-for-farmers-hit-by-unseasonal-rains-in-delhi Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday handed over compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains in October last year. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-netizens-unhappy-with-tejasswis-win-extend-support-to-pratik Tejasswi Prakash may have won 'Bigg Boss 15' but the pulse of the nation shows that the audience was rooting for Pratik Sehajpal, who finished as the runner up. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-akhilesh-files-nomination-from-karhal Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav filed his nomination papers for the Karhal Assembly seats on Monday, amid a huge turnout of supporters. https://opinionexpress.in/nobody-remained-hungry-during-pandemic-induced-lockdown-prez Recalling the multiple beneficial schemes that the government initiated during the last year or two, President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said nobody was left hungry during the pandemic induced lockdown as the government ensured free distribution of ration to 80 crore people for 19 months. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-session-begins-prez-highlights-vaccination-success-health-infra-boost President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday highlighted the achievements of the Modi government's mega COVID-19 vaccination drive, and noted that 150 crore doses were administered to the country's citizens in a record time. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-smartphone-market-sales-crossed-38-bn-in-2021-report India's smartphone market revenue crossed $38 billion in 2021 with 27 per cent (on-year) growth, as shipments grew 11 per cent to reach 169 million units, a new report showed on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-712-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-above-17300 Equity benchmark Sensex surged 712 points in opening trade on Monday, tracking gains in index-majors Wipro, Bajaj Finance and Infosys amid a positive trend in the Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/elections-keep-happening-but-budget-session-very-important-must-make-it-fruitful-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said elections keep happening but Parliament's Budget session is very important and urged all MPs to make it fruitful. https://opinionexpress.in/west-indies-name-squad-for-t20i-series-in-india-same-one-that-faced-england West Indies named a 16-member squad to be led by Kieron Pollard for the upcoming three-match T20I series in India starting February 16, the same team that faced England in the home contest. https://opinionexpress.in/tejasswi-prakash-wins-bigg-boss-season-15 TV star Tejasswi Prakash on Saturday beat actor-model Pratik Sehajpal to emerge as the winner of reality show "Bigg Boss" season 15. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-209-lakh-covid-cases-959-fatalities With 2,09,918 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases increased to over 4.13 crore, according to Union health ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-bounced-back-sooner-than-expected-study Covid infections jumped by a tenth across the UK last week, according to another study that shows children are fueling the resurgence of Omicron. According to the Daily Mail, King's College London scientists estimate 160,000 people were falling ill with Covid every day in the week ending January 26, compared to 145,000 in its previous report. https://opinionexpress.in/small-period-changes-after-covid-jab-seen-to-be-short-lived-uk-expert Small changes to periods can follow a Covid-19 vaccine but they quickly return to normal, a leading UK menstruation expert has said. https://opinionexpress.in/five-terrorists-killed-in-separate-encounters-in-kashmir In a major success for the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, a top self-styled commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was among five terrorists killed in two separate overnight encounters in Pulwama and Budgam districts of the valley, officials said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-patents-dual-fold-smartphone South Korean tech giant Samsung is reportedly developing a double-folding smartphone, meaning that it folds and unfolds in two directions. https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-plea-in-sc-on-pegasus-row-seeks-probe-into-2017-india-israel-defence-deal A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court on the alleged use of Israeli spyware Pegasus, seeking that the court take cognisance of a New York Times report on it and order a probe into the 2017 defence deal with Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/whatsapp-group-admins-will-soon-be-able-to-delete-messages-for-all Meta owned instant messaging app WhatsApp is working on a new feature that would allow group admins on WhatsApp to delete messages for other members of the group as well.here a personal PIN must be entered when registering your phone number with WhatsApp. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-sps-red-caps-painted-in-blood-of-karsevaks-says-adityanath The Samajwadi Party's red caps are painted in the blood of victims of Muzaffarnagar riots and 'karsewaks' shot dead in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said. https://opinionexpress.in/prez-pm-pay-floral-tributes-to-mahatma-gandhi-at-rajghat The nation on Sunday remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying floral tributes to the Father of the Nation at Raj Ghat here. https://opinionexpress.in/people-should-work-together-to-rid-nation-of-corruption-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said corruption is like a "termite" which makes the country hollow and all the people of the country have to work together to rid the nation of it as soon as possible. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-bjp-has-fielded-99-criminals-says-akhilesh Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the BJP has, so far, fielded 99 candidates with a criminal history."The BJP is short of hitting a century. They have given tickets to 99 criminals," he said in a tweet on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/nkorea-inching-closer-to-scrapping-icbm-moratorium-moon South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that North Korea has inched closer to scrapping its self-imposed moratorium on testing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) shortly after the latter fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile. https://opinionexpress.in/sumukhi-suresh-creates-her-own-platform-motormouth Comedian-turned-actress Sumukhi Suresh, who has launched her own content platform named 'Motormouth', to create more space for female voices in the entertainment space, says mediocre content does not find audiences, as only 'too good' or 'too bad' content gets all the eyeballs. https://opinionexpress.in/pushpa-themed-party-to-celebrate-allu-arjuns-return-from-vacation Allu Arjun's return from his 16-day-vacation was celebrated by his family members and the 'Pushpa' team in the most unique way possible. It was a 'Pushpa'-themed party and it was organised in Allu Arjun's office here. https://opinionexpress.in/u-19-world-cup-pacer-ravi-wreaks-havoc-as-india-oust-bangladesh-to-enter-semifinals Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar bowled a sensational opening spell as India's 'class of 2022' exacted a sweet revenge on Bangladesh, knocking out the defending champions by five wickets to enter the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup here. https://opinionexpress.in/mcap-of-9-of-top-10-most-valued-firms-erodes-by-over-rs-3-lakh-cr-ril-top-drag Nine of the top-10 most valued companies together lost a whopping Rs 3,09,178.44 crore in market valuation last week as selloffs continued. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-234-lakh-covid-cases-893-fatalities With 2,34,281 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases increased to over 4.10 crore, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-bought-pegasus-spyware-from-israel-nyt-report India bought Pegasus spyware from Israel as part of a defence deal worth $2 billion in 2017, The New York Times has reported. Through a series of new deals, Pegasus was helping to knit together a rising generation of right-wing leaders worldwide, the report said. https://opinionexpress.in/utpal-parrikar-not-denied-ticket-he-rejected-2-other-constituencies-fadnavis Goa's late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's son, Utpal, was not denied a ticket, in fact he was offered two other constituencies as options to contest from, the BJP's poll in-charge for the coastal state Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/himanshi-khurana-rohan-mehraa-shoot-song-aakad-in-russia Actors Himanshi Khurana and Rohan Mehraa were spotted in the bylanes of Russia shooting for their upcoming song called 'Aakad'. https://opinionexpress.in/kerala-hc-asks-actor-dileep-his-aides-to-handover-6-mobiles-for-probe There were anxious moments for actor Dileep in a special sitting of the Kerala High Court on Saturday and at the end of the hearing, the court speaking tough, asked the actor and his aides to handover six mobile phones to the Crime Branch police probe team. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-not-working-on-its-25k-electric-car-right-now-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that its electric vehicle company is not working on its previously announced $25,000 electric car right now because it has "too much on its plate". https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-on-why-she-took-up-badhaai-do-role Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has revealed why she took the decision to star in 'Badhaai Do'. She says her decision to do the film was based on the fact that she gets to sensitively portray a character and give voice to a subject that will be an eye-opener. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-govt-has-committed-treason-rahul-gandhi-on-nyt-report-on-pegasus The Congress on Saturday attacked the Centre over a New York Times report which claimed that the Indian government bought the Pegasus spy tool in 2017 as part of a deal with Israel, alleging that the government indulged in illegal snooping using the spyware which amounts to "treason". https://opinionexpress.in/chiranjeevis-tweet-seeking-blessings-from-mother-wins-hearts-on-the-internet A tweet put out by Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi on Saturday, seeking his mother's blessings on her birthday is winning hearts on the internet. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-aqi-to-continue-in-poor-category-till-jan-31 The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital which stood in the 'poor 'category at 252 on Saturday, will continue till January 31, according to a weather bulletin issued by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. https://opinionexpress.in/ba2-is-15-times-more-transmissible-than-original-omicron-strain-study The BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron is 1.5 times more transmissible than the original Omicron strain, according to a study led by Danish researchers. https://opinionexpress.in/dcw-issues-notice-to-sbi-seeks-withdrawal-of-employment-guidelines-for-pregnant-women The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Saturday issued a notice to SBI seeking withdrawal of its new rules wherein a woman who is over three months pregnant will be considered "temporarily unfit" and she may be allowed to join within four months after delivery. https://opinionexpress.in/risk-persists-even-though-covid-cases-starting-to-plateau-in-parts-of-india-who Even though some cities or states in India may be beginning to see plateauing of COVID-19 cases, the risk persists and focus must be on reducing transmission and implementing situation-specific measures, senior WHO official Poonam Khetrapal Singh said. https://opinionexpress.in/u-19-cwc-vasu-vats-out-with-hamstring-injury-aaradhya-yadav-replaces-him The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday approved Aaradhya Yadav as replacement for Vasu Vats in the Indian squad ahead of the Super League semifinal match of the U-19 Cricket World Cup against Bangladesh at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here later on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-pips-intel-to-lead-global-chip-market-in-2021 Amid the global semiconductor shortage, Samsung took the first position from Intel in 2021 owing to its solid growth momentum in both logic IC and memory chip segments, according to a new report. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-forex-reserves-fall-by-678-mn India's foreign exchange reserves fell by $678 million during the week ended January 21. https://opinionexpress.in/jason-momoa-joins-fast-and-furious-10-cast Hollywood star Jason Momoa has officially been initiated into the 'Fast and Furious' family. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-235-lakh-covid-cases-871-fatalities With 2,35,532 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases increased to over 4.08 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/stranded-in-delhi-not-being-allowed-to-fly-for-muzaffarnagar-alleges-akhilesh Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday alleged that he is stranded in Delhi as his helicopter is not being allowed to take off for UP's Muzaffarnagar. https://opinionexpress.in/over-1-cr-precaution-doses-administered-among-eligible-beneficiaries India on Friday achieved yet another milestone in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as more than 1 crore precaution doses or the third vaccine shot have been administered to the eligible population. https://opinionexpress.in/ranji-trophy-to-take-place-in-two-phases-this-season-jay-shah Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Friday said that the Ranji Trophy will be held this season in two phases. Shah added that the first phase will have all league matches while the second phase will see the knockouts being held in June. https://opinionexpress.in/shruti-haasan-mithun-chakraborty-to-star-in-psychological-thriller-bestseller Actors Mithun Chakraborty, Shruti Haasan, Arjan Bajwa, Gauahar Khan, Satyajeet Dubey, and Sonalee Kulkarni will be starring in a eight-episode psychological thriller 'Bestseller'. https://opinionexpress.in/railway-recruitment-protest-bihar-bandh-evokes-mixed-response Bihar bandh called on Friday by student bodies, and supported by all parties in the opposition and some in the ruling dispensation, against alleged irregularities in the Railway Recruitment Board's Non-Technical Popular Categories examination process evoked a mixed response. https://opinionexpress.in/comforting-to-know-china-returned-arunachal-teen-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi when will India's land "occupied by China" be returned. https://opinionexpress.in/seven-illegal-indian-nationals-arrested-near-uscanada-border-to-be-deported Seven Indian nationals, who entered the US illegally and were arrested near the US/Canada border last week, will be deported to India after they were released from US Border Patrol's custody. https://opinionexpress.in/shilpa-excited-about-uncovering-hidden-talent-across-india Actress Shilpa Shetty, who is currently seen judging 'India's Got Talent', is happy about uncovering hidden talent across the country with the help of the reality show. https://opinionexpress.in/resolution-suspending-12-maharashtra-mlas-beyond-period-of-remainder-of-session-unconstitutional-sc The Supreme Court on Friday held that a resolution suspending 12 BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly beyond the period of the remainder of the session held in July 2021 is “unconstitutional” and “irrational”. https://opinionexpress.in/mp-tv-actor-shweta-tiwari-booked-for-hurting-religious-sentiments-through-her-remark-on-god Police here on Friday registered a case against television actor Shweta Tiwari for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through her remark on God, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-grants-three-weeks-to-spicejet-to-resolve-financial-issues-with-swiss-firm The Supreme Court on Friday granted three weeks' time to SpiceJet to resolve its financial dispute with Swiss firm Credit Suisse AG, and stayed the operation of the Madras High Court verdict permitting winding-up petition and directing the official liquidator to take over the assets of the low-cost airline. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-tops-global-smartphone-market-in-2021-with-271-mn-units The global smartphone market grew for the first time since 2017, with annual shipments reaching 1.39 billion units in 2021, with Samsung leading the pack with 271 million units, a new report showed on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/sanjay-leela-bhansalis-gangubai-kathiawadi-to-release-on-feb-25 Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' starring Alia Bhatt is all set to release theatrically on February 25. https://opinionexpress.in/google-acquires-128-stake-in-airtel-invests-up-to-1-bn Bharti Airtel and Google on Friday announced a multi-year agreement to boost India's digital ecosystem, with Sundar Pichai-led tech giant investing $700 million to acquire 1.28 per cent ownership in Airtel and up to $300 million toward commercial agreements. https://opinionexpress.in/morgan-ruled-out-of-remainder-of-t20-series-against-west-indies-due-to-injury England skipper Eoin Morgan has been ruled out of the final two Twenty20 matches against the West Indies due to a quadriceps injury. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-25-lakh-covid-cases-627-fatalities With 2,51,209 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases increased to over 4.06 crore, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-rebounds-over-700-pts-to-reclaim-58k-level-in-early-trade The BSE gauge Sensex shot up more than 700 points to revisit the key 58,000-level in opening deals on Friday, as participants indulged in buying across counters. https://opinionexpress.in/mouni-roy-marries-surah-nambiar-in-goa Popular actor Mouni Roy on Thursday tied the knot with Dubai-based entrepreneur Suraj Nambiar in Goa. https://opinionexpress.in/ananda-in-the-himalayas-the-nautilus-maldives-announce-partnership The Nautilus Maldives, a highly tailored bohemian hideaway and private island resort, has collaborated with Ananda in The Himalayas, one of India's top ranked destination spa and wellness retreat, to create a first-of-its-kind wellbeing experience that is customised, opulent, and genuinely one-of-a-kind. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-sons-takes-over-control-air-india The Centre on Thursday handed over the management control of national carrier Air India to a subsidiary of Tata Sons. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-handed-over-to-tata-group The government on Thursday officially handed over Air India to the Tata Group. https://opinionexpress.in/weekend-curfew-odd-even-system-of-opening-shops-lifted-in-delhi-ddma The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Thursday decided to lift weekend curfew and odd-even system of opening https://opinionexpress.in/madhuris-debut-netflix-series-the-fame-game-to-release-on-feb-25 Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit Nene is all set to make her digital debut with the Netflix series 'The Fame Game', which is slated to release on February 25. https://opinionexpress.in/dj-bravo-dances-to-srivalli-from-allu-arjuns-pushpa The song 'Srivalli' from the Telugu blockbuster 'Pushpa - The Rise', featuring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead, truly seems to have taken the cricketing world by storm. https://opinionexpress.in/anti-covid-pills-work-against-omicron-antibody-drugs-less-effective The drugs behind the new pills to treat Covid-19 remain very effective against the Omicron variant of the virus in lab tests, according to a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/the-great-crypto-crash-wiped-out-over-30k-bitcoin-millionaires Almost 30,000 Bitcoin millionaires have been wiped in the last three months as the volatile cryptocurrency is witnessing a free fall -- from $69,000 in November to nearly $36,000 (as of Thursday) -- owing to regulatory scrutiny and geopolitical unrest. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-asks-punjab-govt-not-to-arrest-sad-leader-majithia-in-drugs-case-till-jan-31 The Supreme Court on Thursday orally asked the Punjab government not to take any coercive step against SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia till January 31 when it hears his pre-arrest bail plea in a drugs case. https://opinionexpress.in/former-ukhand-chief-kishore-upadhyay-joins-bjp Former Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay on Thursday joined the BJP ahead of the state assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-akhilesh-slams-yogi-govt-in-open-letter Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, in an open letter to the people, has slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over a range of issues, terming the current phase as "half income, double inflation", adding that the present government has only brought "difficulties and troubles". https://opinionexpress.in/nadella-ranked-no-1-among-ceos-in-brand-finance-list-tech The Brand Finance Brand Guardianship Index just in has ranked Microsoft boss, Satya Nadella, as the top CEO in the world.Nadella, a first-generation Indian immigrant to the US, "has been credited with overhauling Microsoft's fortunes by changing its culture towards one of teamwork, innovation, and inclusivity, and instilling a growth mindset throughout the business". Three other Indian-origin expat CEOs rank high: Sundar Pichai of Google is at 5, Shantanu Narayan of Adobe at 6, and Puneet Renjen of Deloitte at 14. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-bets-big-on-galaxy-s22-series-5g-lineup-amid-chip-crunch Samsung on Thursday said that despite a poor demand for smartphones and tablets amid weak seasonality and uncertainties over component supply, it aims to secure solid profitability by expanding flagship sales such as Galaxy S21 FE and upcoming release of a new Galaxy S series. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-charan-keerthy-shake-a-leg-at-good-luck-sakhi-event Actors Ram Charan and Keerthy Suresh treated their fans with an impromptu dance at the event of the upcoming film 'Good Luck Sakhi'. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-writes-to-twitter-questioning-drop-in-followers-count Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has written to Twitter questioning its policy on suppressing his reach to his followers and not curbing hate speeches in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/roach-returns-to-west-indies-for-odis-in-india Pacer Kemar Roach has been recalled to the West Indies ODI squad for the three-match series in India beginning February 6. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slumps-over-1100-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-falls-below-16950 Equity benchmark Sensex tanked over 1,100 points or 2 per cent in opening trade on Thursday, tracking losses in index-majors Titan, Wipro and HDFC twins amid a weak trend in the Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-decline-to-2202472 With 2,86,384 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 4,03,71,500, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/gayle-rhodes-send-republic-day-wishes-after-messages-from-pm-modi West Indies left-handed batter Chris Gayle and former South Africa cricketers Jonty Rhodes sent 73rd Republic Day wishes for India through their social media handles. https://opinionexpress.in/kohli-retains-2nd-spot-in-icc-batting-rankings-rohit-remains-at-3rd India stalwart Virat Kohli retained his second spot in the ICC men's ODI batting rankings on the back of his decent performance in the recently-concluded South Africa series. https://opinionexpress.in/de-kock-van-der-dussen-gain-big-in-icc-rankings-after-3-0-odi-series-win-over-india South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock and compatriot Rassie van der Dussen have made huge gains in the latest ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings after helping their team complete a memorable 3-0 series win over India recently. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-charged-users-for-free-internet-in-developing-countries-report Meta (formerly Facebook) reportedly charged its Internet users in developing countries like Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines, in the name of offering them free access to the Web. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-deepika-shehnaaz-siddhant-to-add-star-power-to-grand-finale After 16 weeks of regular dose of entertainment, 'Bigg Boss 15' is all set to drop the curtains on Sunday and it will be a mega event as a galaxy full of stars will be seen adding a sprinkle of fun to it. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-wears-uttarakhand-cap-manipur-stole-this-r-day Prime Minister Narendra Modi ditched his traditional turban look on Republic Day this year and wore a traditional cap from Uttarakhand with an image of the brahmakamal, the state flower, and sported a stole from Manipur. https://opinionexpress.in/masked-vaccinated-socially-distanced-only-5000-people-attend-r-day-parade Crowds at the Republic Day parade on Wednesday were curtailed to just 5,000 people, all double masked, vaccinated and maintaining strict 'do gaz ki doori' in view of the Covid situation. https://opinionexpress.in/study-explores-ways-to-get-super-immunity-against-covid-19 Two forms of immunity -- breakthrough infections following vaccination or natural infection followed by vaccination -- provide roughly equal levels of enhanced immune protection, finds a study. https://opinionexpress.in/telugu-star-chiranjeevi-tests-positive-for-covid-19 Telugu matinee idol Chiranjeevi on Wednesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-the-country-decline India logged 2,85,914 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,00,85,116, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/r-day-march-past-begins-with-param-vir-chakra-ashok-chakra-gallantry-award-winners The march past on Republic Day on Wednesday began with Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra gallantry award winners following the parade commander in their jeeps. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-under-thick-security-blanket-in-view-of-republic-day-celebrations In view of the 73rd Republic Day celebrations, Delhi has been brought under a heavy security cover as the city police has intensified patrolling and sealed the borders of the national capital in coordination with its counterparts from the neighbouring states to thwart any untoward incident amid a terror alert by intelligence agencies. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-first-woman-rafale-fighter-jet-pilot-part-of-iaf-tableau The country's first woman Rafale fighter jet pilot Shivangi Singh was part of the Indian Air Force tableau at the Republic Day parade on Wednesday. She is only the second woman fighter jet pilot to be part of the IAF tableau. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-pays-homage-at-war-memorial Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage at the National War Memorial, a monument to the soldiers who have made supreme sacrifice for the country, on Republic Day on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/padma-bhushan-for-nadella-pichai-top-recognition-of-indias-tech-talent In a big honour for the top India-origin tech prowess that has virtually taken over the Silicon Valley in the US, the Indian government on Tuesday awarded Padma Bhushan to Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella and Alphabet and Google's Sundar Pichai among the 17 awardees. https://opinionexpress.in/wet-town The Delhi Govt has reduced the number of dry days from the earlier 21 to just three https://opinionexpress.in/cover-up A few Karnataka colleges are debating whether girl students should be allowed to wear hijab. https://opinionexpress.in/fssai-gm-regulation-puts-health-in-a-soup The Authority has a new scheme to mix genetically modified organisms in our foods even though the EU doesn't allow GM food on its plate https://opinionexpress.in/congress-leader-and-former-union-minister-rpn-singh-announces-he-is-joining-bjp Former Union Minister and Congress leader RPN Singh on Tuesday said he is joining the BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/why-omicron-variant-is-less-severe-than-delta The Omicron variant of Covid is highly contagious but is known to cause less severe disease than Delta. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-proposes-to-reduce-costs-on-juhi-chawla-from-rs-20l-to-rs-2l-in-5g-lawsuit The Delhi High Court Tuesday proposed to reduce from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 lakh the costs imposed on actress Juhi Chawla and two others by a single judge while dismissing her plea against 5G roll out, with a condition that she would have to do some work for public cause, considering that she is a celebrity and has presence in public. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-calls-for-higher-polling-discussion-on-one-nation-one-election Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over low voting percentage, especially in urban areas considered educated and prosperous, and said this should change in a vibrant democracy like India. https://opinionexpress.in/cold-wave-grips-delhi-temperature-dips-to-62-degrees-celsius The minimum temperature dipped further to 6.2 degree Celsius in the national capital on Tuesday morning under the impact of cold wave. https://opinionexpress.in/micromax-in-note-2-with-quad-rear-cameras-launched-in-india Smartphone maker Micromax on Monday launched its new handset 'Micromax In note 2' with quad rear cameras and 20:9 AMOLED display in India. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-tejasswi-prakash-calls-shamita-shetty-an-aunty As the 'Bigg Boss 15' finale is just around the corner, the contestants were given one last task 'BB Hotel', where Tejasswi Prakash and Shamita Shetty got into a heated fight. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-issues-notices-to-centre-election-panel-on-pil-against-poll-freebies The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission on a PIL seeking a direction to seize the election symbol or de-register a political party that promises or distributes “irrational freebies” from public funds before elections. https://opinionexpress.in/keerthy-sureshs-good-luck-sakhi-trailer-gets-49-mn-views The trailer of director Nagesh Kukunoor's 'Good luck Sakhi', featuring National Award-winning actress Keerthy Suresh in the lead, has garnered a whopping 4.9 million views within just a day of being released on YouTube. https://opinionexpress.in/except-bsp-other-parties-criminalised-politics-pushed-up-into-jungle-raj-mayawati BSP president Mayawati on Tuesday attacked her rivals, saying they have pushed Uttar Pradesh into "jungle raj" by criminalising politics, politicising crime and protecting the mafia. https://opinionexpress.in/rajkummar-bhumis-secret-is-out-with-badhaai-do-trailer The secret that actors Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar were trying to keep, is finally out as the makers of the upcoming film 'Badhaai Do' released the trailer on Tuesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/you-cant-win-every-game-its-a-temporary-phase-for-team-india-shastri Former India head coach Ravi Shastri does not see any reason to press the panic button after the team's shocking Test and ODI series loss to an under-strength South Africa as he believes it is a "temporary phase" and the side will tide over it soon. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-want-peoples-livelihood-to-be-affected-covid-curbs-to-be-eased-as-soon-as-possible-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that his government does not want livelihood of people to be affected and Covid restrictions will be eased as soon as possible. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-255874-fresh-covid-19-cases After being over three lakh for five consecutive days, the single day rise in COVID-19 infections was recorded at 2,55,874, taking India's total tally of cases to 3,97,99,202, according to Union health ministry data updated on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-over-900-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-17000 Equity benchmark Sensex slumped over 900 points in opening trade on Tuesday, tracking losses in index majors Wipro, RIL and HDFC Bank amid a weak trend in Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/global-woes-plunge-indian-equities A massive flight of foreign capital along with prospects of a global conflict in Europe heavily battered Indian equities on Monday. Besides, high oil prices, upcoming budget and lackluster quarterly results added to the volatility in the market. Though triggered on different counts, some analysts compared the day's fall to the 'Black Monday' crash in the US that took place in 1987. As per data, FIIs sold Rs 3,751.58 crore on BSE, NSE and MSEI in the capital market segment. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-bjp-mla-says-many-ministers-ready-to-join-cong The ruling BJP in Karnataka is rattled after senior leader Basavana Gouda Patil Yatnal's statement on present cabinet ministers ready to join the Congress after the announcement of elections in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/budget-session-parliament-to-function-in-two-shifts-owing-to-covid The Parliament will function in two shifts during the Budget Session from February under which the Rajya Sabha will function from 10 am to 3 pm, and the Lok Sabha from 4 pm to 9 pm, owing to the prevailing Covid situation. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-divestment-set-to-take-place-on-thursday The divestment of national carrier Air India will take place on Thursday (January 27). In a communication to the airlines employees, a senior company official wrote: "The disinvestment of Air India is now decided to be on January 27, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/from-sidhus-turf-to-patialas-royal-to-manns-challenge-all-in-punjab-polls Reverse to the 2017 Assembly polls, the father-son duo of the prominent regional party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), elderly Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal is facing a tough battle in their respective seats, this time all eyes are on other constituencies in Punjab that will go to the polls on February 20. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-lists-for-april-20-pil-on-issue-of-prime-ministers-security The Delhi High Court on Monday listed for April 30 a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the safety and security of the Prime Minister, considering the pendency of overlapping issues before the Supreme Court. https://opinionexpress.in/brrr La Nina is mainly responsible for the freezing dip in temperature across northern India https://opinionexpress.in/by-god Congress candidates in Goa were told to swear in front of three Gods that they won’t jump ship https://opinionexpress.in/netaji-not-congress-finally-won-freedom As reportedly admitted by former British PM Attlee, the extent of Gandhi’s influence upon the decision to quit India was ‘minimal’ https://opinionexpress.in/india-fined-for-slow-over-rate-after-losing-third-odi India have been fined 40 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the third and final ODI of the series in Cape Town on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/bsf-on-high-alert-in-jammu-ahead-of-republic-day Ahead of the Republic Day, the BSF troops deployed along the International Border (IB) in Jammu are on high alert to deal with nefarious attempts of anti-national elements (ANEs) from across the border. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-metro-services-to-be-partially-curtailed-on-r-day Delhi Metro services will be partially curtailed on January 26 due to security arrangements for Republic Day as part of which four stations in the vicinity of Rajpath will down shutters in the morning hours. https://opinionexpress.in/anushka-virat-break-silence-as-daughter-vamikas-pics-go-viral Celebrity power couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have come out with a statement after their toddler daughter Vamika was photographed at a cricket stadium and the pictures going viral on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-launches-campaign-for-poll-bound-states Aam Aadmi Party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched a campaign for poll-bound states, asking Delhiites to upload videos of the Delhi government's good work on social media platforms. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-american-cop-hailed-as-hero-for-neutralising-gunman-who-killed-officer An Indian-American police officer, who has been on the job for just over six months, is being hailed a hero for rushing to neutralise a gunman who shot a police officer and wounded another. https://opinionexpress.in/50-of-covid-infected-may-have-lasting-loss-of-smell-study About 50 per cent of people infected with Covid-19 during the first wave of infections in 2020 may have long-term and even permanent changes to their sense of smell, according to preliminary research from Sweden. https://opinionexpress.in/google-cloud-to-open-new-india-office-later-this-year Google on Monday announced plans to open a new office in Pune this year, that will hire professionals for building advanced enterprise cloud technologies. https://opinionexpress.in/spider-man-no-way-home-becomes-sixth-highest-grossing-movie-ever Tom Holland-starrer ;Spider-Man: No Way Home' has become the sixth-highest grossing movie in history with $1.69 billion at the worldwide box office. https://opinionexpress.in/rashmika-mandanna-unveils-teaser-of-priyamanis-next-film Rashmika Mandanna, who was recently seen on the big screen essaying the role of Srivalli in the multi-lingual superhit, "Pushpa: The Rise", unveiled the teaser of "Bhamakalapam" on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-trying-to-take-credit-for-works-started-by-bsp-govt-mayawati BSP president Mayawati on Monday said the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is trying to take credit for works started by her when she was chief minister. https://opinionexpress.in/balance-of-odi-side-an-issue-accepts-head-coach-dravid-rues-missing-likes-of-hardik-and-jadeja India's head coach Rahul Dravid had no hesitation in admitting that the ODI squad lacked balance with the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja unavailable to execute their all-round skills at numbers six and seven respectively. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-highest-in-241-days India logged 3,06,064 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,95,43,328, while the active cases  climbed to 22,49,335, the highest in 241 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/decline-in-equity-continues-for-5th-straight-sessions-sensex-nifty-slip-1 The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) and broader 50-scrip Nifty on National Stock Exchange (NSE) extended losses from January 21 and declined sharply during early trade on Monday primarily due to sell-off by foreign institutional investors. https://opinionexpress.in/parineeti-chopra-explains-why-upcoming-talent-show-is-special-to-her Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra, who joins Mithun Chakraborty and Karan Johar on the panel of judges for the reality show 'Hunarbaaz Desh Ki Shaan', says that she was looking for a project such as this for some time and so she took no time in saying 'yes' to the show. When the offer came to her, she said in a conversation with IANS, that her "first reaction and first thought was, finally I found it, because I'd been looking for a show such as this". https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-aditi-singh-dares-priyanka-to-contest-from-rae-bareli Former Congress MLA, Aditi Singh, who joined the BJP, has dared Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest against her form Rae Bareli. https://opinionexpress.in/non-bjp-state-govts-team-up-against-proposed-change-in-ias-cadre-rules The non-BJP governments in four states have teamed up against the Centre's proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954. Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have written to the Prime Minister and urged him to roll back the decision, claiming that the change in the rules for central deputation of IAS officers will affect the states' administration. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written two letters to the Centre. In her second letter she says, "I find the revised amendment proposal more draconian than the former, and indeed its very grain is against the foundations of our great federal polity and the basic structure of India's Constitutional scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-is-planning-to-arrest-satyendar-jain-says-kejriwal Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain may be arrested ahead of Punjab elections, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-records-wettest-january-since-1901 Delhi received 80 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, making it the wettest January in the capital since 1901, data from the Safdarjung Observatory, which is considered the official marker for the city, revealed on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-pla-says-located-missing-arunachal-boy-indian-army-verifying An Indian boy, who crossed over the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and went missing, has been located, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-salman-teases-rakhi-sawant-by-calling-mika-singh-her-favourite Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in an episode of 'Bigg Boss 15' was seen teasing contestant Rakhi Sawant by calling singer Mika Singh, who entered the show as a guest, as her "favourite". https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-aqi-improves-to-moderate-after-intermittent-rain After a day of receiving intermittent rain, Delhi's air quality on Sunday improved significantly as its Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 169 under the 'moderate' category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-in-community-transmission-stage-in-india-insacog The new Covid variant Omicron has reached in community transmission level in India, said Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pandemic-to-endemic-people-have-to-adapt-to-new-reality-say-doctors Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron, Lambda, and Delmicron in between. Since it was first notified in 2019, Covid-19 virus has changed into multiple variants and hundreds of mutations have taken place. https://opinionexpress.in/3rd-odi-india-win-toss-opt-to-bowl-against-south-africa India captain KL Rahul won the toss and opted to bowl first against South Africa in the third and final ODI of the three-match series, here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/vidyut-shows-how-six-people-can-lift-a-person-with-just-two-fingers Action star Vidyut Jammwal, who has been named in the '10 People You Don't Want To Mess With' in the world list, has shared a jaw-dropping video showcasing how six people can lift a person using just two fingers. https://opinionexpress.in/how-ipados-15-helping-millions-of-kids-professionals-navigate-covid As millions of students and professionals globally, including India, go back to learning and work from home amid the Covid wave triggered by the Omicron variant, the focus is back on devices that can boost their productivity and creativity at home and help them sail through the period. https://opinionexpress.in/spidey-closes-in-on-no-3-domestic-box-office-spot After one weekend outside of the No. 1 slot, 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' could be regaining its pole position in the domestic box-office once again. https://opinionexpress.in/german-navy-chief-resigns-over-remarks-on-ukraine-russia-during-india-visit German naval chief, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schonbach has resigned over comments on Ukraine and Russia he made during his visit to India. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-targets-the-akhilesh-yadavs-family-in-its-social-media-campaign As the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls near, the BJP is targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's family in its social media campaign to remind the supporters of the party and the people that Akhilesh is "disloyal". https://opinionexpress.in/holder-takes-4-wickets-as-england-suffer-crushing-9-wicket-loss-to-west-indies England's T20 International series against hosts West Indies got off to a disappointing start with the Eoin Morgan-led side suffering a nine-wicket defeat in a D/N match at the Kensington Oval on Sunday (IST). https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-to-slip-on-expensive-crude-oil-fii-funds-outflow Rising global crude oil prices along with FIIs fund outflow from the equity market will further weaken the Indian rupee during the upcoming week. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-333-lakh-fresh-covid-cases-525-deaths India reported 3,33,533 fresh Covid cases and 525 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/mp-hc-junks-plea-against-renaming-habibganj-station-imposes-fine The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the government's decision to rename Habibganj railway station after Gond queen Rani Kamlapati and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the petitioner. https://opinionexpress.in/witnessing-gradual-recovery-in-cv-segment-demand-says-tata-motors The Centre's accelerated infra push along with healthy demand from the e-commerce sector has led to a gradual recovery in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment, said automobile major Tata Motors. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-terms-mumbai-fire-tragic-urges-party-workers-extend-help Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condoled with the families of those who died in a fire in Mumbai. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-relations-a-giant-leap-forward In the past, Indo-US relations were overshadowed by Cold War politics. The Indo-Soviet friendship and the US-Pak alliance were the two major irritants. Though ‘aid relations’ prevailed during 1950s and 1960s, New Delhi and Washington saw each other on opposite sides of the fence during this period. However, Presidents Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were in favour of maintaining good relations with India. Recently declassified papers show that Kennedy was more greatly interested in India than Pakistan. The Sino-Indian dispute in 1962 brought about enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries. But the 1965 Indo-Pak War undid everything; Washington lost interest in the region. Though President Carter showed some interest, the Afghan war witnessed US political support tilting again towards Islamabad. Reagan literally wrote off India. https://opinionexpress.in/arnold-schwarzenegger-unharmed-woman-injured-in-car-crash Hollywood action star and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger escaped unhurt from an auto accident in Brentwood, a Los Angeles suburb. https://opinionexpress.in/3-doses-of-mrna-covid-vaccines-very-effective-against-omicron-delta-study Three doses of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, are effective in protecting against emergency department visits (ED) and hospitalisations associated with Omicron and Delta variations of the virus, claims a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/ec-holds-virtual-meets-to-decide-on-whether-ban-on-physical-rallies-should-continue The Election Commission is holding a series of virtual meets on Saturday to decide whether the ban imposed by it on physical rallies and roadshows to prevent the spread of coronavirus should continue. https://opinionexpress.in/industry-speaks-make-travel-expenses-deductible-under-it-returns-in-budget-fy23 India's hotel and restaurant industry has urged the Centre to make travel expenses deductible under IT returns in Budget FY23. https://opinionexpress.in/navy-tableau-to-depict-1946-naval-uprising-this-r-day The Indian Navy will highlight naval uprising of 1946 -- an event which contributed in India's struggle for Independence -- in its tableau this Republic Day. https://opinionexpress.in/aspirational-districts-now-eliminating-barriers-to-progress-pm Aspirational districts are now eliminating the barriers to the progress of the country and they have become accelerators for growth instead of impediments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he interacted with District Magistrates (DM) https://opinionexpress.in/896-indians-amongst-1214-players-registered-for-ipl-2022-auction After the registration for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 player auction ended on January 20, the tournament said in an official advisory that 1,214 players have registered for the two-day event. https://opinionexpress.in/shruti-haasan-to-conduct-live-instagram-sessions-on-social-issues-for-bday Actress and singer Shruti Haasan will conduct a series of live Instagram sessions on various social issues as part of her birthday celebrations this year. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-discovers-undisclosed-bug-in-solarwinds-server While monitoring threats related to a Java logging system called 'Apache log4j2', Microsoft researchers have discovered a previously undisclosed bug in the SolarWinds software that was compromised last year. https://opinionexpress.in/1k-drones-to-light-up-dark-sky-at-beating-the-retreat-ceremony-on-jan-29 A '1,000 Drones Light Show' will light up the dark skies at the 'Beating the Retreat Ceremony' on January 29, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Jitendra Singh said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/many-in-pb-cong-want-channi-to-be-cm-face-top-brass-says-fighting-polls-under-collective-leadership There is a growing clamour within the Punjab Congress over the need to declare a chief ministerial candidate for next month's assembly polls, with many senior leaders throwing their weight behind Charanjit Singh Channi, the state's first chief minister from the schedule caste community. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-jonas-nick-jonas-welcome-baby-via-surrogacy Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her pop star husband Nick Jonas have become parents to their first child, a baby boy, through surrogacy. https://opinionexpress.in/there-has-been-discussions-on-how-i-need-to-play-shots-as-per-match-situations-pant Rishabh Pant understands the value of his wicket and the reason why the team management often asks him to use his discretion in shot selection during important phases of various matches. https://opinionexpress.in/at-337-lakh-india-sees-dip-in-fresh-covid-cases India on Saturday reported 3,37,704 fresh Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-yogi-a-major-factor-in-thakur-support-for-bjp After almost three decades, Thakurs in Uttar Pradesh have experienced caste pride with Yogi Adityanath taking over the reins of the BJP government. The fact that Yogi Adityanath is also the head of Goraksh Peeth, which is a Kshatriya Peeth, has an added advantage. https://opinionexpress.in/ag-grants-consent-to-initiate-contempt-proceedings-against-yati-narsinghanand Attorney General K.K. Venugopal on Friday granted consent to initiate contempt of court proceedings against controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand, over his recent derogatory remarks against the Supreme Court. https://opinionexpress.in/musks-brain-implant-company-neuralink-nears-human-trials San Francisco, Jan 21 (IANS) Elon Musk-run brain-machine interface company Neuralink is preparing to launch clinical trials that will implant brain chips in humans. https://opinionexpress.in/squid-game-will-get-a-second-season The popular Korean survival drama 'Squid Game' will be getting a Season 2, co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos has confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-likely-to-receive-light-rain-till-evening-imd Delhi is likely to receive light rain till evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-likely-to-withdraw-few-curbs-as-covid-positivity-rate-dips The Delhi government is likely to withdraw the weekend curfew and an odd-even system of opening shops as the Covid-19 positivity rate in the national capital has registered a dip, according to an official. https://opinionexpress.in/amar-jawan-jyoti-is-not-being-extinguished-but-merged-govt-sources-seek-to-clarify After a controversy broke over extinguishing the eternal flame lit up at Amar Jawan Jyoti, the Centre said that there is a lot of misinformation circulating regarding the flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-rise-to-top-of-icc-test-rankings-india-slip-down-to-third-spot Australia climbed to the top spot in the latest ICC Test team rankings released on Thursday on the back of their 4-0 Ashes series victory against England while India slipped down to the third position after suffering a 2-1 away series defeat in South Africa. Pat Cummins led Australia won the first, second, third, and fifth Test matches convincingly against England at Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart. England only was able to draw the fourth contest in Sydney, managing to save the Test by the skin of their teeth. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-akhilesh-to-contest-from-karhal-in-mainpuri Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav will contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls from Karhal in Mainpuri district. According to party sources, a decision was taken at a meeting here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/dolo-pill-breaks-sales-record-in-pandemic-as-manufacturer-makes-a-fortune The Covid-19 pandemic has made several healthcare and pharma players billionaires and the makers of Dolo-650 -- the most prescribed medicine during the pandemic having sold more than 350 crore pills since the Covid outbreak in March 2020 -- are raking in the moolah too. As per the data from healthcare research firm IQVIA, India sold nearly 7.5 crore strips of Dolo -- a paracetamol tablet manufactured by Bengaluru-based Micro Labs Ltd -- before the Covid outbreak in 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-chandra-shekhar-to-contest-against-yogi In a major development, Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad will contest from Gorakhpur as Azad Samaj Party (ASP) candidate against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. https://opinionexpress.in/fda-may-authorise-pfizers-covid-vax-for-kids-under-5-in-feb-fauci   https://opinionexpress.in/pak-in-tumult-after-rumours-of-imposition-of-indira-gandhi-like-emergency Pakistan's major opposition parties see a "systematic and planned campaign" behind the circulation of rumours about the imposition of some kind of an emergency in the country, like the one enforced by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, and ongoing talk in social and mainstream media in favour of a presidential form of government, Dawn news reported. https://opinionexpress.in/el-on-musk-slams-un-warns-about-population-collapse Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has slammed the United Nations (UN) once again, saying that there are "not enough people" in the world and one should be more worried about population collapse. In the latest tweet, Musk posted, "UN projections are utter nonsense. Just multiply last year's births by life expectancy. Given the downward trend in birth rate, that is the best case unless reversed." https://opinionexpress.in/budget-watch-centre-expected-to-lower-deficit-target-for-fy23 Robust direct and indirect tax collections are expected to give enough headroom to the Centre to lower the fiscal deficit target for FY23. Accordingly, industry watchers have estimated the FY23 fiscal deficit target to range from 5.8-6.4 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/sa-win-toss-opt-to-bat-against-india-in-odi-series-opener South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat against India in the first One-day International here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/manoj-bajpayee-on-upcoming-projects-it-continues-to-be-hectic Acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee has a busy year ahead as he has back-to-back work commitments. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-akhileshs-registration-campaign-for-free-electricity-sop The Samajwadi Party is launching a 'Naam likhwao' (Get registered) campaign from Wednesday to log those who want 300 units of free power on domestic connections if the party forms the government after the 2022 Assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-govt-deploys-sr-nursing-officers-in-pvt-hospitals-to-monitor-covid-situation Delhi government has decided to deploy senior nursing officers from state government-run hospitals as nodal officers in the private healthcare facilities to monitor the Covid situation and vaccination at private facilities. https://opinionexpress.in/mulayam-singhs-daughter-in-law-aparna-yadav-joins-bjp Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav on Wednesday joined the BJP just three weeks ahead of the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-xbox-game-pass-reaches-25mn-subscribers Microsoft has revealed that its Xbox Game Pass has gained 25 million subscribers amid coronavirus pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-causing-hospitalisations-deaths-worldwide-who In a fresh warning, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that Omicron variant of the coronavirus is causing hospitalisations and deaths the world over, and the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading. https://opinionexpress.in/daniel-radcliffe-to-play-weird-al-yankovic-in-biopic-movie Actor Daniel Radcliffe is set to star as Grammy-winning musician 'Weird Al' Yankovic in the Roku original movie 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story'. https://opinionexpress.in/limited-overs-series-between-australia-and-new-zealand-postponed New Zealand's limited-overs tour to Australia, originally scheduled between January 24 and February 9, has been postponed until further notice due to New Zealand's border controls and quarantine requirements. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-extend-losses-sensex-down-380-points-in-early-trade The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) and broader 50-scrip Nifty on the National Stock Exchange extended their losses from the previous session and traded in the red on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/at-282l-new-covid-cases-india-sees-over-18-single-day-rise India reported 2,82,970 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, which is a rise of over 18 per cent from the previous day's count. In the same time, 441 deaths were registered taking the toll to 4,87,202, said the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sl-doesnt-want-to-get-caught-between-powerful-nations-rajapaksa Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Tuesday that his country does not want to get caught up between powerful nations. He made the remarks while addressing the second session of the ninth Parliament, during which he also presented his government's policy statement. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-names-bhagwant-mann-as-punjab-cm-candidate The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday declared Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann as its chief ministerial candidate in the Punjab Assembly polls. Announcing Mann's candidature, AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: "Some people have put forward my name for CM's face, 93.3 per cent favoured Mann as Chief Minister's candidate, while three per cent preferred Navjot Singh Sidhu." https://opinionexpress.in/brazen-act-of-corruption-fm-blasts-congress-led-upa-for-antrix-devas-deal A private company in 2005 came up with an offer to start a bouquet of multimedia and telecom services and got into an agreement with Antrix Corporation, the commercial wing of state space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and made a deal of leasing out two of ISRO's satellites, GSLV-6 & GSLA-6A, for private services at a throw-away price. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-infection-can-cause-debilitating-brain-condition-in-elderly-people Being infected with Covid could cause more damage to the brain of an elderly person than developing Alzheimer's, a new study revealed. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-singh-as-a-creative-person-i-would-like-to-believe-that-i-have-no-limits Bollywood star Ranveer Singh, who was most recently seen in cricket drama '83', refuses to be put in a box creatively. https://opinionexpress.in/moto-tab-g70-lte-with-mediatek-helio-g90t-soc-launched-in-india Motorola on Tuesday launched the Moto Tab G70 LTE tablet in the Indian market.The tab is powered by a MediaTek Helio G90T SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage and features an 11-inch display. https://opinionexpress.in/bhagwant-mann-is-aaps-cm-face-for-punjab-assembly-polls Bhagwant Mann will be the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) chief ministerial face for the Punjab assembly polls, party chief Arvind Kejriwal announced on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-riots-court-grants-bail-to-6-accused-in-murder-case The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to six accused persons in connection with a case related to the death of 20-year-old Dilbar Singh Negi, whose charred body was found during the violence in the city's North-East area in February 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/nitish-kumar-govt-likely-to-relax-liquor-prohibition-law Facing criticism over poor implementation of the liquor ban, the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar is likely to give some relaxation to the violators. https://opinionexpress.in/to-my-superhero-sirajs-heartfelt-message-to-virat-kohli India pace bowler Mohammed Siraj has called Virat Kohli his "superhero" after the latter stepped down as the Test skipper following the 1-2 series loss to the Dean Elgar-led South Africa. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-slams-yogi-govt-urges-youth-to-stick-to-agenda-of-employment-education-in-polls Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over the issues of employment and education, and urged the youth to stick to this agenda in the upcoming assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-consider-hearing-plea-seeking-disclosure-of-criminal-background-of-candidates-before-polls The a on Tuesday said it would consider listing for hearing a plea seeking a direction to the Election Commission to ensure that political parties publish details regarding criminal cases of candidates along with the reason for their selection on their websites. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-raids-house-of-punjab-cms-nephew-in-sand-mining-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday morning, just weeks before assembly elections, carried out raids at ten different locations belonging to Punjab Chief Minster Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey, in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to illegal sand mining in Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/dhanush-aishwaryaa-part-ways-after-18-years-of-marriage Choosing to end their 18-year-long marriage, actor Dhanush and director Aishwaryaa Dhanush, who also happens to be the daughter of superstar Rajinikanth, have announced that they have decided to part ways. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovics-deportation-exposes-australian-border-debate Weary after two years of some of the harshest COVID-19 border restrictions in the world, many Australians wanted Novak Djokovic kicked out of their country for travelling to a tennis tournament in their country without being vaccinated. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-gains-over-135-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tests-18350 Equity benchmark Sensex climbed over 135 points in opening trade on Tuesday, tracking gains in index-majors ITC, Tech Mahindra and Bajaj Finserv amid a largely positive trend in the global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-new-covid-cases-continue-to-decline-for-2nd-straight-day India witnessed a substantial decrease in fresh Covid cases, reporting 2,38,018 new infections in the last 24 hours, and a total of 310 deaths, said the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cryptocurrencies-could-attract-tax-rates-similar-to-lottery-tds-provisions If the government does not prohibit Indians from dealing in cryptocurrencies, it could introduce a regressive tax regime for cryptocurrencies, according to Taxmann. Taxmann said in a note that a Bill was expected to be presented during the Winter Session of Parliament to regulate cryptocurrencies. However, it was not introduced, and it is now expected that the government may take up this Bill in the upcoming Budget Session. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-replicate-mighty-west-indies-and-australia-of-old India is producing formidable young cricketers at an impressive rate https://opinionexpress.in/sushmita-sen-for-aarya-the-camera-was-a-fly-on-the-wall Sushmita Sen found the perfect way to channelise her inner strength through her work in the Ram Madhvani directorial 'Aarya'. https://opinionexpress.in/humble-star-shakes-up-the-small-screen-space MREENAL DESHRAJ has brought smiles to her millions of fans in the Small Screen industry, she is one of the most humble, down-to-earth actors in the television industry. The reason behind this is the family and cultural values she has received from the beginning of her childhood. Mreenal was born and spent her childhood in the most famous and vibrant cities of India – Nagpur”. https://opinionexpress.in/chronicling-racial-relations-between-indians-and-foreign-invaders In July 1765, Robert Clive, in a letter to Sir Francis Sykes, compared Gomorrah favourably to Calcutta, then capital of British India. He wrote: "I will pronounce Calcutta to be one of the most wicked places in the Universe." https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-akhilesh-announces-sops-for-farmers-takes-pledge-to-defeat-bjp Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, on Monday, said that when his party comes to power, he would ensure minimum support price for all crops for farmers. https://opinionexpress.in/aaps-chief-ministerial-candidate-for-punjab-polls-to-be-announced-on-tuesday-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that his party's chief ministerial candidate for Punjab assembly polls will be announced on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/farhan-akhtar-recounts-training-with-rashtriya-rifles-soldiers-for-mission-frontline Bollywood actor-director Farhan Akhtar will be featuring along with director and producer Rohit Shetty in the show 'Mission Frontline'. Farhan will be seen training hard while spending a day with soldiers of the Rashtriya Rifles. https://opinionexpress.in/gene-variant-that-protects-against-covid-19-identified Researchers have identified a specific gene variant that protects against severe COVID-19 infection. https://opinionexpress.in/contest-in-goa-between-congress-bjp-choice-before-voters-clear-chidambaram Asserting that the contest in Goa is between the Congress and the BJP, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday said his assessment that the AAP and the TMC will only "fracture" the non-BJP vote has been "confirmed" by Arvind Kejriwal. https://opinionexpress.in/no-forcible-vaccination-centre-to-sc-on-covid-vax-for-disabled-persons The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it has not issued any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for persons with disabilities to carry Covid-19 vaccination certificates for any purpose. https://opinionexpress.in/ec-to-discuss-punjab-parties-demand-to-postpone-assembly-polls-in-view-of-ravidas-jayanti The Election Commission is meeting on Monday morning to discuss demands by various political parties to defer the February 14 assembly polls in Punjab in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-daily-covid-cases-likely-to-go-down-by-4000-5000-monday-minister-satyendar-jain Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said that the city is likely to witness 4,000-5,000 less COVID-19 cases than the number reported on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovic-heads-for-belgrade-after-deportation-from-australia Novak Djokovic was heading home to Serbia on Monday after his deportation from Australia over its required COVID-19 vaccination ended the No. 1-ranked men's tennis player's hopes of defending his Australian Open title. https://opinionexpress.in/harak-singh-rawat-sacked-as-uttarakhand-minister-expelled-from-bjp Amid speculation that he was likely to rejoin the Congress, Uttarakhand minister Harak Singh Rawat was on Sunday sacked from the government and expelled from the BJP for "anti-party activities" for six years. BJP sources said that Rawat was asking for tickets for three of his family members including his wife in the assembly polls, but had been told that the party had made it a rule that only one member of a family would be fielded. https://opinionexpress.in/short-video-app-chingari-raises-15-mn-to-launch-new-features Short-video making app Chingari on Monday announced it has raised $15 million in a Series A extension round. The platform said it will use the funds to enhance technology, launch new features and augment the tech team. https://opinionexpress.in/8-years-on-amaal-mallik-pledges-to-outperform-himself-foster-young-talent Music composer-singer Amaal Mallik entered Hindi cinema at the age of 23 and has over the years, carved a niche for himself and has cultivated an audience that appreciates good music and pushes him to do better. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-rises-120-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-near-18300 Equity benchmark Sensex climbed over 120 points in opening trade on Monday, tracking gains in index-heavyweights ICICI Bank, HDFC twins and Infosys amid mixed cues from the Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/kathaks-living-legend-pandit-birju-maharaj-dies-at-83 The living legend of Kathak, Birju Maharaj, who had been diagnosed with kidney disease a few days ago and put on dialysis, died at his home here late on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-258089-new-coronavirus-cases-385-deaths-positivity-rate-1965-per-cent India saw a single-day rise of 2,58,089 new coronavirus infections taking the tally of cases to 3,73,80,253, which included 8,209 cases of the Omicron variant detected so far, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-initiative-will-boost-investors-confidence-in-us-indian-startups A slew of Indian startups on Sunday hailed Prime Minister's National Startup Day initiative, saying that the commemoration will not only encourage the country's innovators and young entrepreneurs but also help boost global investors' confidence in their contribution to economic growth. In a virtual meeting with over 160 leading startups on Saturday, Modi said that like small businesses, which are the spine of India's economy, startups are turning out to be the game-changers. https://opinionexpress.in/isi-activates-terror-wings-to-derail-punjab-up-polls-intel With an aim to derail the electioneering process in the state and to increase the Khalistani footprints in Punjab, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has activated its terror outfits to execute more terror activities in the state and also in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, the Intelligence agencies have warned. The sources in the security setup, quoting the intelligence inputs, said that the ISI sponsored Sikh terror outfits may target the election rallies and may attempt to hit some important leaders or VVIP during the electioneering process in Punjab, parts of UP, and Uttarkhand. https://opinionexpress.in/bjps-hate-politics-very-harmful-for-country-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the BJP's politics of "hatred" is very harmful for the country and is also responsible for unemployment. https://opinionexpress.in/over-147-lakh-children-lost-their-parents-due-to-covid-and-other-reasons-since-april-2020-ncpcr-to-sc The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has informed the Supreme Court that a total of 1,47,492 children since April 1, 2020, have lost either their mother or father or both parents due to COVID-19 and other reasons. https://opinionexpress.in/too-much-giloy-can-do-more-harm-than-good-study When the first wave of Covid struck, know-it-all doctors and 'medical experts' claimed that 'giloy' was an immunity booster that would help fight the virus. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-kaifs-sunday-selfie-is-winning-hearts Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif, who joined her husband Vicky Kaushal in Indore, recently shared pictures from a hotel room where she can be seen enjoying. https://opinionexpress.in/vaccination-added-great-strength-to-fight-against-covid-pm-modi Lauding India's COVID-19 vaccination drive as it completes a year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it has added great strength to the fight against the pandemic and has resulted in saving lives and protecting livelihoods. https://opinionexpress.in/cbse-set-to-conduct-class-10-12-phase-2-board-exams-amid-covid-surge As exams across the country have been scrapped in view of the surging Covid-19 cases, the CBSE Board and the Union Ministry of Education are all set to conduct Term 2 of the 10th and 12th board examinations, the first phase of which were held in November-December, 2021 and the second phase is scheduled to be conducted in March-April. https://opinionexpress.in/each-goa-family-to-benefit-by-rs-10l-through-aap-schemes-kejriwal Each family in Goa would benefit by Rs 10 lakh over five years through state government's schemes, if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) comes to power in the state in the February 14 assembly polls, https://opinionexpress.in/covid-tests-being-conducted-in-delhi-3-times-the-number-recommended-by-icmr-satyendar-jain Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday sought to nix concerns over "fewer" Covid testing in the national capital, saying the diagnostic tests being conducted in the city is three times the number recommended by ICMR. https://opinionexpress.in/chiranjeevis-acharya-to-release-on-april-1 The makers of director Koratala Siva's eagerly-awaited action entertainer 'Acharya', which features Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan in the lead, on Sunday announced that the film would release on April 1 this year. https://opinionexpress.in/lata-mangeshkar-continues-to-be-in-icu-doctor Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar continues to be under treatment in the ICU of a city hospital here, the doctor treating her said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/mercedes-benz-aims-accelerating-sales-of-evs-in-india With plans afoot to locally assemble its all-electric sedan EQS in India, luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is looking to accelerate sales of electric vehicles in the country, according to a senior company official. https://opinionexpress.in/gail-director-arrested-by-cbi-in-bribery-case The CBI has arrested the director (marketing) of GAIL in a case of allegedly taking bribe of over Rs 50 lakh from perspective beneficiaries of a policy of providing discounts to dealers selling products of the Maharatna PSU, officials said Sunday https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-vaccination-drive-completes-1-year-over-15676-cr-doses-administered-so-far The countrywide vaccination drive against COVID-19  on Sunday completed one year, during which over 156.76 crore vaccine doses were administered. https://opinionexpress.in/verdict-soon-in-djokovics-deportation-case-in-australia A court hearing for tennis star Novak Djokovic's appeal against deportation in Australia ended Sunday and a verdict was expected within hours. https://opinionexpress.in/eight-of-top-10-firms-add-rs-234-lakh-cr-in-m-cap-reliance-industries-biggest-gainer Eight of the 10 most valued companies together added a whopping Rs 2,34,161.58 crore in market valuation last week, with RIL, Infosys and TCS emerging as the lead gainers. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-highest-in-225-days India added 2,71,202 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,71,22,164, including 7,743 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/top-eyewear-trends-you-need-for-2022 Eyeglasses are not limited to offering correct vision or protection against blue light, but they speak the language of fashion too. From Cateye sunglasses to vintage designs, 2021 has been a roller coaster of style in eyewear fashion. https://opinionexpress.in/virat-kohli-steps-down-as-test-captain-of-india  A day after India lost the series to South Africa 1-2 at Cape Town, Virat Kohli has stepped down as the Test captain. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-releases-first-list-for-up-yogi-to-contest-from-gorakhpur-urban The BJP on Saturday released its first list of 107 candidates for Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will contest from Gorakhpur (Urban) assembly constituency and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to contest from Sirathu assembly seat in Prayagraj district. Chief Minister Adityanath and deputy chief minister Maurya are currently members of state legislative council. https://opinionexpress.in/sec-45-of-pmla-will-only-apply-to-those-arrested-by-ed-delhi-court A Delhi Court has observed that the provisions of Section 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) will only apply if a person has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. The court made the observation recently while granting bail to the accused in a case titled "Directorate of Enforcement Vs. Zenic Cars India Pvt. Ltd. & Ors", concerning the commission of offences under section(s) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. https://opinionexpress.in/what-ethnic-wear-trends-do-you-hope-to-see-in-summer-of-2022 As the end of winter is fast approaching, we can’t help but reminisce about the wonders of summer days. Of course, though the days are warm, we can always cool down with sticky popsicles and cold drinks, but that’s not all we look forward to.  https://opinionexpress.in/congress-finds-it-tough-going-over-cm-face-in-punjab-uttarakhand Congress finds it tough going over CM face in Punjab, Uttarakhand https://opinionexpress.in/kt-rama-rao-invites-elon-musk-to-set-shop-in-telangana Days after Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke about challenges when asked about the electric car's entry into the Indian market, TRS Working President KT Rama Rao has invited the billionaire businessman to "set shop" in Telangana. Rao said Telangana is a champion in sustainability initiatives and his government would be happy to partner with Tesla in working through the challenges. https://opinionexpress.in/dirty-game-of-tax-evasion-1-syndicate-636-firms-rs-4521-cr-scam It seemed more like a crime investigation thriller when the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) busted a planned all-India tax evasion racket and unearthed Rs 4,521 crore of tax evasion. https://opinionexpress.in/friends-to-land-of-samba-from-land-of-yoga-jaishankar-to-brazilian-counterpart Two decades back, they were considered to be archrivals as both the countries, India and Brazil, started campaigning hard for the permanent seat in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) since they were the two countries with striking similarities, one in the eastern hemisphere, the other from the southern hemisphere, known as the 'mirror image nations' in the diplomatic world. https://opinionexpress.in/south-africa-beat-india-by-seven-wickets-win-series-2-1 South Africa beat India by seven wickets to win the third Test and secure the series 2-1. https://opinionexpress.in/cryptic-and-casual-sc-sets-aside-hc-bail-order-in-disabled-mans-murder The Supreme Court said a court deciding a bail application cannot completely divorce its decision from material aspects of the case, as it set aside a Rajasthan High Court order granting bail to a man who allegedly strangled a disabled man. https://opinionexpress.in/vegan-food-festival-comes-to-dubai-expo-2020   https://opinionexpress.in/africas-omicron-driven-fourth-pandemic-wave-flattens-who Africa's fourth pandemic wave, driven primarily by the Omicron variant, is flattening after a six-week surge, the WHO has said even as it stressed that the shortest-lived surge to date in the continent was "steep and brief but no less destabilising." https://opinionexpress.in/swami-prasad-maurya-joins-sp Former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister and prominent OBC leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Friday joined the Samajwadi Party along with another rebel minister Dharam Singh Saini. https://opinionexpress.in/allu-arjun-clocks-15-million-followers-on-instagram Telugu film star Allu Arjun on Friday expressed gratitude to his fans and well-wishers for their unending love and support as he crossed the 15 million followers mark on Instagram. https://opinionexpress.in/bag-with-ied-like-object-was-found-at-ghazipur-flower-market An unattended bag suspected to be containing an IED was found at Ghazipur flower market Friday morning, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/jubin-nautiyal-and-payal-devs-romantic-single-meri-tarah-out-now Popular singers Jubin Nautiyal and Payal Dev have come together for newly-released track 'Meri Tarah'. https://opinionexpress.in/oneplus-10-pro-sold-out-in-a-second-of-its-first-sale-report OnePlus recently launched its much-anticipated flagship smartphone 'OnePlus 10 Pro' in China and now a new report has revealed that the phone has received a good response in its first flash sale in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/total-covid-19-vaccine-doses-given-in-india-crosses-15528-crore The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 155.28 crore on Thursday with more than 63 lakh doses being given till 7 pm, the Union Health Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-covid-cases-rising-fast-but-hospitalisation-and-deaths-low-kejriwal Covid cases are rising fast but there no reason to worry, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday while emphasising that hospitalisation and death rates are low. https://opinionexpress.in/outsider-who-broke-down-barriers-vanity-fair-puts-priyanka-on-its-cover Priyanka Chopra has achieved what every star anywhere in the world aspires for -- to be on the cover of 'Vanity Fair'. She's on the cover of the February 2022 edition of the magazine celebrated internationally as much for its in-depth articles as for its cutting-edge photography. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-cybertruck-production-dates-removed-from-website Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle company Tesla has reportedly removed the dates about Cybertruck production from its website. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-expected-to-record-less-than-25000-covid-19-cases-on-friday-minister-satyendra-jain Delhi is expected to record less than 25,000 coronavirus cases on Friday, Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, while stating that almost 75 per cent of those who have succumbed to the infection were unvaccinated. https://opinionexpress.in/its-really-immature-you-cant-be-a-role-model-in-this-manner-gambhir-slams-kohli Virat Kohli's outburst against a controversial DRS decision during the third Test against South Africa was "immature" and with such "exaggerated" reaction, the India skipper will never be a role model to youngsters, feels former opener Gautam Gambhir. https://opinionexpress.in/7-killed-45-injured-as-bikaner-guwahati-express-derails-in-bengal-pm-takes-stock At least seven people were killed and more than 45 injured when 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailed and some overturned near Domohani in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Thursday, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-decline-on-friday-after-five-consecutive-sessions-of-gains The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) and broader 50-scrip Nifty on the National Stock Exchange declined in early trade on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/daily-rise-in-covid-19-cases-highest-in-239-days India added 2,64,202 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 239 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,65,82,129 which includes 5,753 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/senate-committee-approves-eric-nomination-as-us-ambassador-to-india The Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently confirmed the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be U.S. ambassador to India. However, the nomination needs to be confirmed by a majority of the U.S. Senate and the vote is yet to be scheduled. The hearing was chaired by Sen. Menendez of New Jersey, the committee is made up of 22 senators — an even split of Democrats and Republicans. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-worlds-top-economic-performer-un-report "India's recovery is on a solid path", the UN said on Thursday reporting that the country recorded the highest estimated growth rate among the major economies last year and is set to be on the same trajectory during this year and the next. The UN's annual World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report estimated the growth rate of India's gross domestic product (GDP) at 9 per cent last year and forecast it to moderate to 6.7 per cent this year and 6.1 per cent next year but still retain the highest growth rates among the large economies. https://opinionexpress.in/india-may-evade-us-sanctions-for-buying-russian-defence-gear US President Joe Biden's nominee to be the top official dealing with sanctions has hinted that India may be spared sanctions for buying the S400 Triumf anti-missile defence system from Russia. James O'Brien, the nominee for Coordinator for Sanctions Policy, said on Wednesday that in considering sanctions on India, "there are important geostrategic considerations, particularly with the relationship to China" and "so, I think, we have to look at what the balance is". https://opinionexpress.in/paytm-stock-hits-new-low The Paytm stock has made a new low on Thursday as it fell further to Rs 1,054 on the BSE. https://opinionexpress.in/forest-cover-in-india-increased-by-2462-since-2019-report The forest and tree cover in India is now 8,09,537 sq kms, which is 24.62 per cent of the country's geographical area and 1,540 sq kms more compared to the 2019 assessment, said the India State of Forest Report 2021, released by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav at a virtual ceremony on Thursday. The total forest cover is 7,13,789 sq kms, which is 21.71 per cent of the geographical area of the country while tree cover is 95,748 sq kms (2.91 per cent of GA). This is an increase of 2,261 sq kms (0.28 per cent) in total forest and tree cover in the country compared to the 2019 assessment. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistani-passport-4th-worst-in-the-world The Pakistani passport has been ranked as the fourth worst for international travel for the third consecutive year, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 31 destinations around the world, according to the Henley Passport Index 2022. The Henley Passport Index, which is a ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, placed Pakistan on the 108th position, The News International reported. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-rapidly-replacing-delta-in-almost-all-countries-who The Omcircon variant of Covid is driving a huge spike in Covid infections across countries but the death rate is stable, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said. https://opinionexpress.in/sa-v-ind-3rd-test-it-is-evenly-poised-at-this-point-says-shardul-thakur India pace all-rounder Shardul Thakur believes that the third Test between South Africa and India is currently evenly poised. India have a lead of 70 with Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten at the crease ahead of the start of day threes play. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-polls-kejriwal-says-public-should-decide-cms-name Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said his party will be asking the general public as to who should be the party's chief ministerial face in the Punjab Assembly polls even as he indicated that his own preference for the post was state unit president Bhagwant Mann. https://opinionexpress.in/working-through-a-lot-of-challenges-with-government-tesla US-based Tesla is working through a lot of challenges with the government to launch its products in India, the electric car major's founder and CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/sony-india-unveils-new-premium-earbuds-in-india Tech giant Sony India on Thursday launched a new premium truly wireless earbuds, WF-1000XM4, in India at Rs 19,990. https://opinionexpress.in/metoo-delhi-hc-defers-mj-akbars-appeal-challenging-priya-ramanis-acquittal The Delhi High Court on Thursday deferred the hearing of former Union Minister M.J. Akbar's appeal against the acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani in the criminal defamation case which he filed against her. https://opinionexpress.in/pushpa-2-will-be-better-and-bigger-rashmika-mandanna Actor Rashmika Mandanna has assured her fans that the second chapter of her Telugu film "Pushpa" will be "better and bigger" that its first part. https://opinionexpress.in/madrid-beats-barcelona-for-100th-time-reaches-cup-final Barcelona put on a good fight as an underdog, but in the end it was Real Madrid celebrating again after a thrilling "clásico" between the Spanish powerhouses in Saudi Arabia. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-releases-first-list-of-candidates-for-uttar-pradesh-polls Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday released the party's first list of 125 candidates, including 50 women, for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/qualification-testing-of-cryogenic-engine-for-gaganyaan-programme-successful-isro The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully conducted the qualification test of cryogenic engine for the Gaganyaan programme for a duration of 720 seconds at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. https://opinionexpress.in/sag-awards-noms-squid-game-makes-history-yellowstone-finally-gets-a-nod Netflix's blockbuster original show 'Squid Game' has made history at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards by becoming the first non-English-language (and first Korean) series to score a nomination, reports 'Variety'. https://opinionexpress.in/bjps-central-election-committee-meets-to-finalise-assembly-candidates The BJP's Central Election Committee met on Thursday to finalise the party's candidates for the seats which will go to the polls in the initial phases of the Uttar Pradesh elections starting from February 10. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-cases-in-city-on-rise-hospital-admissions-stabilised-jain Hospitalisation rate due to coronavirus infection in the city has remained stable but the cases and the positivity rate have seen an increase,  Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/australian-open-draw-delayed-amid-uncertainty-over-djokovic The Australian Open draw was delayed at least 75 minutes Thursday amid uncertainty over top-ranked Novak Djokovic's visa status. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-rises-100-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tops-18200 Equity benchmark Sensex climbed nearly 100 points in opening trade on Thursday, tracking gains in index-heavyweights Infosys, TCS and Maruti. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-highest-in-216-days India logged 2,47,417 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 236 days, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,63,17,927  which includes 5,488 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/we-will-cross-sixty-mark-in-upcoming-elections-dhami Those who are unable to handle the affairs of the party, cant's run the affairs of the state, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in an exclusive conversation with IANS, referring to the state of the Congress in the Himalayan state. https://opinionexpress.in/put-your-house-in-order-or-face-consequences-sc-to-supertech The Supreme Court on Wednesday warned real estate company Supertech of "consequences" over the non-payment of refund to homebuyers, who had paid for flats in two 40-storey towers which are being demolished on the court's order. A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna told the counsel appearing for Supertech to keep their house in order and not make deductions, which have not been ordered by the top court. https://opinionexpress.in/kcr-will-go-to-jail-says-telangana-bjp-chief Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will definitely go to jail for corruption. He alleged that Rao was resorting to gimmicks like 'third front' to gain sympathy. Stating that action against the chief minister is inevitable, Sanjay said his efforts to form a 'third front at the national level were aimed at gaining sympathy. Sanjay, who is also a member of Parliament, claimed that the central government was readying to take action against KCR. https://opinionexpress.in/we-will-continue-to-deal-with-chinese-pla-in-firm-resolute-manner-army-chief The Indian Army will continue to deal with the Chinese PLA in a firm and resolute manner in eastern Ladakh and it has been maintaining the highest level of operational preparedness in the region, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-issues-notice-on-plea-seeking-action-on-hate-speeches-made-in-haridwar-delhi The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Centre, Delhi Police and Uttarakhand Police to respond to a plea seeking direction to ensure investigation and action against those who allegedly made hate speeches during two events held recently in Haridwar and the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/pubg-battlegrounds-is-now-free-to-play-on-pc-consoles South Korean video game developer Krafton on Tuesday announced that its battle royale game PUBG: Battlegrounds is now free-to-play (F2P) on PC and consoles. https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-kumar-emraan-hashmi-to-star-in-selfiee Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi are set to reunite for a movie. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-singh-tests-positive-for-covid-19 Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection. https://opinionexpress.in/google-nest-hub-2nd-gen-now-in-india-at-rs-7999 Tech giant Google on Wednesday announced that its Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is now available in the country at Rs 7,999. https://opinionexpress.in/prolonged-exposure-to-air-pollution-may-spike-covid-risk Long term exposure to ambient air pollution may heighten the risk of Covid-19 infection, suggests a research. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-shamita-shetty-is-the-new-captain-of-the-house Shamita Shetty has been chosen as the captain of the 'Bigg Boss 15' house. She is also the new VIP contestant. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-appoints-panel-headed-by-ex-judge-indu-malhotra-to-probe-security-breach-during-pms-visit The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed a five- member committee headed by former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/aaps-chief-ministerial-face-for-punjab-polls-to-be-announced-next-week-kejriwal AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said his party's chief ministerial face for the Punjab Assembly polls will be announced next week. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-questions-govt-stakes-in-vodafone The Congress has questioned the government increasing its share in Vodafone Idea which has risen to about 35.8 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-cases-have-stabilised-in-delhi-possibility-of-infections-coming-down-satyendra-jain Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Wednesday said coronavirus cases have stabilised in the national capital and there is a possibility of the infections declining soon. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-hold-14th-round-of-military-talks-to-resolve-eastern-ladakh-standoff After a gap of over three months, India and China on Wednesday are holding another round of high-level military talks to resolve the 20-month-long military standoff in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, sources in the security establishment said. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-in-my-space-god-bless-him-saina-accepts-siddharths-apology Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal on Wednesday said she is happy that actor Siddharth issued a public apology for his unsavoury remarks on her after she raised concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security breach recently. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-climbs-about-400-pts-to-reclaim-61k-level-in-early-trade The BSE Sensex zoomed nearly 400 points to reclaim the key 61,000-level in opening deals on Wednesday, buoyed by expectations of a good quarterly earnings season. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-highest-in-211-days India added 1,94,720 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,60,70,510 which includes 4,868 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sa-171-at-stumps-in-reply-to-indias-223-all-out South Africa were 17 for one at stumps in reply to India's first innings total of 223 all out on the opening day of the series-deciding third Test here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/battle-for-up-more-resignations-roll-out-in-bjp Resignations are rolling out in the BJP in Uttar Pradesh with an alarming frequency, days ahead of the state goes to the polls in seven phases between February 10 and March 7. After Swami Prasad Maurya and Roshan Lal Varma, yet another BJP MLA - Brijesh Prajapati from Tindwari in Banda - has said that he has submitted his resignation from the saffron party. https://opinionexpress.in/british-judge-rules-br-shetty-to-pay-barclays-131-mn Barclays can enforce a $131 million judgment to recover unpaid bills from embattled NMC Health founder B.R. Shetty following the failure of a foreign exchange venture, a British judge has ruled, The National reported. The UK-based international bank had sought to claw back its losses after the businessman's Abu Dhabi-based UAE Exchange Centre (UAEEC) reneged on a currency-swap agreement in March 2020 with his empire on the brink of collapse. https://opinionexpress.in/uproar-in-nepal-over-modis-announcement-to-build-road-in-lipulekh A fresh diplomatic spat has brewed between Nepal and India after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent announcement to expand the road across the Lipulekh area which Nepal claims as its own. Addressing an election rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Haldwani in Uttarakhand on December 30, Modi had announced that his government is further widening the road built in the Nepali territory of Lipulekh. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-now-comparable-to-flu-may-turn-endemic-post-omicron-uk-professor The UK may be on the brink of beating the Covid-19 pandemic, with daily deaths currently running at less than half the rate expected in a bad flu year, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/myanmars-suu-kyi-sentenced-to-4-more-years-in-prison A court in Myanmar sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to four more years in prison on Monday after finding her guilty of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions, a legal official said. https://opinionexpress.in/paytm-stock-hits-all-time-low The Paytm stock hit an all-time low, trading down a further 2.16 per cent on Tuesday at Rs 1,132 after an almost 6 per cent slide the previous day. https://opinionexpress.in/actor-sathyaraj-recovers-from-covid-discharged-from-hospital Tamil actor Sathyaraj, who was undergoing treatment for Covid at a private hospital in the city, has been discharged. https://opinionexpress.in/rate-at-which-covid-19-infection-was-spreading-has-slowed-down-in-delhi-cm The rate at which Covid-19 infection was spreading in Delhi has slowed down in the past few days, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/need-to-be-careful-about-providing-excuses-for-terrorist-acts-since-there-cannot-be-any-excuse-for-terrorism-india India has said that countries need to be careful about providing excuses for terrorist acts since there cannot be any excuse for terrorism and must not divide themselves on combating one of the biggest challenges facing humanity. https://opinionexpress.in/rijiju-flays-remarks-made-against-nehwal-says-india-proud-of-her-outstanding-contributions Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday slammed actor Siddharth's remark against badminton player Saina Nehwal, saying such comments show the person's "ignoble mentality". https://opinionexpress.in/lata-mangeshkar-hospitalised-after-testing-positive-for-covid-19 Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar has been admitted to a hospital here after she tested positive for Covid, her niece said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/powerful-galaxy-s21-fe-5g-set-to-make-new-indian-fans Samsung has undoubtedly made its Galaxy S series quite popular among the Android flagship lovers. Inspired by the response to Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) by young users in India, the South Korean giant has now brought its first 2022 flagship, Galaxy S21 FE 5G, to the country. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-likely-to-hold-meeting-with-cms-on-covid-situation-on-thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a meeting with chief ministers over the COVID-19 situation on Thursday as the number of virus infections sees a surge due to its Omicron variant. https://opinionexpress.in/private-offices-in-delhi-ordered-to-switch-to-wfh-amid-covid-surge The Delhi government on Tuesday directed closure of all private offices, except those in exempted categories, amid rising number of COVID-19 cases. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovic-saga-has-been-damaging-on-all-fronts-says-atp The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) -- the governing body of the men's professional tennis circuits -- has said that the Novak Djokovic court saga has "been damaging on all fronts", including for the world No. 1 tennis player's well-being and preparation for the Australian Open. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-revisits-60500-level-in-opening-deals-nifty-tops-18000 The BSE Sensex advanced over 100 points to recapture the 60,500-level in the opening session on Tuesday, helped by buying mainly in financials and IT shares. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-highest-in-208-days India logged 1,68,063 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,58,75,790 which includes 4,461 cases of the Omicron variant, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/neck-to-neck-fight-projected-in-uttarakhand The elections in Uttarakhand will be a close contest with both BJP and Congress literally running neck and neck, as per the ABP-CVOTER Battle for the States survey. The 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly will go to the polls on February 14, while the votes will be counted on March 10. As per the survey, the BJP is projected to win 34 seats, one more than Congress' 33. The sample size for the survey was 7,304 across 70 Assembly seats in Uttarakhand. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-projected-to-win-a-simple-majority-in-uttar-pradesh-battle-2022 The BJP-led alliance in Uttar Pradesh is projected to win 229 seats in the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7, as per the ABP-CVOTER Battle for the States survey. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. The numbers are as many as 96 less than the 2017 figures, but will still give the BJP a comfortable simple majority in the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly, as per the survey. https://opinionexpress.in/sa-v-ind-south-africa-and-india-itching-to-go-all-out-in-a-winner One couldn't have asked for anything better in the Test series between South Africa and India. The series is poised at 1-1 and with the decider Test starting from Tuesday at Newlands in Cape Town, a place that favours pacers due to bounce and lateral movement, one is in store for a cracking winner takes it all affair. India began their tour of South Africa on a perfect note, defeating the hosts by 113 runs at SuperSport Park in Centurion, thanks to a 117-run opening stand by KL Rahul (123) and Mayank Agarwal (60) in the first innings. However, India failed to repeat their big runs plan at Johannesburg and ended on the losing side, with a rock-solid Dean Elgar spearheading a chase of 240 and squared the series at 1-1. https://opinionexpress.in/sub-variants-of-omicron-replacing-delta-in-india-report The highly transmissible Omicron with three sub-variants is likely replacing the previously dominant Delta strain in India, pushing the daily tally of Covid-19 cases in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/skoda-drives-in-all-new-kodiaq-at-rs-3499-lakh Czech automaker Skoda on Monday launched new version of its premium SUV Kodiaq in the country, priced between Rs 34.99 lakh and Rs 37.49 lakh (ex-showroom). https://opinionexpress.in/elections-right-time-to-defeat-hatred-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the upcoming assembly elections are a right time to defeat hatred. https://opinionexpress.in/india-begins-precaution-dose-drive-over-1-cr-sms-sent-to-beneficiaries The drive for administering precaution dose to the healthcare workers, frontline workers and 60-plus individuals commenced on Monday across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-launches-flagship-galaxy-s21-fe-5g-in-india-for-rs-49999 Samsung on Monday launched its first flagship of this year -- Galaxy S21 FE 5G -- in India at an introductory offer of Rs 49,999 (8GB+128GB variant). https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-salman-khan-announces-extension-of-show-for-two-weeks The latest promo of 'Bigg Boss 15' has made a confirmed announcement that the show is going to be extended for two weeks. https://opinionexpress.in/immigration-detention-djokovic-wins-court-case World No. one tennis player Novak Djokovic on Monday won the legal battle in his bid to remain in Australia, with a court ordering his immediate release from immigration detention. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-sends-100-pairs-of-jute-footwear-for-those-working-at-kashi-vishwanath-dham Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent 100 pairs of jute footwear for those working at Kashi Vishwanath Dham after coming to know that most of them perform their duties bare-footed as it is forbidden to wear leather or rubber footwear in temple premises, government sources said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/over-300-delhi-police-personnel-infected-with-covid Amid a surge in coronavirus infections in the national capital, more than 300 Delhi Police personnel, including the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-trade-minister-to-launch-fta-talks-in-delhi-next-week Britain's Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan will launch Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations during a visit to New Delhi starting on Wednesday, the UK government has said. https://opinionexpress.in/administration-of-precautionary-dose-of-covid-vaccine-begins-in-delhi Amid a surging third wave of coronavirus infections, Delhi on Monday started administering a third or "precautionary dose" to people aged 60 or more, healthcare workers and frontline workers who took their second dose of vaccine nine months ago. https://opinionexpress.in/kirti-kulhari-turns-producer-with-upcoming-movie-nayeka Actress Kirti Kulhari has made her name in the entertainment industry with movies such as 'Pink' and 'Uri: The Surgical Strike', now the actress is all set to show her talent as a producer with the upcoming feature film 'Nayeka'. https://opinionexpress.in/taking-pms-security-breach-very-seriously-supreme-court-sets-up-panel-headed-by-ex-sc-judge The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to set up a panel, headed by a former apex court judge, to probe the Prime Minister Narendra Modi security breach in Punjab last week. https://opinionexpress.in/badminton-in-times-of-covid-19-sindhu-srikanth-eye-glory-at-india-open Star Indian shuttlers P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth will look to carry the momentum from last season and make winning starts to the new year when they begin their campaign at the India Open, which returns after being cancelled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/tablighi-jamaat-banned-in-saudi-arabia-what-next Tablighi Jamaat is often considered extremely orthodox in its interpretations, with the ability to convert Muslims into radical believers. The Tablighi Jamaat members have declared they are not political but they tacitly supported secular political parties in India to protect their interest after the partition of the country. They say the Prophet Mohammed has commanded all Muslims to convey the message of Allah, and the Tablighis take this as their duty. They divide themselves into small Jamaats (societies) and travel frequently across the world to spread the message of Islam to Muslim houses. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-470-pts-to-reclaim-60000-level-in-early-trade The BSE gauge Sensex soared 470 points to trade above the psychological 60,000-level in opening deals on Monday on account of buying across counters. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-records-179723-cases-146-deaths India saw a single-day rise of 1,79,723 coronavirus infections taking the total tally to 3,57,07,727, including 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant reported across 27 states and union territories so far, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-in-iqbal-mirchis-seized-property-to-run-its-zonal-office The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to move it's Mumbai zonal office to the two floors (third and fourth floor) of Worli-based Ceejay House, which belongs to the late drug dealer Iqbal Mirchi. Ceejay House is a prime building in Mumbai and a number of politicians are running their offices from there. Millennium Developer Private Ltd, the company of former Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, had constructed this building. The top floor of the building is the residence of Patel. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-help-of-wheat-covid-vax-to-reach-afghanistan-via-iran India got a helping hand from Iran to transport humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. As External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the latter offered to allow transportation of Indian wheat, life-saving drugs and Covid vaccines to Afghanistan through its territory. https://opinionexpress.in/dalits-prepare-to-go-different-ways-as-bsp-implodes-in-up It was the Bahujan Samaj Party that brought them together and it is, again, the BSP that is slowly driving them away. The parry itself is imploding. After nearly two decades, Uttar Pradesh is likely to witness a fragmentation of Dalit votes that is bound to weaken the political base of the BSP. With the announcement of election dates, Mayawati becomes the only leader who will guide her voters into election without addressing them even once. The rallies addressed by BSP MP Satish Chandra Mishra have been aimed at bringing Brahmins into the BSP, rather than in keeping the Dalits together. https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-professor-who-called-taliban-intel-chief-stooge-of-pak-arrested Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have arrested an outspoken critic of the government, drawing strong calls for his immediate release from civil society activists, VOA reported. Family members said Faizullah Jalal, a professor of law and political science, was arrested by security forces from his residence in the Afghan capital, Kabul. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-maybe-1st-ray-of-light-against-covid-uk-scientist   https://opinionexpress.in/pak-tj-preacher-slammed-for-attending-gangsters-memorial-service  Photos of renowned Pakistani Islamic preacher Tariq Jamil weeping and praying at a memorial service last week for Taji Khokhar, a Rawalpindi gangster, have created outrage online, the Friday Times reported. In addition to being a frequent television and media presence, Jamil is also affiliated with the proselytising organisation Tableeghi Jamaat, the report said. https://opinionexpress.in/sp-party-to-file-fir-against-bjps-amit-malviya-for-misleading-tweet Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has said that his party's legal cell will lodge an FIR against Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP's IT department for allegedly spreading misinformation through his tweets to malign the image of the party leadership. Amit Malviya had tweeted a photograph of Akhilesh Yadav along with his wife Dimple, former Uttar Pradesh Minister Abhishek Misra and MLC Pushparaj Jain among others. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-greets-indian-diaspora-on-pravasi-bharatiya-diwas Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted everyone, especially the Indian diaspora on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Greetings to everyone, especially the Indian diaspora on Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. Our diaspora has distinguished itself all over the world and has excelled in different spheres. At the same time, they have remained connected to their roots. We are proud of their accomplishments." https://opinionexpress.in/sa-v-ind-elgar-was-phenomenal-says-philander Former South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander showered praise on captain Dean Elgar, saying the way he led with the bat was 'phenomenal'. He added that South Africa's intent and urge to attack more in the second innings surprised India's bowling attack. https://opinionexpress.in/global-dementia-cases-may-triple-to-150-mn-by-2050 Dementia cases are expected to rise by over 150 million by 2050, which is about three times more than in 2019, suggests a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/ukhand-hc-suspends-physical-hearing-after-judge-4-others-test-covid-positive The Uttarakhand High Court has suspended physical hearings after a judge and four other employees of the court tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-has-set-up-several-factories-of-hate-tek-fog-app-one-of-them-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the BJP of having set up several "factories" of hate and said the ‘Tek Fog' app is one of them. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-ambassador-meets-us-presidential-advisor-on-science-discuss-boosting-cooperation-in-the-field India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has met America's presidential advisor on science, Prof Eric Lander, and exchanged ideas on strengthening bilateral cooperation in science and technology, a key priority area for the leadership of the two countries. https://opinionexpress.in/win-in-wanderers-step-in-right-direction-game-plan-wont-change-much-for-third-test-elgar The win at Wanderers against India is a move in the right direction for the South Africa team, according to skipper Dean Elgar, who revealed that while there is room for improvement, the hosts won't be tinkering with their game plan heading into the final Test. https://opinionexpress.in/vishal-dadlani-down-with-covid-loses-father-rues-not-being-able-to-be-with-his-mother Singer and composer Vishal Dadlani, who has tested positive for Covid, lost his father after his gallbladder surgery went bad, and said that he could not even be there for his mother in her most difficult time. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-positive-swara-bhasker-slams-trolls-wishing-her-death Actress Swara Bhasker, who tested Covid positive on Friday, has clapped back at trollers, who have wished her "death". https://opinionexpress.in/moto-edge-x30-to-launch-in-india-soon-report Smartphone brand Motorola is gearing up to launch its flagship smartphone Moto Edge X30 in India soon. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-likely-to-record-20000-fresh-covid-cases-with-positivity-rate-of-19-pc-satyendar-jain Delhi is likely to record around 20,000 COVID-19 cases on Saturday with a positivity rate of around 19 per cent, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. https://opinionexpress.in/taapsee-pannu-tahir-raj-bhasins-looop-lapeta-to-debut-on-netflix-in-february Taapsee Pannu and Tahir Raj Bhasin-starrer "Looop Lapeta" will premiere on Netflix on February 4, the streamer announced on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/data-shows-omicron-variant-driving-third-wave-of-pandemic-across-states The third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic across all states is being driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, official sources said on Saturday, citing the latest data. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovic-breaks-silence-thanks-fans-amid-australian-visa-row World No 1 Novak Djokovic on Friday broke his silence and thanked people around the world for their support amid a visa row over Covid-19 vaccines ahead of this month's Australian Open. https://opinionexpress.in/new-stock-omicron-impact-to-arrest-rising-cotton-prices-ind-ra New stock arrivals as well as the Omicron Covid-19 variant's expected impact on demand is likely to arrest any further rise in cotton prices during the short-term, said India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). https://opinionexpress.in/eci-to-announce-poll-schedule-for-5-states The Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the dates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-registration-not-needed-for-precautionary-covid-19-vaccine-dose-centre The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said that there is no need for new registration for beneficiaries of precautionary Covid-19 vaccine dose. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-141986-new-covid-cases-285-deaths Amid an unabated resurgence, India registered 1,41,986 new Covid cases, another significant single-day spike, and 285 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday https://opinionexpress.in/kubbra-sait-tests-covid-positive-urges-people-to-do-home-tests Bollywood actress Kubbra Sait, who is known for her stint on 'Sacred Games', has tested positive for Covid-19. She took to her Instagram story and posted a long text notifying her associates and people close to her about the diagnosis. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-vaccine-doses-administered-in-india-surpass-150-crore-mark India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 150-crore mark on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reaffirms-commitment-to-ties-with-vietnam India on Friday reaffirmed commitment to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. https://opinionexpress.in/milder-omicron-but-no-data-to-prove-its-long-term-effects The reduced severity of Omicron is good news for now, but it is the result of an "evolutionary mistake" as COVID-19 is transmitting very efficiently and there is no reason for it to become milder, indicating that the next variant could be more virulent, a leading Indian-origin scientist from the University of Cambridge has warned. https://opinionexpress.in/election-commission-informed-on-covid-situation-in-country-union-health-ministry The government on Friday termed as misleading media reports stating that the Union Health Health Ministry has suggested to the Election Commission that there is no cause of "alarm or concern in view of very few cases of Omicron in poll-bound states". https://opinionexpress.in/sc-allows-resumption-of-neet-pg-2021-counselling-upholds-validity-of-obc-quota-in-admissions The Supreme Court on Friday, in an interim order, allowed resumption of medical counselling for NEET-PG admissions for the year 2021-22 and upheld the validity of 27 per cent OBC quota. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-likely-to-see-17k-covid-cases-with-positivity-rate-of-nearly-17-pc-satyendar-jain Delhi is expected to add 17,000 cases to its coronavirus infection tally with a positivity rate of around 17 per cent on Friday, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-vicky-sunny-celebrate-isabelle-kaifs-bday-virtually Bollywood couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal celebrated the birthday of the actress's sister Isabelle Kaif virtually, which was also attended by actor Sunny Kaushal. https://opinionexpress.in/swara-bhasker-tests-positive-for-covid-19-under-home-quarantine Actor Swara Bhasker on Friday said she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is under home quarantine. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-directs-hc-registrar-general-to-secure-records-on-security-arrangements-for-pms-visit The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court  to “forthwith” secure the records, pertaining to security arrangements made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Punjab visit, from  the state government, its police and central agencies. https://opinionexpress.in/kirti-kulhari-opens-up-about-how-she-was-styled-for-human Actress Kirti Kulhari says it was a wholesome journey playing the character of Dr. Saira Sabharwal in the upcoming web series, 'Human', which will air on January 14. https://opinionexpress.in/sometimes-we-can-be-a-little-bit-hard-on-senior-players-pujara-rahane-repaid-faith-says-gavaskar The legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane repaid the trust that was shown in them, adding it is easy to get excited by young talents but the team should continue showing faith in its senior players as long as they are "not getting out badly." https://opinionexpress.in/india-took-just-8-days-to-see-covid-surge-from-10k-to-over-1-lakh In the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has taken just eight days for India's daily cases to cross 1 lakh from 10,000. If you compare it with the second wave last year, it took Covid cases 47 days to reach the 1 lakh level from a tally of 10,000. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-over-330-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tops-17800 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped 335 points in opening trade on Friday, tracking gains in index-heavyweights ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank amid mixed cues from Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-records-117100-new-cases The daily rise in coronavirus infections was recorded above one lakh after 214 days, taking India's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,52,26,386 which includes 3,007 cases of Omicron reported across 27 states and UTs, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/bulli-bai-case-delhi-police-arrests-21-year-old-from-assam Delhi Police has arrested the "main conspirator" in the "Bulli Bai" case from Assam, officials said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-security-breach-president-kovind-expresses-concern-to-meet-modi President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday expressed concern over the breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security during his visit to Punjab, government sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/jemimah-shikha-dropped-from-mithali-raj-led-india-squad-for-icc-womens-world-cup-in-new-zealand Star batter Jemimah Rodrigues was on Thursday dropped from the 15-member Indian women's cricket squad announced for the ICC ODI World Cup to be held in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-dismisses-swamys-plea-seeking-to-set-aside-air-india-disinvestment-process The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking to set aside the Air India disinvestment process on the allegation that the methodology adopted by the government in the valuation of the national carrier was "arbitrary, illegal and against public interest". https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-likely-to-see-14000-covid-cases-on-thursday-satyendar-jain Delhi is expected to record 14,000 fresh Covid cases on Thursday, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. https://opinionexpress.in/over-2k-victims-hacked-via-microsoft-signature-verification-including-in-india A new campaign exploited Microsoft's digital signature verification to steal user credentials and sensitive information of over 2,000 victims in 111 countries, including India, and counting, a report said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/makers-of-83-to-stick-to-screening-schedule-till-eight-weeks-are-over The makers of the cricket drama '83', whose screening schedule got derailed by the Covid-19 surge, are committed not to take the OTT route before it completes eight weeks of its theatrical release. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-security-breach-in-punjab-sc-to-hear-matter-on-friday The matter connected with the security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Punjab a day ago was raised before the Supreme Court on Thursday. The top court agreed to hear the matter on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-govt-forms-high-level-committee-to-probe-lapses-during-pms-visit The Punjab government on Thursday set up a high-level committee to probe lapses during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state, an official spokesperson said. https://opinionexpress.in/anushka-sharma-starrer-chakda-xpress-on-jhulan-goswami-to-release-on-netflix Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma is all set to make her comeback after three years with the film 'Chakda Xpress' based on the life of female Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami. The movie will have an OTT release on Netflix. https://opinionexpress.in/novak-djokovic-denied-entry-to-australia-has-visa-cancelled Novak Djokovic's chance to play for a 10th Australian Open title was thrown into limbo Thursday when the country denied him entry and cancelled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to COVID-19 vaccination rules. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slumps-over-450-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-17800 Equity benchmark Sensex tanked over 450 points in opening trade on Thursday, tracking losses in index-heavyweights HDFC twins, Infosys and TCS amid a negative trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-biggest-single-day-rise-of-495-omicron-cases India on Thursday saw the biggest single-day jump of 495 Omicron cases, taking the total number of infections of the new variant of coronavirus to 2,630, according to Union health ministry data. https://opinionexpress.in/16-killed-26-injured-as-bus-collides-with-truck-in-jharkhands-pakur Sixteen people were killed and 26 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck transporting gas cylinders in Jharkhand's Pakur district on Wednesday morning, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-issues-revised-isolation-guidelines The Centre on Wednesday issued revised guidelines for home isolation of mild and asymptomatic patients amid the surge in Covid-19 cases nationwide. https://opinionexpress.in/vivo-brings-colour-changing-v23-series-to-india Smartphone brand Vivo on Wednesday launched much-expected V23 series in India that offers first-ever colour changing back panel and India's first 50MP 'Eye AF Dual Selfie' camera. https://opinionexpress.in/bumrah-moves-to-9th-shami-17th-in-icc-test-rankings-after-win-over-proteas Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and South African quick Kagiso Rabada were the high-profile movers in the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers, while a number of players made big minor-ranking jumps in the latest rankings released on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-chopper-crash-rajnath-apprised-of-probe-teams-findings The Indian Air Force on Wednesday apprised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the findings of the tri-services investigation into the December 8 chopper crash that killed CDS Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others, people familiar with the development said. https://opinionexpress.in/indians-are-succumbing-to-hatred-kharge-on-bulli-bai-row After an 18-year-old girl who is allegedly the mastermind behind the notorious "Bulli Bai" app, was held by a Mumbai Police team from Uttarakhand, the Congress on Wednesday attacked the BJP and the RSS. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-is-not-common-cold-warns-who Amid reports that Omicron has symptoms akin to a common cold, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday warned that it is not a common cold and should not be taken lightly. https://opinionexpress.in/third-covid-wave-has-hit-delhi-10k-cases-expected-to-be-recorded-on-wednesday-satyendar-jain The third wave of COVID-19 pandemic has hit Delhi and the city is expected to record 10,000 new cases on Wednesday with a positivity rate of 10 per cent, city Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. https://opinionexpress.in/bulli-bai-app-case-mumbai-police-arrest-one-more-student Mumbai cyber police have arrested one more student from Uttarakhand in connection with the 'Bulli Bai' app case, an official said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/tiger-shroff-shoots-for-most-challenging-sequences-of-heropanti Action star Tiger Shroff says he is shooting for the most challenging sequences for his upcoming film 'Heropanti 2' and even shared a glimpse of it with his fans on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/sonu-nigam-and-family-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-dubai Singer Sonu Nigam says he, along with his wife Madhurima and son Nevaan, has tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently under home quarantine in Dubai. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-cricketer-maxwell-tests-positive-for-covid-19 Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Wednesday became the latest cricketer from the Big Bash League to test positive for COVID-19. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-falls-nearly-150-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-17780 Equity benchmark Sensex declined nearly 150 points in opening trade on Wednesday, tracking weakness in index-heavyweights Reliance Industries, TCS and Infosys amid a mixed trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-falls-nearly-150-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-17780 Equity benchmark Sensex declined nearly 150 points in opening trade on Wednesday, tracking weakness in index-heavyweights Reliance Industries, TCS and Infosys amid a mixed trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/2135-omicron-cases-detected-across-24-statesuts-health-ministry A total of 2,135 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 24 states and UTs so far, out of which 828 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/the-kashmir-files-gets-us-wide-promotion-by-gkpd 'The Kashmir Files, an upcoming movie by noted filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, is a landmark film depicting the gruesome genocide of hundreds of thousands of indigenous Kashmiri Hindus in 1990. The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) has been at the forefront of making the world aware of the trauma faced by the Kashmiri Hindu community and the intergenerational effects of the genocide. https://opinionexpress.in/about-5500-new-covid-cases-reported-in-delhi-weekend-curfew-not-lockdown-jain Nearly 5,500 fresh cases of Covid have been reported in Delhi on Tuesday with a positivity rate of about 8.5 per cent, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said while asserting that the weekend curfew imposed in the city should not be treated as a lockdown. https://opinionexpress.in/china-denies-us-report-its-rapidly-growing-its-nuclear-arms A senior Chinese arms control official denied Tuesday that his government is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, though he said it is taking steps to modernise its nuclear forces. https://opinionexpress.in/new-study-shows-omicron-can-evade-immunity-better-than-delta The Omicron variant of Covid-19, rapidly spreading across the world, has the ability to escape immunity much better than the previous Delta strain, according to a study of Danish households https://opinionexpress.in/investors-wealth-zooms-by-over-rs-476-lakh-cr-in-first-two-days-of-trading-in-2022 Equity investors are a happy lot as their wealth jumped by Rs 4.76 lakh crore in the first two days of trading in the New Year, driven by optimism in the broader market. https://opinionexpress.in/moto-g7-likely-to-debut-in-india-on-jan-10 Lenovo-owned Motorola is likely to launch a new smartphone, moto G71, in India on January 10. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musks-net-worth-jumps-30-bn-in-a-day SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk fortune jumped by $33.8 billion to $304.2 billion, creating one of the biggest one-day jumps in wealth. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-opposes-swamys-plea-in-hc-seeking-to-set-aside-air-india-disinvestment-process The Centre on Tuesday opposed a plea moved by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in the Delhi High Court, seeking to quash the Air India disinvestment process and set aside the approvals given to it by authorities as the methodology adopted was "arbitrary, mala fide and corrupt". https://opinionexpress.in/weekend-curfew-to-be-imposed-in-delhi-amid-covid-surge-ddma The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday decided to impose weekend curfew in the national capital in view of the surge in Covid cases driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-mp-manoj-tiwari-tests-positive-for-covid Bharatiya Janta Party MP from North East Delhi and former state unit chief Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday said he tested positive for COVID-19 and has isolated himself at home. https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-kumar-starrer-prithviraj-postponed-due-to-omicron-outbreak Akshay Kumar's next 'Prithviraj' that was scheduled to release on January 21 has been postponed due to Omicron and the steep rise in Covid cases in India. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-unveils-s21-fe-5g-available-in-select-markets-from-jan-11 Samsung on Tuesday launched S21 FE 5G, a new addition to its popular Galaxy S21 series, that will be widely available from January 11. The India availability and pricing will be revealed at a later date. https://opinionexpress.in/kirti-kulhari-human-made-me-understand-the-noble-thought-of-being-a-doctor Kirti Kulhari, who essays the role of Dr Saira Sabarwal in the upcoming medical thriller series 'Human', revealed that her part gave her a new perspective towards the medical professionals. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-tests-positive-for-covid Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and isolated himself at home. https://opinionexpress.in/ashes-england-to-persist-with-crawley-as-opener-broad-returns-for-fourth-test England have decided to persist with young opener Zak Crawley and have included veteran pace bowler Stuart Broad for the fourth Ashes Test beginning at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-firm-up-gains-in-opening-session The BSE gauge Sensex rose over 277 points in opening deals on Tuesday, tracking overall buoyancy in global markets led by record-setting US stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-tally-in-india-rises-to-1892 A total of 1,892 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, out of which 766 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry's data updated on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-proactive-action-plan-to-takeover-latin-america Chinese Communist Party officials have unveiled an "action plan for cooperation" with Latin American countries that amounts to a "comprehensive" plan to influence the region and threaten US interests, following a new summit with the nearest neighbours of the US, Washington Examiner reported. "The Chinese don't say ‘We want to take over Latin America', but they clearly set out a multidimensional engagement strategy, which, if successful, would significantly expand their leverage and produce enormous intelligence concerns for the United States," US Army War College research professor Evan Ellis, a former member of the State Department policy planning staff, told the Washington Examiner. https://opinionexpress.in/accidental-electoral-hindus-yogi-on-rahul-priyanka The BJP in Uttar Pradesh is scaling up its attack on Congress and its policy of soft-Hindutva. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has termed the Congress leaders as 'accidental Hindus' while Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya has termed them as 'electoral Hindus'. "It is during the election that these leaders become a Hindu ('unhe chunaav me hi mandir aur Amethi ki yaad aati hai')," he said while addressing a meeting in Amethi on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/is-india-seeing-third-covid-wave-as-cases-rise-nearly-manifold-in-days India's daily Covid caseload has risen over four-fold in the last six days, with 33,750 infections reported on Monday, around 6,000 more over the day before's tally. The tally on December 28, 2021 was 6,358 after which surge began across the country with daily caseload increasing on every subsequent day - 9,195 cases on December 29, 13,154 on December 30 and 16,764 on December 31. https://opinionexpress.in/big-bonanza-for-poll-bound-punjab-by-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ferozepur, Punjab on January, 5 and will lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 42,750 crore. These projects include Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway; four-lane Amritsar-Una section; Mukerian-Talwara New Broad Gauge railway line; PGI Satellite Centre at Ferozepur and two new medical colleges at Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-delivers-close-to-1-mn-vehicles-in-2021 Tesla has delivered a record 936,172 vehicles in 2021, an 87 per cent increase over the 499,550 vehicle deliveries Tesla made in 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/south-korea-reports-2-omicron-linked-deaths Two deaths in connection with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 were reported in South Korea on Monday, according to health officials. https://opinionexpress.in/india-win-toss-opt-to-bat-in-2nd-test-against-sa-kohli-to-miss-contest-due-to-back-spasm Stand-in India captain KL Rahul won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against South Africa, here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/hospitalisation-figures-may-better-reflect-omicron-severity-fauci The number of hospitalisations due to the Omicron variant is a better measure to understand its severity than the traditional case-count of new infections, top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has said. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-to-bring-groundbreaking-nft-support-to-2022-tvs As the adoption of Blockchain-based non-fungible tokens (NFTs) gains momentum globally including in India, Samsung on Monday announced a groundbreaking TV support for NFTs, beginning with its 2022 TV lineup. https://opinionexpress.in/shefali-shah-calls-her-human-character-a-pandoras-box Shefali Shah, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming medical thriller series 'Human', had her share of challenges while getting into the nuances of her character of Gauri Nath. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-aqi-very-poor-likely-to-improve Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to settle in the 'very poor' category at 366 on Monday, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said, adding that it was likely to improve to 'poor' from January 7. https://opinionexpress.in/bsf-resorts-to-firing-after-detection-of-intrusion-along-international-border-in-jammu BSF troops resorted to firing on Monday after detecting the suspicious movements of an intruder along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district, a senior official of the force said. https://opinionexpress.in/john-abraham-wife-priya-test-positive-for-covid-19 Actor John Abraham on Monday said he and his wife Priya Runchal have tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing "mild symptoms". https://opinionexpress.in/neet-pg-admissions-centre-seeks-urgent-hearing-of-ews-quota-case The Centre requested the Supreme Court on Monday to schedule a hearing in a matter related to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in connection with the NEET-PG admissions on Tuesday, citing "some urgency". https://opinionexpress.in/covid-vaccination-starts-for-younger-population-in-15-18-age-group Vaccination of children in the 15-18 age group against COVID-19 began on Monday as inoculation centres across the country started administering the shots to the younger population. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-start-2022-on-positive-note-it-power-stocks-rally The Indian equity market started the year 2022 on a positive note on Monday, with the benchmark BSE Sensex rising about 340 points in opening trade on account of hectic buying in IT and power stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/shivam-dube-video-analyst-test-positive Flamboyant Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube and the team's video analyst have tested positive for COVID-19. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-tally-in-india-rises-to-1700 A total of 1,700 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, out of which 639 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union health ministry's data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-will-honor-all-great-tribal-heroes-arjun-munda In an attempt to restore tribal pride, the government will remember all the great tribal heroes who have sacrificed their lives and contributed to nation-building, said Arjun Munda, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs. In an exclusive interview to OE/IANS, Munda said: "Tribals never compromised on their basic principles - 'Jal, Zameen and Jungle' (Water, Land and Forest) and many heroes sacrificed their lives for the country and community. The government has decided to remember all tribal heroes who have sacrificed their lives and contributed to the nation-building and community." https://opinionexpress.in/fertility-rate-at-below-two When it comes to the future of India, this could be the most important number to have emerged from the shadows of Covid in 2021. For the first-ever time in history, the fertility rate in the country, which indicates how many children a woman will produce in her lifetime, has come down to 2, as per IANS-CVoter Issues That Dominated India 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/inform-us-if-you-suspect-you-are-a-pegasus-victim-sc-probe-panel The Supreme Court-appointed committee probing the Pegasus spyware snooping matter has issued a public notice seeking details from people who may have felt their mobile devices may have been infected by Pegasus malware. The panel has asked the Pegasus victims to send the information before noon of January 7, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-caseload-tops-2892 The global coronavirus caseload has topped 289.2 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.44 million and vaccinations to over 9.16 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-covid-cases-top-13-million Britain has reported another 162,572 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 13,100,458, according to the official figures released on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/most-covid-19-cases-are-mild-do-not-need-hospitalisation-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that though the number of daily COVID-19 cases and active cases are increasing in the city, there is no need to panic as those are very mild and do not need hospitalisation. https://opinionexpress.in/nokia-g50-starts-receiving-android-12-update Finnish mobile phone manufacturer HMD, the parent company of Nokia, has started rolling out Android 12 update for its latest Nokia G50 smartphones. https://opinionexpress.in/the-umbrella-academy-to-return-with-season-3-in-2022 Streaming giant Netflix is teasing the upcoming third season of 'The Umbrella Academy', the superhero series based on the comics of Gerard Way and created for Netflix by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater. https://opinionexpress.in/cold-morning-in-delhi-air-still-very-poor The residents of the national capital on Sunday woke up to a cold morning with the minimum temperature settling at 5 degrees Celsius. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-keen-to-ease-immigration-rules-for-indians-in-exchange-for-trade-access UK Ministers are keen to ease immigration restrictions in a bid to make it easier for thousands of Indian citizens to live and work in the country as part of the forthcoming trade talks, the Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-surge-to-alter-daily-life-for-millions-in-us-report The Covid-19 situation is exploding at an unprecedented speed and could alter daily life for millions of Americans during the first month of the New Year, the media reported on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/haridwar-hate-speech-offenders-should-be-booked-under-uapa-sibal Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday said that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or the UAPA should be invoked on offenders who have committed a crime under it and they should be arrested. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-natural-vaccine-experts-call-notion-dangerous-say-doesnt-take-long-covid-into-account The notion that Omicron is a natural vaccine is a "dangerous idea" spread by irresponsible people who don't take into account "long COVID" about which very little is understood, experts have said. https://opinionexpress.in/rrr-release-postponed-makers-promise-to-bring-back-glory-of-cinemas-at-right-time Considering the rising Covid cases across the country and the tightening of civil restrictions, the makers of Ram Charan and Jr NTR-starrer 'RRR' have decided to postpone the release date of the film till further notice. https://opinionexpress.in/spider-man-no-way-home-tops-new-years-eve-box-office-with-154-mn Actor Tom Holland-starrer 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' topped New Year's Eve box office charts earning $15.4 million on Friday to send its domestic haul to a mighty $572.6 million. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-motors-december-sales-up-24-yoy Automobile manufacturer Tata Motors on Saturday reported a rise of 24 per cent in its domestic sales in December 2021 on a year-on-year basis. https://opinionexpress.in/macroeconomic-data-omicron-situation-global-trends-to-guide-markets-this-week-analysts Macroeconomic data announcement, Omicron situation and global trends will be the major driving factors for the equity market in the first week of the new year 2022, according to analysts. https://opinionexpress.in/on-cusp-of-history-kohlis-india-ready-to-roll-over-south-africa-for-elusive-series-win India's formidably consistent match-winners have a date with history in the New Year when they take on an out-of-sorts South Africa in the second Test here from Monday in pursuit of a coveted first-ever series win in the 'Rainbow Nation'. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-tally-in-india-rises-to-1525 A total of 1,525 cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected across 23 states and Union Territories so far, out of which 560 have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry's data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/noise-colorfit-caliber-smartwatch-launched-in-india   https://opinionexpress.in/india-supplies-5-lakh-covaxin-doses-to-afghanistan India supplied humanitarian assistance consisting of 5,00,000 Covaxin doses to Afghanistan on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The doses were handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul. Another batch of additional 5,00,000 doses would be supplied in the coming weeks. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-offered-bdesh-use-of-inland-waterways-system-up-to-varanasi   https://opinionexpress.in/new-players-in-indian-aviation-will-push-competition-in-2022 Competition is expected to soar in India's aviation sector during 2022, as new players enter the industry along with deeper penetration of air transport in hinterland. Accordingly, a new airline as well as more privately operated airports are expected to increase competition in the sector that has faced the brunt of the ongoing pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/who-chief-optimistic-that-pandemic-will-be-beaten-in-2022 The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that he is optimistic that the Covid-19 pandemic will be defeated in 2022, provided countries work together to contain its spread. Ghebreyesus warned against "narrow nationalism and vaccine hoarding" in a new year statement, reports the BBC. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-action-to-change-status-quo-at-lac-provocative-india The Indian Defence Ministry has called China's action to change the status quo in several areas at Line of Actual Control as "provocative" and stated that threat assessment has resulted in reorganisation and realignment of forces to cater for the major augmentation of the Chinese forces and military infrastructure. The ministry in its year end review said: "The unilateral and provocative actions by the Chinese to change the status quo by force, in more than one area on the LAC, has been responded to inadequate measure." https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-22775-fresh-covid-infections-active-caseload-crosses-1-lakh India registered a substantial spike in daily Covid cases at 22,775 in a span of 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday. Also, 406 deaths were reported in the same time span pushing the toll to 4,81,486. https://opinionexpress.in/wishing-a-happy-new-year-2022-to-our-esteemed-readers-across-the-globe HAPPY NEWS YEAR 2022  https://opinionexpress.in/12-dead-14-injured-in-stampede-at-mata-vaishno-devi-shrine Twelve people were killed and 14 injured on Saturday in a stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Officials of the shrine said the stampede occurred when a large number of devotees entered the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan without permission slips. https://opinionexpress.in/dopt-amends-pay-rules-for-ias-ips-ifos-provides-timeline-for-filing-ipr   https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-stop-pakistani-military-from-fencing-durand-line-in-nimroz Taliban security forces have stopped the Pakistani military from fencing part of the Durand Line in southwestern Nimroz province of Afghanistan, Pajhwok News reported. A source wishing not to be named said on Thursday the Pakistani military was planning the installation of a fence on Durand Line in the Chaharboluk district's Dak locality. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-i-couldnt-have-survived-had-i-listened-to-what-everybody Ever since her acting debut in 2003, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has proved herself in every work that has come her way. The global star says she performs better when under pressure but does not take the stress from other people's expectations. The former Miss World, who is currently creating waves internationally with her stellar performances, says she was always told that she wouldn't be able to do it. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-slams-centre-for-missing-vaccination-target Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Modi government for not fulfilling its “promise” to fully vaccinate all eligible beneficiaries against COVID-19 by the end of the year. https://opinionexpress.in/kareena-kapoor-khan-reveals-her-best-part-of-2021 Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has revealed the best part of 2021 in a latest post on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/182-terrorists-killed-in-100-successful-operations-in-j-k-in-2021-dgp-dilbag-singh A total of 182 terrorists, including 44 top ultras, were killed in 100 successful operations in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, DGP Dilbag Singh said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-on-10-years-in-bollywood-grateful-i-got-a-chance-to-become-an-actor It has been a decade-long journey for Ranveer Singh in the world of Hindi cinema. Bollywood's livewire star says it has been a fulfilling one for him and that he was a different person 10 years ago. https://opinionexpress.in/worlds-10-richest-men-add-402-bn-to-their-net-worth-in-2021 , Dec 31 (IANS) Led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the world's 10 richest people added nearly $402.17 billion (India has a forex reserve of about $635 billion) in 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-shy-of-naming-china-on-land-grab-cong After the Chinese government renamed 15 places of Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress on Friday slammed the Modi-led government for 'inaction and shying away from naming China for the land grab of Indian Territory'. https://opinionexpress.in/uncertainty-looms-ahead-for-us-after-lurching-from-crisis-to-crisis-in-2021 The US and the presidency of Joe Biden lurched from crisis to crisis in 2021 and political and health uncertainties cloud the year ahead. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-can-trigger-self-attacking-antibodies-study Infection with the virus that causes Covid-19 can trigger an immune response that lasts well beyond the initial infection and recovery -- even among people who had mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, finds a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/finally-philippines-will-have-indias-brahmos-missiles Exactly six months before his term expires, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has added final touches to the modernization of the country's armed forces with acquisition of missile corvettes, Black Hawk combat helicopters, Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. https://opinionexpress.in/telegram-adds-message-reactions-in-app-translation-in-latest-update Encrypted messaging app Telegram has started rolling out its latest update for its iPhone as well as iPad app with several new features, including message reactions, translation, hidden text and more. https://opinionexpress.in/arnold-schwarzenegger-donates-25-houses-to-homeless-veterans Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has donated 25 houses to homeless veterans in Los Angeles, after teaming up with the Village for Vets programme. https://opinionexpress.in/victory-at-centurion-testimony-to-indias-all-round-performance-in-tests-says-kohli India skipper Virat Kohli says his team will pounce at any opportunity to win a Test match and the win at the Supersport Park against South Africa is a testimony to the "all-round side" it has become in the longest format. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-over-350-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-above-17300 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 350 points in early trade on Friday, led by strong gains in index majors ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and HDFC amid mixed cues from Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-records-16764-fresh-cases-including-309-of-omicron-variant-220-deaths India saw the highest single-day rise of 309 cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, taking the country's tally of such cases to 1,270, the Union health ministry said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/big-response-but-bigger-challenges-before-akhilesh-in-2022 Swelling crowds, enthused cadres, increasing ground support, and a cleverly stitched-up alliance may seem a perfect recipe for elections for the Samajwadi Party, but this picture-perfect cannot hide the challenges that Akhilesh Yadav faces in the 2022 polls. For the first time in his two-decade long political career, Akhilesh is leading a campaign single-handedly with almost no back-up mechanism in the party. https://opinionexpress.in/india-beat-south-africa-by-113-runs-take-1-0-lead India beat South Africa by 113 runs in the opening Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-vs-sa-1st-test-day-5-india-beat-south-africa-by-113-runs-take-1-0-lead-in-three-match-series IND vs SA 1st Test Day 5: India Beat South Africa By 113 Runs, Take 1-0 Lead In Three-Match Series https://opinionexpress.in/nora-fatehi-tests-covid-positive Actress-dancer Nora Fatehi has tested positive for Covid and is currently in quarantine under the doctor's observation. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hospital-running-in-dangerous-building-atishi-posts-video Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi on Thursday visited the MCD-run Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis Hospital in the national capital, and expressed shock that the patients were being treated in a building that has been declared dangerous and could collapse any day. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-biden-to-speak-on-thursday-kremlin Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden will have a phone conversation on Thursday, the Kremlin has confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-ships-4-times-more-foldable-devices-in-2021-than-last-year Samsung has shipped 4 times more foldable devices in 2021 than last year, exceeding the three-fold market growth that analysts expected. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-curbs-serpentine-queues-outside-metro-stations-on-day-two Long queues of commuters were seen outside various Delhi Metro stations for the second consecutive day on Thursday morning after imposition of fresh curbs by authorities to check the spread of COVID-19 in the city. https://opinionexpress.in/all-parties-in-up-want-polls-on-time-cec Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra on Thursday said that representatives of all political parties who met him during his visit to Lucknow, have said that the Assembly elections should be conducted on time following all Covid-19 protocols. https://opinionexpress.in/mehbooba-hits-back-at-sit-says-penal-action-warnings-will-not-work "Bullying us into silence by penal action warnings will not work," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said on Thursday after the Special Investigation Team probing the Hyderpora encounter threatened legal action against political leaders for making "speculative" statements about the investigation. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-will-soon-replace-delta-as-dominant-global-variant-experts Experts in Singapore, which is seeing a surge in Omicron cases, have warned that the new and supposedly more contagious variant is likely to replace Delta over the coming weeks as the dominant global variant, with the virus being fitter and having a reproductive advantage. https://opinionexpress.in/people-with-no-travel-history-infected-with-omicron-it-means-its-spreading-in-community-jain Omicron accounts for 46 per cent of the 115 COVID-19 samples analysed in the national capital and the new, fast-spreading variant of concern is gradually spreading in the community, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/squid-game-maker-teases-season-2-third-maybe-coming-soon Hwang Dong-hyuk, the writer and director of popular Korean survival drama 'Squid Game', has discussed the future of his hit Netflix series. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-set-to-ring-in-new-year-in-chilly-weather-cold-wave-to-severe-cold-wave-likely-till-jan-3 A cold wave swept Delhi on Thursday as people in the city gear up to ring in a chilly New Year with the weather department predicting similar conditions till January 3. https://opinionexpress.in/dwayne-johnson-turns-down-vin-diesels-invitation-to-rejoin-fast-furious Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson has publicly declined 'Fast &; Furious' series actor Vin Diesel's request to rejoin the action franchise for its upcoming 10th mainline entry. https://opinionexpress.in/veteran-ross-taylor-to-retire-from-international-cricket Veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor says he will retire from international cricket after the current domestic season. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-start-on-choppy-note-finance-stocks-decline Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty opened on a choppy note on Thursday, tracking weakness in index heavyweights Reliance Industries, SBI and ICICI Bank amid a mixed trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-reports-maximum-cases-of-omicron-countrys-tally-rises-to-961 India saw the highest single day rise of 180 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, taking the total tally of such infections in the country to 961, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/west-sleepwalking-into-biggest-humanitarian-crisis-in-afghanistan-brown The West is "sleepwalking into the biggest humanitarian crisis of our times" in Afghanistan, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has warned, as he called for a support package to save the war-torn nation from economic and social collapse after the Talibans takeover, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/private-cryptocurrencies-pose-risk-prone-to-frauds-illegal-acts-rbi-report The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday said the proliferation of private cryptocurrencies across the globe has sensitised regulators and governments to the associated risks. https://opinionexpress.in/attack-on-girl-in-amethi-priyanka-gandhi-says-cong-will-launch-stir-if-accused-not-arrested-soon Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government over the thrashing of a Dalit girl in Amethi, and said her party will launch an agitation if the accused in the case are not arrested soon. https://opinionexpress.in/maybach-added-to-pm-modis-security-detail-routine-replacement-govt-sources Amid speculation on the price and other details of the Mercedes Maybach added to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security detail, government sources said on Wednesday that the new cars are not an upgrade but routine replacement as BMW had stopped making the model used for him earlier. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-files-supplementary-charge-sheet-against-anil-deshmukh The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday filed a supplementary charge sheet against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with a money laundering case. https://opinionexpress.in/british-raj-to-modi-raj   https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-kumar-gets-poetic-as-he-wishes-wife-twinkle-on-her-birthday Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, who was recently seen in 'Atrangi Re', wished his wife Twinkle Khanna on her birthday with a special social media post on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/20-intl-passengers-test-covid-positive-at-bluru-airport At least 20 foreign passengers have tested positive for Covid-19 at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, sources said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/long-queues-outside-many-stations-as-delhi-metro-trains-run-with-new-covid-norms Long queues of people were seen outside various Delhi Metro stations on Wednesday morning, a day after new restrictions were put in place by authorities, including running of its trains with only 50 per cent seating capacity and no provision for standing for commuters, in view of rising cases of COVID-19 in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-slams-centre-as-india-china-trade-crosses-100-bn-mark Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at the Centre over India-China trade crossing $100-billion mark despite a military standoff, saying the country is waiting to see the current dispensation step down. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-will-win-more-assembly-seats-in-western-up-than-last-time-anurag-thakur The BJP will win more seats in western Uttar Pradesh compared to the last assembly polls, and the farmers' protest had no bearing on public sentiment in the region, Union minister Anurag Thakur has asserted. https://opinionexpress.in/plea-to-cji-seeks-pre-ponement-of-hearing-on-eco-reservation-in-neet-pg-course A city-based lawyer on Wednesday wrote a letter petition to Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana seeking preponement of the hearing in matters related to the economic reservation in NEET-PG course in the apex court and initiate day to day hearing. https://opinionexpress.in/new-normal-most-used-phrase-in-2021-reveals-google While the phrase "now more than ever" was the one mostly searched and used in 2020, it was the turn of "new normal" amid the Covid-19 pandemic that was used the most in 2021, according to Google. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-risk-very-high-could-ravage-health-systems-who The overall risk associated with the Omicron variant remains 'very high' which could cause widespread disruption to health systems and other critical services, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. https://opinionexpress.in/jr-ntr-ram-charan-dubbed-in-hindi-for-rrr-in-their-own-voices-says-alia Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt revealed that Jr NTR and Ram Charan have dubbed the entire movie 'RRR' in Hindi in their own voices. https://opinionexpress.in/shallow-fog-in-delhi-minimum-temp-recorded-at-84-deg-c The national capital witnessed shallow fog on Wednesday morning and recorded minimum temperature of 8.4 degrees Celsius, a notch above the normal, with the weather office predicting a cloudy day. https://opinionexpress.in/warner-eyes-2023-ashes-win-india-before-quitting-test-cricket An Ashes series win in England in 2023 and defeating India in their own backyard are the two important milestones Australia opener David Warner is eyeing before calling it quits from Test cricket. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-over-100-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tops-17250 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 100 points in early trade on Wednesday tracking gains in index-heavyweights Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-tally-in-country-rises-to-781-delhi-reports-maximum-cases India has recorded 781 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 21 states and UTs so far out of which 241 people have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on  Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-notifies-consumer-protection-rules The Union government has notified the Consumer Protection Rules, 2021, and asked the direct selling companies to comply with these rules within 90 days. https://opinionexpress.in/bsense-update NSE traded at 17,247 points, up 0.1 per cent from the previous close of 17,253 points. https://opinionexpress.in/new-sebi-norms-may-impact-capital-raising-plans-of-some-unicorns Inability to raise money for future unidentifiable acquisitions would impact capital raising plans of some unicorns, experts said after SEBI announced new IPO norms. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-to-witness-high-voltage-political-theatre-in-2022 Karnataka is all set to witness high-voltage political slugfest in 2022 as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress have already locked horns over the controversial Anti-Conversion Bill, Cow Slaughter Bill and the National Education Policy (NEP). https://opinionexpress.in/g-23-revival-or-revival-ahead The members of the G-23 group, who wrote the letter of dissent to Sonia Gandhi seeking sweeping reforms in the Congress party, are fighting for survival as team Rahul is taking key party decisions and have full say in the appointments and nominations. https://opinionexpress.in/now-dri-team-at-piyush-jains-premises-in-up A team of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials on Tuesday reached the premises of Kanpur businessman Piyush Jain in Uttar Pradesh's Kannuj where a raid of the Director General Supplies and Transport (DGST) is still underway. https://opinionexpress.in/how-will-be-the-atmosphere-of-parliament-in-2022-an-insight In a democracy like India which is based on the parliamentary ruling system, one of the most burning questions in 2022 is whether Parliament will be able to function smoothly? Will the work in both the Houses of Parliament take place in a peaceful manner in the coming year instead of the constant din and ruckus by the opposition parties? https://opinionexpress.in/bcci-president-sourav-ganguly-tests-covid-positive-admitted-to-hospital Former India skipper and the current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has tested positive for COVID-19 and admitted to a Kolkata hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/thailand-issues-warning-amid-omicron-spread Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has issued a nationwide level 3 warning after 514 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been detected. https://opinionexpress.in/jaipur-ex-royals-property-dispute-of-rs-15000-crore-gets-settled The Jaipur former royal family's property dispute worth Rs 15000 crore, going on for nearly two and a half decades, has been settled with the mediation of the Supreme Court. https://opinionexpress.in/underground-palace-of-naga-kingdom-excavated-in-jharkhand A multi-storeyed underground palace, of immense historical importance, has been found during excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Navratangarh in Gumla district in Jharkhand. https://opinionexpress.in/beach-vacays-and-bikini-trends-to-ring-in-the-new-year You're all set for your year end getaway and there are a few beach essentials, besides a bikini body you need to pack! For inspiration, check out these celebrities and pick a style to match your body type and mood: https://opinionexpress.in/after-14-years-benazir-bhuttos-assassination-still-remains-a-mystery Despite a lapse of 14 years, the mystery surrounding the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was murdered after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindis Liaquat Bagh, is yet to be solved, and the case is still pending in the Lahore High Courts (LHC) Rawalpindi bench, Express Tribune reported. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-reviews-made-in-india-low-cost-landslide-monitoring-system-at-mandi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reviewed the Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning System developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi during his visit to Himachal Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/chandigarh-civic-polls-aap-pips-bjp-on-debut-battle-of-punjab-begins The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday won most seats in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation polls on its debut. The ruling BJP's Mayor, Ravi Kant Sharma, and two former Mayors, Davesh Moudgil and Rajesh Kalia, faced humiliating defeats. https://opinionexpress.in/skorea-approves-pfizers-oral-covid-19-pill South Korea on Monday approved an emergency authorization of US drug giant Pfizer Inc.'s oral drug to treat Covid-19, making it the first such pill to be used in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-online-used-car-sales-to-reach-83mn-units-by-2026-report India saw three online used car platforms -- Droom, CarDekho and Spinny -- becoming unicorns (market cap of over $1 billion) in 2021 and riding the digital wave, the used car sales are expected to grow to 8.3 million units (at a healthy CAGR of 11 per cent) by 2026, a new report showed on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/health-ministry-submits-report-on-covid-19-to-election-commission The Union Health Ministry on Monday submitted a report on the rising Covid cases along with the new variant Omicron and the status of vaccination coverage across the nation to the Election Commission. https://opinionexpress.in/sa-v-ind-1st-test-start-of-day-twos-play-delayed-due-to-rain The start of day two of the first Test between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park on Monday has been delayed due to rain. While thunderstorms predicted for day one didn't interfere with cricketing action, the weather forecast for day two has predicted rain and thunderstorms for the whole day. https://opinionexpress.in/xiaomi-11i-hypercharge-to-launch-in-india-on-jan-6 Smartphone brand Xiaomi is all set to launch new smartphone -- Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge -- that will carry support for 120W fast charging, in India on January 6. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-teases-film-with-srk-after-extended-cameos-in-tiger-3-pathan Bollywood star Salman Khan, who turned 56 on Monday, has teased that he might share screen space with Shah Rukh Khan after their cameo appearances in each other's upcoming films 'Tiger 3' and 'Pathan'. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-new-york-sees-four-fold-rise-in-paediatric-hospitalisations Amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the US, New York City has seen a four-fold rise in children being hospitalised for Covid-19 since early December. https://opinionexpress.in/for-now-covaxin-likely-to-be-only-covid-vaccine-available-for-children-of-15-18-yrs Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is likely to be the only COVID-19 vaccine available, for now, for children in the age group of 15-18 years, who will be inoculated from January 3, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/night-curfew-in-delhi-from-monday-over-rising-covid-cases Night curfew will be imposed in Delhi from 11 pm on Monday, restricting movement of individuals except those in exempted categories, due to rising COVID-19 cases and the threat posed by Omicron, according to a DDMA order. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-meets-with-amit-shah-nadda-in-delhi Former Punjab chief minister and leader of the newly floated Punjab Lok Congress Amarinder Singh on Monday met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda here. https://opinionexpress.in/personal-attacks-reflect-bjps-frustration-akhilesh Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav has said that top BJP leaders stooping down to making personal attacks reflects their "narrow mindedness and frustration". https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-on-snake-bite-i-told-my-father-both-tiger-and-snake-are-alive Superstar Salman Khan on Monday said he was bitten by a non-venomous snake thrice and was fortunate that the incident was not alarming, even though his family and friends were worried for his health. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-singh-on-83-performance-felt-duty-bound-to-my-nation Bollywood's livewire star Ranveer Singh feels wearing the 1983 World Cup Indian cricket team jersey propelled him to deliver the knockout '83' performance to audiences. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reach-2723-at-stumps-on-day-1-of-first-test Electing to bat, India reached 272 for 3 at stumps on the first day of the opening Test against South Africa here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-slumps-over-400-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-drops-below-16900 Equity benchmark Sensex tanked over 400 points in early trade on Monday, tracking losses in index majors Reliance Industries, Infosys and HDFC Bank as concerns over Omicron-induced restrictions had an adverse impact on investor sentiment. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-highest-single-day-rise-of-omicron-cases-tally-climbs-to-578 India saw the highest single day rise of Omicron infections with 156 fresh cases, taking the total tally of such cases to 578, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/american-telugu-association-facilitates-investment-in-indian-startups The American Telugu Association (ATA) has facilitated a $20 million investment in Indian startups by organising business seminars since 2014. https://opinionexpress.in/attacks-media-trials-among-new-threats-to-judiciary-cji Calling attention to the increasing incidents of attacks on the judiciary, Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Sunday underlined the need for the law enforcement agencies to deal with them effectively. He made the remarks while delivering the fifth Late Sri Lavu Venkateswarlu Endowment Lecture. https://opinionexpress.in/auto-industry-expects-smooth-ride-but-omicron-could-be-a-speed-breaker India's automobile industry expects continuation of healthy demand along with easing of semiconductor supply issues during the upcoming year. https://opinionexpress.in/banks-improved-npa-recovery-icra The recent improvement in recovery of the non-performing assets and decline in provisioning of loans in the banking sector are expected to improve further in the coming year, rating agency ICRA said. https://opinionexpress.in/up-polls-why-kashi-and-mathura-are-not-ayodhya "Ayodhya hui hamari, ab Kashi-Mathura ki baari' -- this was a tweet put out by Uttar Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya on December 1. On the same day, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha quietly withdrew its call for installing a Krishna idol inside the Shahi Eidgah mosque. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-rakhi-sawant-throws-water-at-abhijit-as-he-steals-her-food Rakhi Sawant throws water from her bottle on the face of Abhijit Bichukale during some fun banter between them in the upcoming episode of 'Bigg Boss 15'. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-foreign-exchange-dip-lower-by-160-mn India's foreign exchange reserves dipped lower by $160 million during the week ended December 17. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-im-a-sum-of-all-my-decisions She has been in the acting business for 18 years and it has not been easy. Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who is currently creating waves internationally with her powerful performances, says she is a sum of all her decisions and is proud to be where she is today. https://opinionexpress.in/us-to-lift-travel-bans-on-8-african-nations-on-nye The US will lift Covid-related travel restrictions on eight African countries on December 31, the White House announced. https://opinionexpress.in/spider-man-no-way-home-becomes-biggest-movie-of-the-year-worldwide Tom Holland-starrer 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' has become the biggest movie of the year worldwide. https://opinionexpress.in/minimum-temperature-above-freezing-point-in-srinagar The minimum temperature in Srinagar remained above the freezing point on Saturday as the weather office has forecast moderate to heavy rain/snow between December 26 and 28 in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-up-to-70-less-likely-to-need-hospital-care-report People getting infected with Omicron are 50 per cent to 70 per cent less likely to need hospital care compared with previous Covid-19 variants, says an analysis. https://opinionexpress.in/5g-roll-out-to-drive-mobile-gaming-in-india-in-2022 With cutting-edge technologies now available in smartphones, the mobile gaming industry is among the fastest booming segments in India. https://opinionexpress.in/india-engineering-goods-exports-to-china-doubles-in-nov-eepc-india India's engineering goods shipments to China more than doubled in November this year to $434.6 million, the Engineering Export Promotion Council India said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/hrithik-deepika-welcome-anil-kapoor-to-fighter As actor Anil Kapoor joined the cast of 'Fighter', actors Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone gave him a warm welcome. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-aqi-improves-to-very-poor-from-severe After crossing the 400 or 'severe' mark a day ago, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) improved marginally on Saturday to 398, which is the lower end of the 'very poor' category. https://opinionexpress.in/england-bench-burns-broad-as-crawley-and-bairstow-included-for-3rd-ashes-test The struggling England team made four changes for the Boxing Day Test from the side that lost the second Ashes Test by 275 runs, bringing in Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow as the tourists try to stage a comeback at the MCG after being 0-2 down. https://opinionexpress.in/2-terrorists-killed-in-shopian-encounter Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Chowgam area in South Kashmir's Shopian district on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/veteran-spinner-harbhajan-singh-retires-from-all-forms-of-cricket One of India's most successful off-spinners, Harbhajan Singh on Friday announced retirement from all forms of cricket. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gandhi-slams-hate-speeches-at-haridwar-event-demands-strict-action Reacting sharply to hate speeches allegedly made at a 'Dharma Sansad' held recently in Haridwar, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday demanded the strictest action against those who incite violence, saying such acts violate the Constitution and the law. https://opinionexpress.in/pfizers-covid-pill-will-take-about-6-8-months-to-come-to-us-markets While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pfizer antiviral pill to treat Covid-19, the White House has warned that the drug will not be available in the markets before six-eight months. https://opinionexpress.in/owaisi-alleges-part-of-his-speech-being-quoted-out-of-context All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president, Asaduddin Owaisi, said on Friday that clipped video footage of his speech was being circulated on social media to trigger controversy. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-to-disable-video-games-for-drivers-passengers-while-driving Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle company Tesla has reportedly agreed to stop allowing drivers and passengers from playing video games on the dashboard screens while vehicles are in motion. https://opinionexpress.in/tiktok-rival-chingari-app-crosses-107mn-downloads-on-play-store Short video app Chingari, one the few TikTok rivals, on Friday announced that it has crossed 107 million downloads on Google Playstore. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-slams-punjab-govt-over-sacrilege-drugs-cases Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday alleged a conspiracy behind the recent cases of sacrilege and explosion, and said the “weak government” ruling Punjab has failed to crack the whip. https://opinionexpress.in/magical-art-of-survival-by-ashok-gehlot-interview The Congress government in Rajasthan recently completed three years in power. While it attracted many accolades for its Bhilwara model which helped check the corona spread, the state government equally drew criticism for infighting within its MLAs, rebellion among its workers and the ministers camping in five-star hotels to avoid toppling of the government. https://opinionexpress.in/centres-help-sought-in-bomb-blast-case-punjab-cm Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday said his government has sought Centre's support to crack the bomb explosion case that rocked the Ludhiana court premises. https://opinionexpress.in/qualcomm-tops-global-smartphone-apps-chip-market The global smartphone applications processor (AP) market grew 17 per cent to $8.3 billion in the third quarter (Q3) this year, with Qualcomm and MediaTek posting double-digit growth, according to a new report. https://opinionexpress.in/83-delivers-an-unforgettable-experience-ians-rating Director: Kabir Khan. Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Saqib Saleem, Neena Gupta, Boman Irani, Ammy Virk, Chirag Patil, Dinker Sharma, Nishant Dahiya, Harrdy Sandhu, Sahil Khattar, Adinath Kothare and Dhairya Karwa. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-to-elect-new-president-in-2022-chorus-growing-for-rahul Congress is going to elect a new president in 2022 and the schedule for the next election is out. The Congress election committee is preparing for polls from the block level to the party president and the elections for the working committee, the CWC, which is the highest decision-making body of the party. https://opinionexpress.in/sushmita-sen-confirms-break-up-with-beau-rohman-shawl-we-remain-friends Putting all speculations to rest, actress and former beauty queen Sushmita Sen in a social media post has confirmed about her break-up with her beau Rohman Shawl and said that the relationship was long over. https://opinionexpress.in/id-like-to-see-some-emotion-out-in-the-middle-mcgrath The legendary Glenn McGrath on Friday loathed the lack of aggression from England players in the ongoing Ashes series, saying he would prefer to see a close battle in the ultimate contest instead of "political correctness". https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-over-100-pts-in-opening-trade-nifty-tops-17100 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 100 points in early trade on Friday, tracking gains in index majors Infosys, TCS and HCL Tech amid a positive trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-omicron-tally-rises-to-358 India recorded 122 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in a span of 24 hours, the highest so far, pushing its tally in the country to 358, 114 of which have recovered or migrated, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/fda-authorises-mercks-covid-19-pill-that-can-be-taken-at-home A day after authorising the first anti-viral pill to treat Covid 19, the US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorised a second, Mercks Molnupiravir, USA Today reported. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-continues-to-pump-counterfeit-currency-into-india Even five years after demonetisation, curbing the circulation of counterfeit currency in India seems to have remained a distant dream. https://opinionexpress.in/two-killed-in-blast-in-ludhiana-district-court-complex A blast inside the district court complex here on Thursday left two people dead and three injured, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-creates-hurdle-in-lawyer-couples-wedding-kerala-hc-allows-online-marriage The Kerala High Court has come to the aid of a lawyer couple, one of them in the UK, by permitting the online solemnisation of their marriage as the groom was unable to come here due to the Omicron related travel restrictions. https://opinionexpress.in/hyundai-to-present-robotics-based-mobility-vision-at-ces Hyundai on Thursday announced it will unveil its future mobility vision based on robotics technologies at an upcoming international consumer electronics event in the US, reflecting its drive for a transition into an advanced mobility service provider. https://opinionexpress.in/60-per-cent-adult-population-fully-vaccinated-says-health-minister Over 60 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-to-hold-covid-review-meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation in the country on Thursday evening amid rising concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. https://opinionexpress.in/sonu-sood-to-feature-in-an-action-thriller-fateh Bollywood actor Sonu Sood is set to headline an action thriller film titled “Fateh”, the makers announced on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-to-hear-in-january-juhi-chawlas-appeal-against-dismissal-of-lawsuit-against-5g The Delhi High Court on Thursday listed for hearing on January 25 actor Juhi Chawla's appeal against an order dismissing her lawsuit against the 5G rollout, saying there was no grave urgency in the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-seeks-investigation-into-akhilesh-yadavs-assets   https://opinionexpress.in/deepikas-glam-this-is-83-pictures-makes-hubby-ranveer-go-uff Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh never shy away from publicly professing their love for each other, especially if it gets them fan eyeballs for an upcoming film featuring one (or both) of them. https://opinionexpress.in/honor-teases-its-1st-foldable-smartphone-magic-v Honor, former sub-brand of Huawei, on Wednesday teased the launch of its first foldable smartphone titled the Honor MagicV that will arrive in 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/dhanushs-bilingual-film-titled-vaathi-in-tamil-sir-in-telugu Actor Dhanush's next film, a bilingual, has been titled 'Vaathi' in Tamil and 'Sir' in Telugu, the filmmakers announced on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/australian-state-sees-major-spike-in-cases-hospitalisation Australia on Thursday reported a major spike in coronavirus infections, a day after Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected lockdowns or mask mandates to slow the spread of the omicron variant. https://opinionexpress.in/court-directs-cbi-to-probe-former-maharashtra-minister-anil-deshmukhs-role-in-pe-leak-case A Delhi court has directed the CBI to probe the role of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in the alleged leak of the agency's preliminary enquiry (PE) purportedly giving clean chit to him. https://opinionexpress.in/up-govt-orders-probe-after-reports-on-kin-of-bjp-leaders-officials-grabbing-land-in-ayodhya The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a probe into reports of relatives of BJP leaders and government officials allegedly "usurping" land near the upcoming Ram Temple in Ayodhya. https://opinionexpress.in/trouble-brewing-in-uttarakhand-congress-leaders-called-to-delhi After the Congress Campaign committee chief in Uttarakhand Harish Rawat targetted leaders for not giving him a free hand in the party affairs, the Congress is now trying to resolve issues amicably. Sources said that the state leaders have been called to Delhi on Thursday and possibly a meeting would be held at Rahul Gandhi's residence in a day or two in which Rawat will also be present. https://opinionexpress.in/10-wicket-hero-ajaz-patel-misses-out-on-nz-test-squad Ajaz Patel's historic feat of taking 10 wickets in a Test innings was not enough to secure his place in New Zealand's squad for a home series against Bangladesh. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-over-300-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tops-17k Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 300 points in early trade on Thursday, tracking gains in index majors Infosys, HDFC and ICICI Bank amid a positive trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-omicron-tally-at-236 India has recorded 236 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 16 states and UTs so far out of which 104 people have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/teslas-holiday-update-brings-tiktok-other-features Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle company Tesla has started to release its 'holiday' software update with TikTok integration in Tesla Theater, several UI changes and more. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-to-dominate-europe-soon-booster-dose-important-defence-who Omicron will dominate European countries within weeks, pushing an already stretched health system further to the brink, said head of the European office of the World Health Organization (WHO) while urging people to get a booster jab. https://opinionexpress.in/novel-approach-may-offer-faster-more-accurate-covid-19-detection Scientists have developed a new approach for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus which may lead to tests that are faster, less expensive, and potentially less prone to erroneous results than existing methods. https://opinionexpress.in/when-will-government-provide-covid-19-vaccine-booster-shots-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said a large population of the country is still not vaccinated against COVID-19, noting that only 42 percent of the population will be vaccinated by December end against the required rate of 60 percent to prevent the third wave of coronavirus. https://opinionexpress.in/kapil-dev-recalls-his-experience-of-lifting-the-world-cup-in-1983 As the sports drama '83' is all set to release on the big screen on Thursday, former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev recalled the feeling of lifting the World Cup in 1983, in a video shared by the makers. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-galaxy-s21-fe-likely-to-launch-on-jan-11 South Korean tech giant Samsung is likely to launch its upcoming smartphone -- Galaxy S21 FE -- on January 11, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladeshi-national-killed-in-bsf-firing-during-border-smuggling-bid-in-west-bengal A 24-year-old Bangladeshi national was killed on Wednesday when BSF personnel fired to thwart a narcotics smuggling bid along the International Border in West Bengal, a senior officer of the force said. https://opinionexpress.in/shehnaaz-gill-features-in-lucifer-crossover-poster-leaves-fans-speculating The poster of fantasy series 'Lucifer' featuring former 'Bigg Boss 13' contestant Shehnaaz Gill with lead actor Tom Ellis created a tizzy on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/gifts-given-to-jacqueline-nora-fatehi-by-conman-sukesh-likely-to-be-seized-by-ed The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will soon seize the gifts given to Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi by multimillionaire conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-will-hit-home-for-all-of-us-warns-bill-gates Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that humanity "could be entering the worst part of the pandemic" as the Omicron variant spreads fast across the globe. https://opinionexpress.in/rajya-sabha-adjourned-sine-die Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, a day ahead of the scheduled end of the Winter Session of Parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-singh-starrer-83-declared-tax-free-in-delhi Bollywood livewire star Ranveer Singh's upcoming sports drama '83' has been declared tax-free in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/real-madrid-outbreak-grows-after-alaba-isco-test-positive Real Madrid has added David Alaba and Isco Alarcón to its list of players with COVID-19, taking it to eight members of its first team. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-over-400-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tops-16900 Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 400 points in early trade on Wednesday, tracking gains in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank amid a positive trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-omicron-tally-at-213 India has recorded 213 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus across 15 states and UTs so far out of which 90 people have recovered or migrated, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-will-hit-everyone-warns-bill-gates Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that humanity "could be entering the worst part of the pandemic" as the Omicron variant spreads fast across the globe, stressing that Omicron will "hit home for all of us". https://opinionexpress.in/angstrom-biotech-launches-indias-first-saliva-based-rapid-antigen-covid-19-testing-kit Angstrom Biotech Pvt. Ltd. has successfully launched the ‘Angcard’ - India’s first revolutionary Covid-19 Antigen-Saliva Rapid Testing Kit approved by ICMR that allows users to test themselves from the comfort and safety of their homes at The Imperial, Janpath.  https://opinionexpress.in/face-yoga-theme-enter-corridors-of-power 'Miracles of Face Yoga' book release by Dr. Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, Hon'ble Member of Parliamentary Committee on welfare of SC/S and other Hon’ble Secretary Power , other officers & Chairman Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd are present there. https://opinionexpress.in/unitech-promoters-ajay-and-sanjay-chandra-sent-to-ed-custody-in-pmla-case   https://opinionexpress.in/court-discharges-former-bjp-mla-kuldeep-singh-senger-in-2019-accident-case-of-unnao-rape-survivor A Delhi court has discharged former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger and five others in the 2019 accident case of Unnao rape survivor, saying that prima facie no charges are made out against him. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-tejasswi-rashami-lock-horns 'Bigg Boss 15' contestants Rashami Desai and Tejasswi Prakash will be seen getting into a heated argument in an upcoming episode of the controversial reality show. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-terms-thalaivii-as-a-life-changing-experience-learning-curve For Kangana Ranaut, working on 'Thalaivii' has been an experience of a lifetime as it allowed her to explore and portray the life of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, both in terms of emotions and physicality. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-auto-component-industry-grows-to-rs-196-lakh-cr-in-h1 Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the apex body representing India's auto component manufacturing industry, on Tuesday announced that the turnover of the industry stood at Rs 1.96 lakh crore for the period April 2021 to September 2021, registering a growth of 65 per cent over the first half of the previous year. https://opinionexpress.in/situation-at-sino-india-border-generally-stable-china The situation at the China-India border is "generally stable" and both sides are maintaining dialogue and communication through diplomatic and military channels to ease the border situation following the standoff at eastern Ladakh, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/asus-launches-affordable-laptop-in-india Taiwanese tech giant ASUS on Tuesday launched its new laptop 'ExpertBook B1400' powered by the latest 11th Generation Intel Core processor in the Indian market. https://opinionexpress.in/value-buying-lifts-equities-sensex-up-over-400-pts Value buying as well as positive global cues aided India's equity market to maintain healthy gains during the late-hour trade session on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-transfers-rs-1000-cr-to-bank-accounts-of-shgs Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday at a programme here transferred Rs 1,000 crore to bank accounts of self help groups to benefit around 16 lakh women. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-less-likely-to-cause-severe-illness-in-lungs-as-delta-study The Omicron variant of Covid-19 may be significantly better than previous variants at evading vaccine-induced antibodies, but preliminary evidence also suggests that it is less likely to cause severe illness in the lungs compared to Delta. https://opinionexpress.in/three-of-delhis-omicron-patients-have-no-travel-history Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said on Tuesday that of the 34 Omicron variant cases reported so far, three do not have any travel history. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-takes-out-march-to-demand-sacking-of-mos-ajay-mishra Opposition leaders on Tuesday took out a protest march here demanding that action be taken against Union Minister Ajay Mishra in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying they will not rest till the minister is sent to jail. https://opinionexpress.in/bimstec-nations-stood-by-each-other-in-trying-times-rajnath-singh Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the BIMSTEC countries have stood by each other under trying circumstances, like cyclones, Tsunamis, earthquakes and floods. https://opinionexpress.in/likely-order-of-covid-symptoms-depends-on-coronavirus-variant-study The most likely order of symptoms that patients with COVID-19 experience is different for different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/pants-giant-leap-dravids-batting-tips-to-kohli-as-india-gets-into-the-groove The Indian cricket team is quickly getting into the groove and acclimatizing to the Johannesburg climate as it begins its quest to win its maiden Test series in South Africa, commencing at the SuperSport Park on Boxing Day. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-over-600-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tests-16800 Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 600 points in early trade on Tuesday, tracking gains in index majors ICICI Bank, Infosys and Reliance Industries amid a positive trend in other Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/two-hundred-omicron-cases-reported-in-india-so-far-5326-new-covid-19-cases Two hundred cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected in India so far out of which 77 patients have recovered or migrated, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/even-triple-vaccination-cannot-limit-omicron-spread-biontech-ceo Three doses of a Covid vaccine may not be able to curb the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of Covid, warned Ugur Sahin, CEO of Germany-based BioNTech. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the variant, known to escape vaccine immunity, has spread to about 90 countries. https://opinionexpress.in/central-asian-countries-foreign-ministers-stress-on-strengthening-ties-with-india Foreign ministers of five central Asian countries met Prime Minister Prime Minister Narendra on Monday and emphasised the readiness of their leadership to further strengthen relations with India. https://opinionexpress.in/uapa-tribunal-issues-notice-to-zakir-naiks-islamic-research-foundation A tribunal, which is examining the validity of the five-year extension of ban on Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) by the Centre as an unlawful association under the UAPA, commenced its proceedings on Monday and issued notice to the banned organisation. https://opinionexpress.in/delimitation-commission-proposes-6-seats-for-jammu-1-for-kashmir The Delimitation Commission on Jammu and Kashmir has proposed six additional seats for Jammu region while one more assembly seat for Kashmir Valley, the sources said here on Monday. The sources also said that the Commission arrived at the proposal to add more seats after the discussion with its five associate members held on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-ranauts-dhaakad-release-pushed-to-may-2022 Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut's upcoming action thriller 'Dhaakad', which was slated for an April 8, 2022 release, has now been pushed to May 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/axis-bank-to-raise-up-to-rs-5000-cr-by-issuing-bonds Axis Bank on Monday said it will raise up to Rs 5,000 crore by issuing bonds. https://opinionexpress.in/raging-omicron-will-strain-us-hospitals-fauci Even as the highly transmissible Omicron variant has been "raging" through the US and the world, it is likely to put strain on the hospital system in the country in the coming weeks, warned President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-reports-two-new-omicron-cases-tally-touches-24 The national capital Delhi on Monday reported two new cases of Omicron, taking the tally to 24 in the city.According to Delhi Health Department, of the 24 cases, 12 have been discharged from the hospital and the remaining 12 are under treatment. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-proceedings-adjourned-till-2-pm Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned till 2 pm without transacting any business as opposition parties continued their protests on various issues including suspension of 12 MPs. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-working-on-new-15-inch-ipad-report Cupertino-based technology giant Apple is reportedly working on a 15-inch iPad with a support for the wall mount and a power plug at the back. https://opinionexpress.in/bajrangi-bhaijaan-sequel-in-the-works-confirms-salman-khan Superstar Salman Khan has confirmed that he will be featuring in the sequel of his acclaimed blockbuster "Bajrangi Bhaijaan". https://opinionexpress.in/spider-man-no-way-home-has-third-best-opening-weekend-ever-for-a-hollywood-film After just three days in cinemas, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" has already become the highest-grossing film of 2020 and 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-in-panama-paper-leak-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in connection with the Panama paper leak case for allegedly violating FEMA. https://opinionexpress.in/japanese-space-tourists-safely-return-to-earth A Japanese billionaire, his producer and a Russian cosmonaut safely returned to Earth on Monday after spending 12 days on the International Space Station. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-should-call-all-party-meeting-kharge Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused the government of trying to divide the Opposition by calling only few parties to resolve the ongoing impasse over suspension of 12 MPs. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankan-navy-arrests-12-more-indian-fishermen-for-alleged-poaching-total-number-reaches-55 The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 12 more Indian fishermen and seized two fishing trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters, taking the number of Indians apprehended in the last two days to 55, an official statement said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/cold-wave-in-parts-of-delhi-as-min-drops-to-32-deg-c-relief-likely-from-wednesday A cold wave swept parts of Delhi on Monday with the minimum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory, considered the official marker for the capital, dropping to 3.2 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal and the lowest this season so far. https://opinionexpress.in/boxing-day-test-between-india-and-sa-to-be-played-without-spectators-report The first Test between India and South Africa starting at Centurion on December 26 will be played without spectators as the host country's cricket board is not selling tickets in view of the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, according to a report. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-lowest-in-572-days With 6,563 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,47,46,838, while the active cases declined to 82,267, the lowest in 572 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-mustnt-interfere-in-afghan-affairs-hamid-karzai Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that Islamabad must not interfere in Kabul's internal affairs, a statement which came in response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's remark about the ongoing political situation in the war-torn nation, as well as the threat posed by the Islamic State terror group, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-sharply-down-in-early-trade-adani-transmission-top-loser The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) declined sharply during early trade on Monday and one of the top losers was Adani Transmission. It is important to note here that Indian equity indices declined six out of past seven sessions due to heavy sell-offs amid volatility in the markets. Also, risks emanating from the new Omicron Covid-19 variant likely kept investors at bay. https://opinionexpress.in/cji-urges-youth-to-give-up-substance-abuse-shun-disillusionment Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Sunday urged the youth to disassociate themselves from substance abuse as he noted that a vibrant nation is built upon the health and energy of its youth. Addressing the 18th annual convocation of NALSAR University of Law here, he voiced concern over the growing number of youth falling prey to intoxicants. https://opinionexpress.in/sacrilege-incident-at-golden-temple-to-create-unrest-rss Condemning the incident of sacrilege at Golden Temple, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday said that it is a conspiracy to create unrest in society and asked for unmasking of conspirators behind the incident. In a statement RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said that such incidents should not be allowed to shatter mutual harmony. "Yesterday's incident of an attempt to desecrate the Guru Granth Sahib in the golden temple in Amritsar is unfortunate. The RSS condemns this incident," Hosabale said. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-hc-grants-bail-to-three-accused-of-duping-seller-on-online-marketplace The Delhi High Court has granted bail to three persons accused of duping a seller on an online marketplace, stating that while online cheating and fraud have become rampant, it cannot remiss in performing its duty of upholding liberty. https://opinionexpress.in/researchers-propose-targeted-therapy-to-treat-inflammatory-bowel-disease A team of researchers has proposed a way for drugs to be more effective against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which the intestine undergoes inflammation. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-misusing-agencies-to-remain-relevant-in-kmc-polls-bjp While the polling for Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections on Sunday is underway, the BJP has alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC) was 'misusing' every agency from the State Election Commission to police and civil administration to remain relevant in the polls. https://opinionexpress.in/severe-cold-grips-northwest-india-no-relief-likely-for-3-days Severe cold wave conditions were observed in parts of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/rajamouli-soul-of-rrr-lies-in-flashback-sequence-with-ajay-devgn Director S.S. Rajamouli has disclosed that the soul of 'RRR', featuring actors Ram Charan, Jr NTR and Alia Bhatt in the lead, lies in the flashback episode of actor Ajay Devgn in the film. https://opinionexpress.in/handover-sacrilege-attempt-case-to-cbi-bjp-to-channi-govt The BJP has demanded CBI investigation into the alleged sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple in Amritsar 'so that such instances are not used to disturb the peace in Punjab'. https://opinionexpress.in/redmi-note-11t-5g-another-decent-phone-under-rs-20k Redmi India recently launched its 11th gen smartphone under its popular Redmi Note series, called Redmi Note 11T 5G. https://opinionexpress.in/spider-man-no-way-home-swinging-to-massive-240mn-debut-after-record-breaking-opening-day Tom Holland-starrer 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' has raked in a whopping $121.5 million on Friday from 4,336 locations, putting itself on the path toward a projected $242 million opening weekend. https://opinionexpress.in/militant-killed-in-encounter-with-security-forces-in-srinagar An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Harwan area of the city, police said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-team-has-first-full-training-session-dravid-gives-batting-tips-to-kohli The Indian cricket team had its first full training session here in nearly a week as captain Virat Kohli and head coach Rahul Dravid marshalled their players at the SuperSport Park, with the latter giving tips to key batters. https://opinionexpress.in/tom-holland-appearances-at-spider-man-opening-night-showings-cancelled-due-to-covid Actor Tom Holland and another special surprise guest planned to pop in and surprise movie-goers at early evening screenings in Los Angeles was cancelled due to Covid and security concerns. https://opinionexpress.in/i-hope-fast-bowlers-can-give-us-20-wickets-in-every-test-against-south-africa-pujara Senior India batter Cheteshwar Pujara is confident that his team's fast bowling unit will keep up the good work and get 20 wickets in every Test match in the upcoming series against South Africa, starting December 26. https://opinionexpress.in/experts-warn-of-viral-blizzard-in-usa-omicron-hits-41-states Health experts have warned of "viral blizzard" in the US as the new Omicron variant is spreading rapidly nationwide and has already been detected in at least 41 states. In recent weeks, Covid-19 cases, deaths and hospitalisations have all surged in the country, with many parts experiencing high levels of community transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://opinionexpress.in/fiis-global-cues-omicron-trends-to-be-market-moving-factors-this-week-analysts Domestic equities will be mainly driven by global market trends, foreign institutional investors' movement and developments around new Covid variant Omicron this week, according to analysts. https://opinionexpress.in/7081-coronavirus-infections-264-deaths-recorded-in-a-day-in-india With 7,081 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of cases rose to 3,47,40,275, while the active cases declined to 83,913, the lowest in 570 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-variant-spread-to-89-countries-cases-doubling-in-3-days-who The hyper mutated Omicron variant of Covid-19 has now spread to about 89 countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/tmc-offering-prospective-candidates-rs-10-cr-to-20-cr-to-contest-elections-in-goa-cong The Trinamool Congress is offering prospective candidates between Rs 10 crore and Rs 20 crore to join the political outfit, AICC Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/forces-to-remain-at-lac-complete-disengagement-yet-to-take-place-iaf-chief Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari said on Saturday that complete disengagement at the Line of Actual Control with China has not taken place so the force continues to remain deployed at forwarding locations. Speaking during Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy Hyderabad, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said that the stand-off with China is still there and disengagement has taken place in certain areas, only in Ladakh. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-records-93045-covid-cases-as-omicron-dominant-in-london The UK reported 93,045 cases of coronavirus on Friday, another record high for daily infections for the third consecutive day, as Omicron overtook Delta to become the dominant variant in London and Scotland. https://opinionexpress.in/disha-patani-raashii-khanna-joins-the-cast-of-sidharth-malhotras-yodha Actors Disha Patani and Raashii Khanna will feature alongside Sidharth Malhotra in action film "Yodha", the makers announced on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-lays-foundation-stone-of-ganga-expressway Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the 594-km Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district. https://opinionexpress.in/plea-in-hc-to-direct-centre-rbi-to-formulate-policy-to-issue-rs-50-coins-for-visually-impaired A plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Centre and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to formulate a policy to issue Rs 50 coins to provide equal opportunity and ease of doing business to the visually impaired citizens of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-successfully-tests-nuclear-capable-ballistic-missile-agni-p India on Saturday successfully tested the new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile 'Agni P' from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the Odisha coast, the Defence Research and Development Organisation said. https://opinionexpress.in/akhilesh-compares-lakhimpur-violence-with-jallianwala-bagh-says-bjp-will-be-swept-away-in-elections Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday sought to equate the Lakhimpur Kheri violence with Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and said the British had fired bullets from the front, while the the BJP ran over a jeep from behind. https://opinionexpress.in/court-of-inquiry-on-chopper-crash-will-be-thorough-process-will-take-few-weeks-iaf-chief The Court of Inquiry  being conducted by a tri-services inquiry team will be a fair process and mandate given to it is to investigate every single angle of the incident, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/reinfection-risk-with-omicron-is-54-times-greater-than-delta-study Amid various studies claiming that Omicron causes only mild disease, a new study shows that there is "no evidence" that Omicron is less severe than the Delta variant of Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-makes-halwa-vicky-gives-thumbs-up-to-his-new-wife Katrina Kaif, who tied the knot with Vicky Kaushal last week, prepared the 'halwa' recently as a part of the 'Chaunka Chadhana' ritual, where the bride cooks for the first time after the wedding, and her husband was all praise for her culinary skills. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-urgent-need-to-scale-up-public-health-social-measures-to-curtail-spread-says-who With seven countries in the South-East Asia Region confirming cases of new COVID-19 variant Omicron, the World Health Organization on Saturday stressed on urgent scale-up of public health and social measures to curtail its further spread. https://opinionexpress.in/high-drama-on-bigg-boss-15-as-abhijit-bichukale-threatens-to-consume-poison The dispute between 'Bigg Boss 15' contestants Abhijit Bichukale and Devoleena Bhattacharjee seems to be spiralling out of control. https://opinionexpress.in/india-now-has-14-share-of-worlds-smart-personal-audio-market India's smart personal audio market grew 62 per cent in the third quarter (Q3) this year with 16.6 million units shipped, pushing its worldwide market share to 14 per cent, according to a new report. https://opinionexpress.in/does-england-have-a-plan-for-the-second-ashes-test-asks-ponting Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has flayed England skipper Joe Root for not coming into the second Ashes Test with a plan other than to just bowl short and wait for Steve Smith and Co. to commit errors. https://opinionexpress.in/bsf-shoots-down-drone-along-pak-border-in-punjab The Border Security Force (BSF) has shot down a drone along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, the force said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-decline-to-84565 India logged 7,145 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,47,33,194, while the active cases declined to 84,565, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-blocks-investments-in-chinese-drone-maker-dji The US has slapped further sanctions on Chinese drone-maker DJI, prohibiting people in the US from purchasing or selling certain publicly-traded securities connected with the company, along with seven other Chinese firms. The US government said that these eight companies have supported efforts to "surveil and track the Uyghur people in Xinjiang region". https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-announces-partys-alliance-with-bjp Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Amarinder Singh on Friday announced his party's alliance with the BJP for the 2022 Assembly polls in Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/let-him-suffer-sc-declines-relief-to-journalist-jailed-for-defamatory-articles The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant any relief to an editor of a Kannada weekly, jailed for a month for publishing defamatory articles against a lawyer, noting that considering the language used by the journalist, one month jail was "lenient". A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana said: "Let him suffer. What kind of journalism is this? We have to protect lawyers too." https://opinionexpress.in/ready-to-provide-additional-rafale-jets-if-india-requires-french-defence-minister French Defence Minister Florence Parly on Friday said her country is ready to provide additional Rafale fighter jets to India if it requires and noted that the use of the same aircraft by the two strategic partners is a reflection of "real asset and strength" in their ties. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-stays-proceedings-of-wbs-lokur-panel-probing-pegasus-snooping-allegations The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the ongoing probe by the West Bengal government appointed commission headed by former apex court Justice M B Lokur into the Pegasus snooping allegations. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-alerts-50k-users-on-being-targeted-by-surveillance-for-hire-entities Meta has alerted around 50,000 users that their accounts were spied on by commercial 'surveillance-for-hire' schemes around the globe. https://opinionexpress.in/fraudsters-conning-fans-via-spider-man-no-way-home-web-links Cyber-security researchers on Friday warned that fraudsters are tricking people and stealing their bank details via phishing links based on the new film 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'. https://opinionexpress.in/pankaj-tripathi-urges-people-of-bihar-to-get-their-voter-ids National Award-winning actor Pankaj Tripathi, who currently awaits the release of his upcoming film '83', has been elected as the State Icon of Bihar to educate the youth about their responsibility as voters and encourage them to participate in the elections. https://opinionexpress.in/russian-president-putin-to-dial-pm-modi-on-monday-in-follow-up-to-dec-6-summit Making an all-our effort to revive a special partnership with India, Russian President Vladimir Putin, a fortnight after his visit to New Delhi, will hold a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-logs-10-new-cases-of-omicron-total-reaches-20-jain Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said 10 new cases of the new Covid variant Omicron have been detected in the national capital, taking the tally to 20. https://opinionexpress.in/new-drug-could-treat-patients-hospitalised-with-covid-19-pneumonia-lancet-study A newly identified drug may be used to effectively treat some patients hospitalised with COVID-19 pneumonia, according to a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-drives-new-covid-wave-spreading-across-south-africa Amid fast-increasing new COVID-19 infections, South African officials on Thursday urged people to get vaccinated before travelling for the holidays and attending festive gatherings. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-slams-media-report-for-referring-her-as-wife-of-nick-jonas Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who has been busy promoting her upcoming film "The Matrix Resurrections", on Friday blasted a media organisation for referring her as "the wife of Nick Jonas" in a report. https://opinionexpress.in/rajya-sabha-adjourned-for-the-day The proceedings of Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day soon after the laying of papers on Friday, with Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu urging the government and opposition to arrive at a consensus over the issue of suspension of MPs. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-rashami-desai-declares-her-love-for-umar 'Bigg Boss 15' contestant Rashami Desai expressed her feelings for Umar Riaz during the Ticket To Finale task by cupping his face and declaring: "I love you. https://opinionexpress.in/rakesh-tikait-says-bigger-issue-of-msp-persists-questions-govts-intention The bigger issue of minimum support price (MSP) for crops is pending, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said in Muzaffarnagar on Thursday, as he questioned the intention and policies of the central government. https://opinionexpress.in/4-more-real-madrid-players-positive-for-virus Real Madrid says players Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Rodrygo, Andriy Lunin and an assistant coach have joined its group infected by a coronavirus outbreak. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tumbles-over-300-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-17200 Equity benchmark Sensex slumped over 300 points in early trade on Friday, tracking losses in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC twins and Kotak Bank amid a negative trend in global markets and persistent foreign fund outflow. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-7447-new-covid-cases-391-deaths India reported 7,447 new Covid-19 and 391 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/misogynist-govt-ignores-indiras-contribution-priyanka The Congress on Thursday tore into the government for skipping Indira Gandhi's name during Vijay Diwas celebrations and termed it as "misogynist BJP Government" as it did not want to give credit to the woman who is widely credited for carving out a new nation called Bangladesh from Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/sfj-referendum-campaign-barely-visible-in-the-west For most of the world, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) referendum campaign is barely visible – a mere curiosity in the backwaters of the internet, wrote Terry Milewski in an article for Gateway House. https://opinionexpress.in/gen-naravane-takes-charge-as-chairman-chiefs-of-staff-committee As a stop-gap arrangement before the appointment of a new Chief of Defence Staff following the demise of General Bipin Rawat, the Centre has placed in an old system and appointed Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. The old system was in practice before creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff two years ago. https://opinionexpress.in/mortal-remains-of-group-captain-varun-singh-airlifted-to-bhopal Indian Air Force (IAF) military officials on Thursday paid tributes to Group Captain Varun Singh at Yelahanka Air Base in Bengaluru. Later, his mortal remains were flown to his home town Bhopal. https://opinionexpress.in/not-good-to-point-fingers-on-anybody-before-big-tour-like-south-africa-kohlis-timing-not-right-kapil World Cup-winning former India skipper Kapil Dev feels Virat Kohli's statements that exposed his differences with the BCCI on the issue of captaincy were ill-timed as they created an unsavoury controversy just ahead of a crucial tour to South Africa. https://opinionexpress.in/ayushmann-vaani-starrer-chandigarh-kare-aashiqui-collects-rs-2091-cr-in-6-days Actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor's latest release 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' has minted Rs 20.91 crore in six days since its release. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-infects-70-times-faster-but-may-cause-less-severe-disease-study The Omicron variant of coronavirus infects and multiplies 70 times faster than Delta and the original COVID-19 strain, but the severity of illness is likely to be much lower, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/four-more-cases-of-omicron-detected-in-delhi-jain Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Thursday that 10 cases of Omicron have been detected in the capital so far and 40 people are admitted to the special facility at Lok Nayak Hospital meant for isolating and treating suspected cases of the new Covid variant. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-air-quality-commission-can-invite-suggestions-from-general-public-experts The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed satisfaction at steps taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to curb pollution in the capital. https://opinionexpress.in/psu-bank-employees-go-on-two-day-strike-services-hit-at-many-places Employees of public sector banks (PSBs) on Thursday went on two-day strike against the move to privatise public sector banks impacting normal banking operation across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/ls-adjourned-till-2-pm-amid-uproar-over-ajay-mishra The opposition parties created a ruckus in the Lok Sabha on Thursday demanding the resignation of Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra Teni in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-to-pay-researchers-for-reporting-data-scraping-bugs Meta (formerly Facebook) has announced that it is expanding its bug bounty programme to start rewarding valid reports of scraping vulnerabilities across its platforms. https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-kumar-praises-atrangi-re-co-star-sara-ali-khan-on-the-kapil-sharma-show Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar praised his co-star Sara Ali Khan's work in the movie 'Atrangi Re' on 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. https://opinionexpress.in/back-in-charge-smith-wins-toss-and-bats-against-england More than three years after he was fired as Australia captain, and three hours after new skipper Pat Cummins was ruled out because he was exposed to a person with COVID-19, Steve Smith won the toss Thursday and elected to bat against England in the second test of the Ashes cricket series. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-recalls-valour-sacrifice-of-bangladeshi-freedom-fighters-indias-forces-on-vijay-diwas Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to the valour and sacrifices of Bangladeshi freedom fighters and Indian armed forces on the 50th anniversary of Vijay Diwas, which commemorates India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-rallies-over-500-pts-after-fed-policy-decision-nifty-tops-17300 Equity benchmark Sensex rallied nearly 500 points in early trade on Thursday, tracking a positive trend in global markets after the US monetary policy decision. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-decline-to-87245 India added 7,974 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,47,18,602, while the active cases declined to  87,245, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/something-big-must-be-done-in-mathura-too-union-minister In a statement that could have wider ramifications, Union Minister of state for agriculture and food processing, Sanjeev Balyan, has said that though a grand temple is being constructed at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, "something big and grand" must also be constructed at Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura. https://opinionexpress.in/investigative-journalism-is-unfortunately-vanishing-from-media-canvas-cji Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Wednesday cited Mahatma Gandhi's quote on the essence of newspapers as he rued that the concept of investigative journalism is unfortunately vanishing from the media canvas. https://opinionexpress.in/china-housing-market-slumps-as-another-developer-in-distress Chinas giant housing market continued to decline in the past month with another major developer showing signs of financial distress, as state-owned enterprises began carving up the carcass of the failing property giant Evergrande, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/cant-put-all-people-behind-bars-chief-justice-to-ed-on-indiscriminate-use-of-pmla The Supreme Court on Wednesday warned the Enforcement Directorate against "indiscriminate" use of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, saying the law will lose its relevance. https://opinionexpress.in/available-for-odi-selection-no-problem-with-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli India Test skipper Virat Kohli categorically denied a rift between him and the new white-ball captain Rohit Sharma during the pre-departure virtual press conference ahead of the three-Test series against South Africa beginning on December 26. https://opinionexpress.in/aparshakti-shares-his-characters-look-from-dhoka-round-d-corner Aparshakti Khurana, who will be soon seen in the upcoming suspense thriller 'Dhoka Round D Corner', has shared his first look from the film. https://opinionexpress.in/6-more-women-sue-tesla-for-rampant-sexual-harassment Six more women have filed separate lawsuits against electric car-maker, Tesla, in the US for rampant sexual harassment at the workplace, as its CEO Elon Musk (chosen as the Time's 'person of the year') has been accused of tweeting "lewd comment about women's bodies or a taunt toward employees who report misconduct". https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-chopper-crash-group-capt-varun-singh-succumbs-to-injuries Group Captain Varun Singh, a decorated air warrior who was seriously injured in the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8, died on Wednesday at a military hospital in Bengaluru, the IAF said. https://opinionexpress.in/about-40-covid-cases-may-occur-without-any-symptoms-study About four in 10 Covid cases are asymptomatic, making them potential sources of increased transmission of the infectious disease, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/2-foreign-nationals-test-positive-for-omicron-in-telangana Two foreign nationals, who arrived here from abroad have tested positive for Omicron variant,  a health official said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-adds-automatically-generated-captions-for-all-videos Micro-blogging site Twitter on Wednesday announced that it has started rolling out automatic captions for videos. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-jitters-kareena-amrita-aroras-apartment-buildings-sealed The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation has sealed four apartment buildings in Bandra-Khar after Bollywood actresses Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora tested Covid-19 positive and organised testing camps there, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/south-korea-sets-new-virus-record-as-officials-plan-restrictions Halting its steps toward normalcy, South Korea will clamp down on social gatherings and cut the hours of some businesses to fight a record-breaking surge of the coronavirus that has led to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. https://opinionexpress.in/ls-adjourns-till-2-pm-amid-opposition-protests-over-sit-report-on-lakhimpur-violence Lok Sabha proceedings on Wednesday were adjourned till 2 pm amid vociferous Opposition protests over the findings of the SIT report on the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/rasika-dugal-spike-came-with-opportunity-for-me-to-learn-something-new Rasika Dugal is leading the cast of the tentatively titled series "Spike", a Hindi-language sports drama. https://opinionexpress.in/fast-furious-10-movies-release-date-to-may-2023 The next tenth installment of 'Fast & Furious' saga will take a little detour before reaching its final destination as it is now scheduled to hit the theaters in May 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/the-ashes-england-keen-to-ruin-australias-perfect-pink-ball-record England might not have beaten Australia in a pink-ball Test, but the Joe Root-led side will have to overcome its disappointment of losing the first Test by nine wickets and make a fresh start when the second Ashes Test begins at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-decline-for-fourth-consecutive-session-on-wednesday The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) fell in early trade on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/at-6984-cases-india-reports-slight-rise-in-daily-covid-count India reported 6,984 new Covid cases, which is slightly higher than the previous day, and 247 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/11-bjp-chief-ministers-to-visit-ram-temple-site-in-ayodhya-today Eleven Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states will be in Ayodhya on Wednesday to offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. https://opinionexpress.in/nclt-nclat-can-encourage-not-direct-settlements-under-ibc-sc The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the adjudicating authority (NCLT) and appellant authority (NCLAT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) cannot compel parties to settle a dispute. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-greatest-diplomatic-and-military-triumph There were essentially three reasons why Prime Minister Indira Gandhi waited nine months, despite millions of refugees from East Pakistan pouring into India (12 million ultimately), before unleashing the country's armed forces to liberate the territory and give birth to Bangladesh. The Pakistani military's brutal crackdown on the majority Bengali population in this wing of their country, codenamed 'Operation Searchlight', began on March 25, 1971. But the Indian Army and Air Force did not accelerate action until December 4. https://opinionexpress.in/madras-hc-rejects-pil-against-aiadmks-internal-party-election The Madras High Court on Tuesday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging an internal election in AIADMK to select the party coordinator and joint coordinator. https://opinionexpress.in/equities-decline-in-early-trade-hindustan-zinc-top-loser The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) fell in early trade on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-shares-pics-of-ankita-vickys-sangeet-ceremony Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut attended Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain's sangeet ceremony. Kangana took to her Instagram account to share the pictures and videos of the couple. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-minimum-temperature-to-dip-to-5-degrees-imd Delhi will witness one of the coldest days this winter season with the minimum temperature dipping to 5 degrees Celsius on December 20, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-kheri-incident-was-well-planned-sit The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, has filed an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) to include new sections against the 13 accused to make their offence punishable under attempt to murder charges. Vidhyaram Diwakar, the SIT investigating officer, filed the application last week in the CJM's court for adding new sections in the warrant, replacing sections 279, 338 and 304A of the IPC. https://opinionexpress.in/the-importance-of-yoga-in-modern-life Mansi Gulati, an International Yoga exponent has performed Yoga in all the States mostly in 28 Governor Houses, and Vice president house of India, Embassies, Jails, Schools, Universities including Kumbh with Baba Ramdevji and Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji besides various other Gurus.  https://opinionexpress.in/2-policemen-killed-12-injured-in-srinagar-terror-attack-lead  In a major attack on security forces, two Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were killed and 12 others were injured when terrorists fired on a police bus on outskirts of Srinagar city on Monday evening, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/kashi-vishwanath-project-is-symbol-of-indias-spiritual-soul-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project was a symbol of India's spiritual soul. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-slams-blatantly-misogynist-question-in-cbse-exam Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday condemned the inclusion of a "blatantly misogynist" passage in a CBSE Class 10 question paper and demanded an apology from the Modi government. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-hit-with-another-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-in-us Elon Musk-run electric car maker Tesla has been hit by a second sexual harassment lawsuit in the US within a month, in which a female employee alleged that that her manager "hugged and massaged her". https://opinionexpress.in/pak-intruder-shot-dead-along-international-border-in-jammu A Pakistani intruder was killed by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the R.S. Pura sector of Jammu, officials said on Monday, https://opinionexpress.in/virat-led-from-front-for-five-years-and-i-enjoyed-each-and-every-moment-under-him-rohit Virat Kohli led the team from the front for five years and he enjoyed "each and every moment" that he played under his predecessor, said India's new white-ball captain Rohit Sharma. https://opinionexpress.in/parliamentarians-pay-tribute-to-victims-of-2001-parliament-attack Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla led the parliamentarians in paying tributes to those killed in the 2001 Parliament attack at a sombre ceremony here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-arrives-in-varanasi-to-open-kashi-vishwanath-dham-to-take-part-in-cruise-baithak The stage was set for the inauguration of the first phase of the ambitious Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving here. https://opinionexpress.in/s-africa-president-ramaphosa-tests-positive-for-covid-19-as-infections-reach-record-high South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for COVID-19 and is receiving treatment for mild symptoms, according to his office. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-salman-remembers-sidharth-says-you-left-us-too-soon Bollywood superstar and host of 'Bigg Boss 15', Salman Khan recalled the late actor Sidharth Shukla on Sunday's 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode. https://opinionexpress.in/new-zealand-reports-101-new-community-cases-of-covid-19-delta-variant New Zealand reported 101 new Delta variant cases of Covid-19 in the community on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country's current community outbreak to 9,814. https://opinionexpress.in/galaxy-s22-ultra-spotted-on-companys-official-website-ahead-of-launch Samsung is planning to launch its next premium flagship S22 series soon and now the top-end model in the lineup the Galaxy S22 Ultra has reportedly been spotted on the South Korean giant's official website. https://opinionexpress.in/harnaaz-sandhu-ends-indias-21-year-wait-for-miss-universe-crown Harnaaz Sandhu, Punjabi film actress and an alumna of Chandigarh's Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, was named Miss Universe 2021, bagging the crown 21 years after Lara Dutta won the title in 2000. https://opinionexpress.in/real-madrid-win-derby-and-only-sevilla-betis-can-keep-up-the-pace-in-top-four Real Madrid took another step towards this season's La Liga title with a 2-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid in the city derby here. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-jumps-over-350-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tops-17600 Equity benchmark Sensex surged over 350 points in early trade on Monday, tracking gains in index majors ICICI Bank, HDFC twins and Axis Bank amid a positive trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-7350-covid-19-cases-202-deaths India registered 7,350 fresh Covid-19 cases and 202 fatalities in the last 24 hrs, the Ministry of Health and Family welfare said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-names-raghavan-wh-personnel-head Catherine Russel, head of the White House personnel office, has been appointed Executive Director of Unicef and Indian-origin Gautam Raghavan will be her replacement. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Thursday that he was appointing Russel to head the UN arm devoted to the welfare of children, and almost simultaneously US President Joe Biden appointed Raghavan to succeed her at the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-most-pro-vaccine-nation India is the most pro-vaccine country in the world with more than 98 percent of the country's eligible population showing a willingness to get inoculated against the deadly Coronavirus, as per the findings of the IANS-CVoter Covid Vaccine Tracker. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-space-sector-startups-gearing-up-for-successful-lift-off Space is the next frontier for India's startups and major industrial groups are attempting to conquer it. With the BJP government last year announcing to open the sector for private players, many startups have entered this relatively new territory and also have raised sizable funds from venture capitalists. Interestingly, it is not just the civilian side that the private players are looking at. They are also looking at the defence sector's space needs. For instance, Chennai based Data Patterns (India) Ltd is wanting to build smaller defence satellites. The space sector trend is to have constellations of small satellites. The trend drives the demand for satellites and sub-systems. https://opinionexpress.in/analysing-customer-feedback-if-jimny-brand-can-be-introduced-in-india-maruti-suzuki The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is currently analysing customer feedback to ascertain if the Jimny brand could be introduced in India as part of its overall plan to strengthen the SUV portfolio, as per a senior company official. https://opinionexpress.in/another-633-omicron-cases-identified-in-uk-in-biggest-daily-jump Another 633 Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK, the biggest daily increase since the Covid-19 variant was detected in the country, taking the total cases found in the country to 1,898, the UK health authorities have said. https://opinionexpress.in/chandigarh-reports-its-first-case-of-omicron A 20-year-old man with a recent travel history abroad, who had come to meet his relatives, has tested positive for Omicron, becoming the first patient of the new COVID-19 variant in Chandigarh, health department officials here said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/the-big-challenge-before-rahul-priyanka-to-revive-cong-sanjay-raut Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have a big challenge before them of reviving their party. https://opinionexpress.in/icmr-develops-testing-kit-to-detect-omicron-in-2-hrs The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed a testing kit which can detect the new Omicron Covid-19 variant within two hours. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-wraps-up-citadel-calls-it-her-most-intense-work Priyanka Chopra has completed the filming of Amazon Studios' upcoming spy thriller series 'Citadel'. For her, the series has been the most intense experience. https://opinionexpress.in/oneplus-stops-oxygenos-12-rollout-for-oneplus-9-9-pro Smartphone maker OnePlus has reportedly halted the rollout of OxygenOS 12 update for OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro following reports of bugs and issues from users. https://opinionexpress.in/duty-of-courts-to-take-into-account-not-only-crime-but-also-criminal-his-state-of-mind-sc It is the duty of courts to take into consideration not only crime but also the criminal, his state of mind and his socio­economic conditions, the Supreme Court has said. https://opinionexpress.in/top-star-rajinikanth-turns-71-wishes-pour-in Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday turned 71, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister M K Stalin, leaders and the actor's fans and celebrities wished him good health and a long life. https://opinionexpress.in/encounter-in-j-ks-pulwama-terrorist-killed An unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/chase-cotrell-mayers-test-positive-for-covid-19-out-of-t20-series-in-pakistan Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cotrell and all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers have been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan after testing positive for COVID-19 upon their arrival in Karachi on December 9. https://opinionexpress.in/7-of-top-10-most-valued-cos-add-over-rs-228-lakh-cr-to-m-cap Seven of the top-10 valued companies together added Rs 2,28,367.09 crore in market valuation last week, with Reliance Industries emerging as the biggest gainer. https://opinionexpress.in/hina-khan-shaheer-sheikh-come-together-for-new-track-mohabbat-hai Actress Hina Khan shares her experience of working in the music video 'Mohabbat Hai' along with Shaheer Sheikh. The song is sung by Stebin Ben. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modis-twitter-handle-very-briefly-compromised-later-secured-pmo Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Twitter handle was briefly hacked on Sunday, and a tweet claiming that India has "officially adopted bitcoin as legal tender" was put out from it. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-7774-fresh-covid-cases-306-deaths-in-a-day India on Saturday reported 7,774 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours. In the same time span, a total of 306 deaths have also been reported across the country, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-designates-7-ex-hc-judges-18-lawyers-as-senior-advocates The Supreme Court has designated seven former judges from various high courts and 18 lawyers as senior advocates. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-to-ride-on-priyankas-woman-card-in-tough-up-turf The Congress is banking on the big-ticket promises being made by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the run-up to next year's Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, with the party General Secretary focusing on the women voters in the state. On Wednesday, Priyanka Gandhi released a manifesto for women titled 'Shakti Vidhan', which it thinks could be a game-changer for the party in the elections to the 403-member UP Assembly. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-has-an-edge-in-4-states-hung-assembly-in-punjab-with-aap-in-lead The third ABP News-CVoter Battle for the States Tracker predicts closely-fought victories for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand, the four states which along with Punjab will go to the polls early next year. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-to-rope-in-tamil-diaspora-for-pushing-trillion-dollar-investment-goal Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is in the process of roping in Tamil diaspora abroad to achieve the state's trillion-dollar goal by 2030, a pet project of the Chief Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/realme-rolls-out-ui-30-early-access-for-some-phones Smartphone brand realme on Saturday announced that it has started early access roll out of realme UI 3.0 for the users of realme X7 Max 5G. https://opinionexpress.in/germany-to-make-vaccination-mandatory-for-healthcare-workers The German parliament has approved an amendment that will has make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers. https://opinionexpress.in/katvic-haldi-its-all-about-love-laughter-and-lots-of-yellow Bollywood lovebirds Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif have treated their fans with a glimpse from their haldi celebrations. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-salman-khan-slams-contestants-on-how-they-deal-with-relationships The 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode of 'Bigg Boss 15' will see Salman Khan taking a class of all the contestants inside the house as they are seen breaking mutual trusts in relationships and keeping their close bonds aside. https://opinionexpress.in/kim-files-to-be-made-legally-single-amid-kanye-west-divorce Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has filed to become legally single amid her divorce from rapper Kanye West, as she asks a judge to separate issues of child custody and property from her marital status. https://opinionexpress.in/extended-range-pinaka-rocket-system-successfully-test-fired A series of successful test-firing of the Extended Range Pinaka rocket system (Pinaka-ER) was carried in the last three days, the defence ministry said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-study-shows-booster-key-for-protection-against-omicron Two-shots of a Covid vaccine may not be enough against the Omicron variant, and a third dose or a booster shot is necessary to prevent the super mutant variant, according to a UK study. https://opinionexpress.in/india-sends-medical-supplies-to-afghanistan In the first tranche of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after its takeover by the Taliban, India on Saturday sent medical supplies to that country in sync with its commitment of extending help to the Afghan people in their times of difficulty. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-tests-live-chat-support-for-people-locked-out-of-their-accounts Meta (formerly Facebook) is testing live chat support for people, including creators, who have been locked out of their accounts. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-rakhi-sawants-husband-ritesh-kisses-her-on-the-show-contestants-tease-her Rakhi Sawant and Ritesh's relationship is making headlines. From Ritesh's pictures going viral on social media with another wife and a child to Rakhi and Ritesh kissing each other on the show. https://opinionexpress.in/high-prices-of-automobiles-likely-to-persist-during-next-year-report High prices of automobiles are likely to persist at elevated levels even during 2022, said Grant Thornton Bharat in a report. https://opinionexpress.in/injury-time-goal-secures-brentford-comeback-win-in-epl Bryan Mbeumo's stoppage-time penalty earned Brentford a dramatic 2-1 win over Watford in the English Premier League. https://opinionexpress.in/man-with-travel-history-to-zimbabwe-s-africa-found-omicron-positive-2nd-case-in-delhi A 35-year-old man, with travel history to Zimbabwe and South Africa, has tested positive for Omicron, becoming the second patient in Delhi of the new COVID-19 variant, sources said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-vacate-delhi-borders-start-leaving-for-home After farmers suspended their agitation against the three farm laws, they have started vacating Delhi borders where they have been stationed for more than a year. They have dismantled their settlements, removed tarpaulins, tied bales of clothes and now are in the process of returning home. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-active-case-decline-to-93277-the-lowest-in-559-days With 7,992 people testing positive for the coronavirus in a day, India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 3,46,682,736, while the number of active cases declined to 93,277, the lowest in 559 days, according to Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/ashes-1st-test-australia-crush-england-win-gabba-test-by-nine-wickets Australia clinched a strong nine-wicket victory over the Joe Root-led England on Day 4 to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series. https://opinionexpress.in/serious-bug-puts-apple-icloud-twitter-minecraft-at-hacking-threat Several popular services, including Apple iCloud, Amazon, Twitter, Cloudflare and Minecraft, are vulnerable to a 'ubiquitous' zero-day exploit, cybersecurity researchers have warned, leaving IT security teams at several companies scrambling to patch the vulnerability called 'Log4Shell'. https://opinionexpress.in/safrican-president-calls-on-brics-scientists-to-collaborate-to-tackle-covid-19 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday invited scientists from BRICS countries to work alongside South African scientists in further researching the various characteristics of the Covid-19 virus and its mutations. https://opinionexpress.in/allu-arjun-lavishes-pushpa-team-with-high-end-gifts Now that 'Pushpa' is racing to its date with the big screen, the lead star Allu Arjun is one happy man with the way the movie has shaped up. And he is expressing his emotions by showering gifts on the movie's team. https://opinionexpress.in/increase-delhi-oxygen-40-times-by-replacing-vilayati-kikar-with-peepal-tree-swami-advaitananda-giri Air quality of Delhi has become the worst among the capital cities across the world. The International Meditation Foundation has started a campaign to find long-term solution to the problem. It can be achieved by planting Peepal tress in place of Vilayati Kikar. https://opinionexpress.in/after-cremation-ashes-of-gen-rawat-to-be-taken-to-haridwar-tomorrow-family Family members of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat have planned to take his ashes to Haridwar on Saturday after completion of cremation rituals in Delhi, his daughter said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/thinking-of-quitting-my-jobs-elon-musk Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Friday said that he is planning to quit his "jobs" and become a full-time influencer. https://opinionexpress.in/us-sanctions-on-iran-have-no-bearing-on-indias-chabahar-port-project-govt The US sanctions on Iran have not affected India's Chabahar port project, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Lok Sabha on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/pollution-sc-takes-note-of-slight-improvement-in-air-quality-permits-panel-to-decide-on-easing-curbs The Supreme Court Friday took note of “slight” improvement in air pollution level in Delhi-NCR and permitted the commission on air quality management to take a decision on various representations seeking easing of curbs, like ban on construction activities, within a week. https://opinionexpress.in/hm-shah-nsa-rahul-gandhi-pay-last-respects-to-cds-rawat-his-wife Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday laid wreaths on the mortal remains of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika Rawat, who were among the 13 killed in the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu. https://opinionexpress.in/new-omicron-cases-in-uk-nearly-double-in-a-day An additional 249 people have tested positive for the Omicron Covid-19 variant in the UK, which increased the total number of cases with this strain to 817, health authorities confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/anushka-sharma-confirms-vicky-katrina-will-be-her-new-neighbours Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, who tied the knot on Thursday in Rajasthan, will soon shift in to a new plush apartment in Mumbai's Juhu area, where actress Anushka Sharma and former team India skipper, Virat Kohli will be their neighbours. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-working-on-smartwatch-with-rollable-display-report South Korean tech giant Samsung is reportedly planning to launch a smartwatch featuring a rollable display and a camera. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-directs-delhi-police-to-periodically-review-security-arrangements-in-courts-deploy-adequate-personnel The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to undertake periodical review of security arrangements in courts, based on security audit by an expert team, for deploying requisite number of personnel and installation of gadgets following the September 24 shootout that killed three persons inside Rohini Court. https://opinionexpress.in/sunny-kaushal-pens-heartwarming-note-to-welcome-parjai-ji-katrina-into-family Actor and Vicky Kaushal's younger brother Sunny Kaushal has penned a note for his 'parjai ji' Katrina Kaif and welcomed her into the Kaushal family. https://opinionexpress.in/cds-chopper-crash-air-force-continues-probe-at-coonoor The Special team constituted by the Defence Ministry to conduct an investigation of the helicopter crash at the Kattari park area near Coonoor in Nilgiris, which claimed the lives of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other armed forces personnel, is continuing its investigation. https://opinionexpress.in/rrr-to-hit-ott-after-90-days-from-theatrical-release SS Rajamouli and his 'RRR' team seem to be dizzy after the thumping response they received for the theatrical trailer of 'RRR'. The trailer, which was unveiled on Thursday, was even screened at the theatres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. https://opinionexpress.in/ashes-1st-test-tea-day-3-malan-and-root-try-to-rebuild-after-england-lose-openers Dawid Malan and Joe Root joined forces for a rebuilding act as England reached 107/2 in 36 overs at tea on day three of first Ashes Test at The Gabba here on Friday. The tourists are still trailing by 171 runs after bowling out Australia for 425 in the morning session and losing their opening pair of Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-sheds-over-150-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-slips-below-17500 Equity benchmark Sensex declined by more than 150 points in early trade on Friday, tracking losses in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC twins and TCS amid a negative trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-records-8503-new-covid-infections-active-case-count-rises-to-94943 With 8,503 people testing positive for the coronavirus in a day, India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 3,46,74,744, while the number of active cases roses to 94,943, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-may-not-completely-evade-vax-immune-response-us-study The highly mutated Omicron variant of Covid-19 may not completely escape vaccine-induced antibodies, according to a new study by US researchers using Artificial Intelligence tools developed by Google's DeepMind. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-suspend-long-agitation-in-india Almost 15 months after the agitation began, triggered by the now-repealed three farm laws, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Thursday said they have suspended their protests after positive assurances from the government on their demands, but said a review would be taken on January 15. https://opinionexpress.in/two-unmanned-missions-to-be-launched-before-flying-gaganyaan-by-end-of-2022-minister India will launch two unmanned missions next year before the human spaceflight programme 'Gaganyaan' by the end of 2022, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/natural-infection-vax-best-to-tackle-covid-variants-study A combination of vaccination and naturally acquired infection appears to boost the production of maximally potent antibodies against the Covid-19 virus, new research finds. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-rejects-aircel-founder-sivasankarans-claims-of-diplomatic-immunity The Supreme Court has rejected the plea of diplomatic immunity raised by Aircel founder C. Sivasankaran to resist the prosecution in money laundering cases in India, LiveLaw reported. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-call-off-stir-to-vacate-delhi-borders-on-dec-11 https://opinionexpress.in/katvic-wedding-katrina-chose-pink-lehenga-for-sangeet-ceremony Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, who are all set to finally take the plunge on Thursday as they tie the knot, had a grand 'Sangeet' and 'Haldi' ceremony. https://opinionexpress.in/low-intensity-explosion-in-rohini-court-in-delhi-1-injured One person was injured in a low-intensity explosion that took place inside courtroom 102 in Rohini district court on Thursday morning, fire officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/head-warner-help-australia-to-196-run-lead-in-ashes-opener David Warner set up the innings with a chance-filled 94 and Travis Head took over with an unbeaten century after a mini-collapse in the middle order to guide Australia to 343-7 at stumps on Day 2, a 196-run lead in the Ashes series opener. https://opinionexpress.in/vodafone-idea-shares-touch-52-week-high-zoom-over-16-pc Shares of Vodafone Idea Ltd on Thursday hit its 52-week high on the bourses after the stock spurted over 16 per cent, amidst reports that the firm has raised enough fund for the repayment of interest owed to bondholders within the December 13 deadline. https://opinionexpress.in/tri-services-inquiry-already-underway-in-chopper-crash-defence-minister Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told Parliament that a tri-services inquiry team led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh has started investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-9419-new-covid-cases-195-deaths India on Thursday reported 9,419 fresh Covid cases and 159 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family welfare on Thursday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/rajnath-singh-likely-to-brief-parliament-on-chopper-crash Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to brief the Lok Sabha about the chopper crash in Tamil Nadu in which Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other defence personnel died. Singh is also likely to brief the Rajya Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/top-priority-is-to-streamline-how-twitter-operates-parag-agrawal New Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal has said that his top priority in the new role is to improve the company's execution and streamline how the micro-blogging platform operates. https://opinionexpress.in/cds-gen-rawat-worked-to-modernise-indian-military-obituary After 43 years in service, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat (63) was tasked with making the Indian military modern and capable of dealing with any emerging security challenges on the Northern or Western borders. https://opinionexpress.in/gloom-descends-on-defence-services-staff-college Gloom descended on the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district on Wednesday afternoon after news of the Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper carrying senior military officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, going down. https://opinionexpress.in/cds-gen-rawat-wife-11-others-killed-in-a-fatal-helicopter-crash India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 others were killed when their IAF Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district on Wednesday, the IAF announced. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-opposition-vows-to-hold-long-march-on-pakistan-day  Rejecting the government's criticism of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) decision to hold a long march on the Pakistan Day, the eight-party opposition alliance has vowed to reach Islamabad on March 23 and warned the authorities against any attempt to use force to prevent the marchers from entering the federal capital, Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/50-magnitude-quake-strikes-off-japans-fukushima-prefecture An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 on Wednesday struck off Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). https://opinionexpress.in/malaysia-reports-4965-new-covid-infections-66-deaths Malaysia reported another 4,965 new Covid-19 infections, as of midnight Tuesday, bringing the national total to 2,667,999, according to the health ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-accuses-centre-of-being-insensitive-towards-farmers Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Centre of being "insensitive" towards the farmers, adding that the farm laws were repealed in an "undemocratic" manner. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-woman-wins-covid-battle-after-spending-104-days-on-ventilator  In a miraculous turn of events, a woman, whose lungs were 96 per cent affected by coronavirus, has fully recovered from the infection after spending 104 days on a ventilator in Karnataka's Koppal district. https://opinionexpress.in/terrorist-killed-in-kashmir-encounter-ld One terrorist was killed in an ongoing encounter between the terrorists and security forces at Check Cholan area in South Kashmir's Shopian district on Wednesday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/two-germans-test-covid-positive-in-bluru-one-goes-missing One of the German travellers who came to the KempeGowda International Airport (KIAL) in Bengaluru has been missing after testing positive in the RT-PCR test, sources in the Karnataka health department said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/lg-orders-rejig-in-delhi-police-7-ips-officers-transferred In a major reshuffle, seven Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of the Delhi Police were transferred and given new responsibilities, an official order read here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/red-is-colour-of-change-akhilesh-hits-back-at-modi Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Lal Topi" comment, saying that the colour of the cap has reached Delhi and hence the panic has engulfed the BJP's rank and file. https://opinionexpress.in/west-indies-all-rounder-andre-russell-to-join-melbourne-stars-for-big-bash-league Big Bash League (BBL) side Melbourne Stars announced on Wednesday that West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell will be joining the side for the ongoing season of the league. https://opinionexpress.in/winter-olympics-ioc-does-not-foresee-any-situation-to-postpone-beijing-2022-games With just around 55 days to go Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and despite the threat of worsening of the global Covid-19 pandemic due to the new strain of the Novel Coronavirus, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not foresee a situation in which it would be forced to postpone the upcoming Winter Olympic Games like it had to do in case of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. https://opinionexpress.in/katvic-wedding-groom-to-ride-7-horse-drawn-chariot-haldi-ceremony-today After a rocking 'sangeet' ceremony of Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, the traditional 'haldi' ceremony will be performed on Wednesday. And, sources have said that Vicky Kaushal will arrive in style at the wedding venue, riding a seven horse-drawn chariot. https://opinionexpress.in/sylvester-stallone-set-to-star-in-drama-series-kansas-city Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone is moving into scripted television as he is set to star in the drama series 'Kansas City'. https://opinionexpress.in/india-better-prepared-to-face-omicron-says-health-expert India is better prepared to face the Omicron wave, if it comes, but people should always wear double face masks as these continue to be the best protection against any variant and take vaccines while regulatory authorities should authorise emergency use of two oral drugs for treatment of Covid-19, said a health systems expert. https://opinionexpress.in/vicky-katrinas-15th-century-wedding-is-ready-for-take-off Ahead of the proposed wedding between Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif on Thursday, all eyes are set on the pristine venue The Six Senses Hotel, which is also known as Barwara Fort. https://opinionexpress.in/suu-kyis-jail-term-halved-by-2-yrs The four-year jail sentences of Aung San Suu Kyi, the former de facto leader of Myanmar who was ousted during the February 1 military coup, as well as deposed President Win Myint have been halved by two years by the ruling military regime. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-continues-protest-over-suspension-of-12-mps Opposition parties continued their protest over the suspension of 12 MPs on Tuesday with a 'dharna' in Parliament premises that saw several leaders holding up placards demanding revocation of the action taken. https://opinionexpress.in/elgar-parishad-case-sc-rejects-nias-plea-against-bombay-hc-order-granting-bail-to-sudha-bharadwaj The Supreme Court Tuesday dismissed the National Investigation Agency's appeal challenging the Bombay High Court order granting default bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. https://opinionexpress.in/shringla-embarks-on-visit-to-bangladesh Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is undertaking a two-day visit to Bangladesh from Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said. https://opinionexpress.in/forty-new-cases-of-covid-19-in-the-national-capital-one-fatality The national capital reported 40 cases of COVID-19 and one death due to the infection on Monday, while the positivity rate stood at 0.09 percent, according to data shared by the health department here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/allu-arjuns-action-drama-pushpa-trailer-unveiled The much-anticipated theatrical trailer of 'Pushpa: The Rise' starring Allu Arjun has been unveiled which showcases most of the characters in the upcoming action drama. https://opinionexpress.in/release-of-prabhu-deva-starrer-thael-gets-postponed The release of director Harikumar's 'Thael', featuring actors Prabhu Deva and Samyuktha Hegde in the lead, has been postponed, its makers announced late on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/who-advises-against-use-of-convalescent-plasma-for-covid-treatment Convalescent plasma shows no improvement in survival and other important measures and is not recommended for patients with Covid-19, according to a study released on Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO). https://opinionexpress.in/galaxy-s22-series-may-launch-with-snapdragon-8-gen-1-chipset-in-india Samsung is planning to launch its next premium flagship S22 series, the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ as well as the Galaxy S22 Ultra and now a new report has claimed that the series will be getting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, instead of an Exynos 2200 chipset. https://opinionexpress.in/poor-air-quality-in-delhi Delhi's air quality saw an improvement on Tuesday morning to settle in the 'poor category'. https://opinionexpress.in/rajya-sabha-adjourned-till-2-pm Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday adjourned the House proceedings till 2 pm as opposition members tried to raise their issues. https://opinionexpress.in/katvic-wedding-rituals-start-from-today The wedding rituals of Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, who will tie the nuptial knot on Thursday (December 9) at Six Senses Fort in Sawai Madhopur, will start from Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/i-wouldnt-have-been-half-the-brand-that-i-am-today-without-india-bravo Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo feels that India has given him exposure to be the brand he is currently. He added that the love from the people in India has resulted in the country becoming very close to his heart. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-up-during-early-trade-on-tuesday The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) rose reasonably higher during the early trade on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-6822-new-covid-cases-lowest-in-558-days In the last 24 hours, India registered 6,822 new coronavirus cases, the lowest single-day spike in 558 days, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/early-data-on-omicron-severity-encouraging-fauci Early data on the Omicron Covid-19 variant is "a bit encouraging" and does not indicate a great degree of danger, says Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert. https://opinionexpress.in/india-return-to-top-of-icc-test-rankings India on Monday reclaimed the top spot in the ICC rankings after winning the two-match series against New Zealand, the reigning World Test Champions. https://opinionexpress.in/teaser-of-puneeth-rajkumars-dream-project-gandhada-gudi-released-colleagues-get-emotional The title teaser of Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar's film "Gandhada Gudi" was unveiled by the makers on Monday, two months after the actor passed away. https://opinionexpress.in/dowry-requires-fresh-look-sc-asks-law-commission-to-consider-suggestions The Supreme Court on Monday observed that persistence of the social evil like dowry requires a much larger consideration and asked the law commission to consider suggestions in a plea. https://opinionexpress.in/acer-launches-new-gaming-laptop-with-4k-mini-led-panel PC brand Acer on Monday launched its new gaming laptop 'Predator Helios 500' at a starting price of Rs 3,79,999 in the Indian market. https://opinionexpress.in/hrithik-saif-starrer-vikram-vedha-slated-for-global-release-on-sep-30-2022 The first filming schedule of action-packed thriller 'Vikram Vedha', which is being co-produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series and Reliance Entertainment in association with Friday Filmworks and S. Sashikanth's YNOT Studios, has concluded in Abu Dhabi with Hrithik Roshan. It spanned across 27 days. https://opinionexpress.in/number-of-omicron-suspects-in-delhi-reach-27 The number of people suspected to have been infected with the Omicron Covid variant in Delhi has increased to 27, of which 17 of them have tested positive for the virus, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/nagaland-firing-issue-raised-in-rs-opposition-demands-statement-from-home-minister The Nagaland firing incident in which 14 civilians were killed during an anti-insurgency operation by security forces was raised in Rajya Sabha Monday morning as Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the home minister make a statement on the matter. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-coronavirus-variant-linked-with-high-risk-of-reinfection-study The recently identified Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a substantial ability to evade immunity from prior COVID-19 infection, according to a study based on population-level evidence. https://opinionexpress.in/india-russia-partnership-steady-strong-jaishankar The India-Russia partnership is unique and has remained remarkably steady and strong in a world of rapid geopolitical changes, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday during bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-drops-over-300-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tests-17100 Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 300 points in early trade on Monday, tracking losses in index majors Infosys, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank amid concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant in the country and weak cues from global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/vicky-katrina-to-reach-wedding-venue-today Bollywood couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal, who are slated to tie the knot at the Six Senses Fort Barwara Hotel on Thursday, will depart from Mumbai at around 12 noon on Monday and are likely to reach Jaipur by 6 p.m., sources have confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/india-demolish-new-zealand-by-372-runs-claim-series-1-0 India carried out a decimation of New Zealand, winning the second Test by a record-breaking 372-run margin to clinch the two-Test series 1-0 with comeback-man Jayant Yadav cleaning up the visiting team's lower half on the fourth morning here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/half-of-indias-adult-population-fully-vaccinated-pm-says-important-to-keep-up-momentum With over 50 per cent of the country's eligible adult population now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the inoculation drive has crossed another important milestone and it is important to keep this momentum going to strengthen the fight against the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-lowest-in-552-days With 8,306 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,46,41,561, while the active cases declined to 98,416, the lowest in 552 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/9-of-family-test-positive-for-omicron-in-rajasthan A four-member family, who had come to Jaipur from South Africa, and five of their relatives, have tested positive for Omicron variant of coronavirus, officials said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-set-new-zealand-540-run-target India declared their second innings at 276 for seven to set New Zealand an improbable victory target of 540 on the third day of the second and final Test here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-lauds-neeraj-chopra-for-motivating-young-students-on-sports-fitness Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra for motivating young students at a school, saying such efforts will increase curiosity towards sports and exercising. https://opinionexpress.in/alexa-can-now-detect-more-types-of-sounds Tech giant Amazon has expanded the sound detection capabilities of Alexa along with more features. https://opinionexpress.in/prolonged-waiting-period-due-to-semiconductor-shortage-can-have-negative-impact-on-vehicle-demand-maruti Longer waiting periods with semiconductor shortages affecting production can have a negative impact on car demand, although the supply constraints of chips have gradually improved over the last few months, according to a senior official of car market leader Maruti Suzuki India. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-kaif-vicky-kaushals-wedding-to-be-a-private-affair Bollywood actors Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal will be getting married in an intimate ceremony in Rajasthan next week, a source said. https://opinionexpress.in/aarya-made-me-fall-in-love-with-art-of-filmmaking-again-sushmita-sen Actor Sushmita Sen says she joined her critically-acclaimed web series 'Aarya' with no expectations, but it soon turned into a passion project that resurrected her love for storytelling. https://opinionexpress.in/india-developing-indigenous-anti-drone-technology-security-forces-will-get-it-soon-shah India is developing indigenous anti-drone technology to thwart the growing threat from these devices on the country's borders and it will soon be made available to the security forces, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/half-of-indias-adult-population-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19 Over 50 per cent of India's eligible adult population is  now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Sunday as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 127.61 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/first-case-of-omicron-detected-in-delhi A 37-year-old man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania has tested positive for Omicron, making it first case of the new COVID-19 variant in the national capital, officials said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/agarwal-pujara-pair-adds-107-runs-india-stretch-overall-lead-to-405 Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara added insult to New Zealand's injuries with a 107-run opening stand as India took complete control of the second Test by reaching 142 for 2 at lunch on the third day, here. https://opinionexpress.in/bts-give-heartfelt-speech-after-receiving-varietys-record-of-the-year-award South-Korean super K-pop band BTS has delivered a heartfelt video speech at Varietyas Hitmakers event, after being awarded record of the year for 'Butter'. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-rate-decision-omicron-worries-to-drive-stocks-this-week-analysts Volatility is likely to continue in the stock market this week amid Omicron uncertainty and the RBI monetary policy meeting will be a key driver for benchmark indices going ahead, say analysts. https://opinionexpress.in/11-civilians-gunned-down-by-security-forces-in-nagaland At least 11 civilians have been gunned down by security forces in Nagaland's Mon district, police said on Sunday, adding that it is investigating whether the incident was a case of mistaken identity. https://opinionexpress.in/more-omicron-cases-detected-in-us-as-hospitals-strain-under-virus-surge New York announced three more cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the number of state cases linked to the new variant to eight. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-records-2796-deaths-as-bihar-reconciles-data India saw a single-day rise of 2,796 fatalities with Bihar carrying out a reconciliation exercise of its Covid data, pushing the country's death toll to 4,73,326, while 8,895 new infections were reported, according to Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-zealand-all-out-for-62-in-reply-to-indias-325 New Zealand were all out for just 62 in their first innings in reply to India's 325 on day two of the second Test here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ashwin-creates-a-buzz-by-asking-for-review-after-getting-clean-bowled India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin created quite a buzz after being dismissed by New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel for duck on Day 2 of the second and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-to-launch-more-galaxy-a-series-phones-next-year-report South Korean tech giant Samsung is reportedly planning to launch more water-resistant Galaxy A series mid-range smartphones in 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/india-all-out-for-325-as-ajaz-patel-picks-up-all-10-wickets Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel became only the third bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings as India folded for 325 during the second session on day two of the second Test against New Zealand here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/deepika-padukone-flies-to-hyderabad-for-nag-ashwins-magnum-opus-project-k Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone preps herself to put the shoulder to the wheel on her upcoming magnum opus 'Project-K'. Helmed by 'Mahanati' fame filmmaker Nag Ashwin, the movie is to star Deepika as the female lead. https://opinionexpress.in/vicky-katrina-wedding-event-related-stickers-must-on-vehicles Ahead of the proposed wedding between Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif in Sawai Madhopur district on December 9, special instructions have been issued to put event-related stickers on all vehicles associated with the event. https://opinionexpress.in/12-omicron-suspects-in-delhi-genome-sequencing-awaited-minister Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said that total 12 patients are suspected of carrying Omicron variant of the coronavirus so far in the national capital. He said that all have been admitted in the isolation ward of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-integrating-car-sharing-in-its-app-report Elon Musk-owned electric car company Tesla is reportedly working on integrating vehicle sharing into its app, which could be a step further toward the 'Tesla Network' launch. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-variant-more-likely-to-cause-reinfection-than-delta-study A team of researchers in South Africa said they have found some evidence that people who had been infected once with Covid were more likely to be reinfected with the Omicron variant than with the Beta or Delta variants. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reach-32510-on-day-two-ajaz-patel-1010 India reached 285 for six at lunch on day two of the second Test against New Zealand here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-parliamentary-panel-recommends-evaluation-of-vaccines-more-research-for-booster-dose Amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the efficacy of Covid vaccines must be evaluated and the government conduct more research to examine the need for booster doses to contain the new strain. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-welcomes-fintech-companies-to-invest-in-state Seeking to amplify Karnataka's position in the emerging fintech industry, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R. Nirani welcomed fintech companies to invest in the state, promising to provide all possible assistance to them. https://opinionexpress.in/kashmir-witnessing-peace-investment-tourists-post-370-abrogation-amit-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said Kashmir was witnessing peace, good business investment and influx of tourists post the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/india-born-lsr-dse-trained-gita-gopinath-stamps-authority-on-imf  The IMF on Friday said its First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD), Geoffrey Okamoto, will leave early next year, and Gita Gopinath, currently the Chief Economist, is proposed to replace him. The IMF has had 10 occupants of the FDMD chair since the position was created in 1949. Each - only one of them a woman - has been a citizen of the US. Gopinath too is a US citizen. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-buzz-builds-up-about-shehnaaz-gills-entry-into-the-house The reality show 'Bigg Boss 15', which has been seeing a flurry of wild card entries and special guests to shore up its reportedly sagging viewership, is most likely to see the arrival of Shernaaz Gill, a 'Bigg Boss 13' contestant and reported girlfriend of the late Sidharth Shukla. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-records-more-than-50000-new-coronavirus-cases Britain registered 50,584 new Covid-19 infections bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 10,379,647, according to official figures released on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-jawad-likely-to-weaken-into-deep-depression-before-making-landfall-near-puri-on-sunday Cyclonic storm "Jawad", currently over west-central Bay of Bengal, is likely to weaken into a deep depression before making landfall near Puri in Odisha on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/proud-of-exemplary-contributions-of-indian-navy-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday on the occasion of Navy Day praised the navy personnel for their outstanding courage and professionalism. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-8603-fresh-covid-infections-active-cases-remain-below-1-lakh With 8,603 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,46,24,360, but active cases declined to 99,974, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/the-big-bias-of-big-tech Democratic nations have inevitable fault lines because of their inherent nature to accommodate differing opinions which makes them a melting pot of diversity. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-tesla-enters-india-in-2021-still-remains-in-test-mode A year has gone by since Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced he is finally entering India. For the rich and famous eagerly awaiting the arrival of Tesla cars, the arduous wait continues owing to the import duty tussle between Musk and the government amid repeated "come and manufacture/assemble your cars here" calls from the top ministers. https://opinionexpress.in/consider-booster-dose-for-those-above-40-insacog Top Indian genome scientists have recommended a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines for those above 40 years with preference to high-risk and high-exposure population. https://opinionexpress.in/10-omicron-suspects-admitted-to-delhis-lnjp-hospital A total of 10 persons suspected to be infected with Omicron Covid variant have been admitted to Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital (LNJP). https://opinionexpress.in/caqm-constitutes-task-forces-to-urgently-check-air-quality-in-ncr-states Realising the "urgent" need to prevent air quality from further deterioration, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday constituted task forces for each of the National Capital Region (NCR) states – Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/shabaash-mithu-to-hit-the-screens-on-feb-4-2022 On the occasion of Mithali Raj's birthday on Friday, the release date of 'Shabaash Mithu' starring Taapsee Pannu has been announced. It will hit the screens on February 4, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-digital-public-infra-solutions-can-improve-lives-globally-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India's digital public infrastructure solutions can improve the lives of citizens around the world. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-covid-variant-ups-reinfection-risk-by-three-fold-study The new super mutant Omicron variant of Covid-19 can increase risk of reinfection by three times as compared to other variants of concern such as Beta and Delta, according to a preliminary study by South African researchers. https://opinionexpress.in/implement-orders-of-panel-on-air-quality-management-to-curb-pollution-sc-tells-centre-ncr-states The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the states in NCR to implement the orders of the panel on air quality management to curb air pollution while ruing that some sections of the media have "portrayed" it as a "villain" which wants to close down schools here. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-bat-first-after-winning-toss-jayant-yadav-mohammed-siraj-make-it-to-playing-xi India captain Virat Kohli opted to bat after winning the toss against New Zealand in the second Test here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/punjabi-singer-moosewala-joins-congress Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala on Friday joined the Congress in the presence of state Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and party state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu here. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-expands-facebook-protect-security-programme-to-india Meta has announced that it is expanding 'Facebook Protect', its security programme for people that are more likely to be targeted by malicious hackers, to more countries including India --covering human rights defenders, journalists and government officials. https://opinionexpress.in/varun-tejs-ghani-likely-to-get-postponed Telugu actor Varun Tej is all set to allure the audience with his upcoming movie titled 'Ghani'. However, there is a buzz that the release of the sports drama, which is supposed to hit the screens during the third week of December, has been postponed. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-to-chair-high-level-meeting-to-discuss-omicron-variant-new-guidelines-likely Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be chairing a meeting with experts, senior Ministers and officials on Friday in the wake of two cases of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus detected in the state, during which a new guidelines aimed at controlling its spread is likely to be formulated. https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-test-between-india-and-nz-to-start-at-noon-after-delay-due-to-overnight-rain The second and final Test between India and New Zealand is expected to start at noon after it was delayed due to heavy overnight rain. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-over-260-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-above-17470 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 262 points in early trade on Friday, tracking gains in index majors Infosys, ICICI Bank and HDFC amid mixed cues from Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-the-country-increase-to-99976 With 9,216 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,46,15,757, while the active cases increased to 99,976, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-may-dominate-overwhelm-world-in-3-6-months-singapore-doc The new Covid variant Omicron will likely "overwhelm the whole world" in the coming months, warned a Singapore-based infectious disease doctor. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-suspends-ex-mumbai-police-chief-param-bir-singh In a first-ever for Maharashtra, serving DGP-rank IPS officer Param Bir Singh, who is also a former Police Commissioner of Mumbai and Thane, has been suspended, and disciplinary proceedings launched against him for various lapses, it was announced on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/carry-out-fair-investigation-sc-tells-police-to-complete-shivinder-probe-by-dec-15 The Supreme Court on Thursday said it expects a fair investigation and investigating agencies should be neutral, as it asked Delhi Police to conclude the probe in a case against former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh by December 15. https://opinionexpress.in/suspension-row-asks-govt-oppn-to-resolve-stalemate Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday asked the government and the opposition to resolve the impasse over the suspension of 12 MPs. https://opinionexpress.in/england-wary-of-david-warner-says-anderson England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson, who will lock horns with his old foe when the Ashes begin here on December 8, has a grudging respect for Australian opener David Warner. Anderson said that Warner still has "too much for England" and "we are not going to take him lightly". https://opinionexpress.in/oppn-stages-walkout-from-rajya-sabha-over-inflation The opposition parties resorted to sloganeering after the Rajya Sabha assembled for question hour and later walked out from the house after they were denied permission on discussion over inflation. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-shamita-faints-during-face-off-with-devoleena The earlier episode of 'Bigg Boss 15' already saw a full on fight between Shamita Shetty and Devoleena Bhattacharjee in the 'BB Game' in which non-VIPs have the chance to win prize money of Rs 50 lakh. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-dravid-and-kohli-have-to-make-some-tough-calls-says-laxman Former India batter VVS Laxman believes that head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Virat Kohli will have to make some tough calls in terms of how the batting order should be ahead of the second Test against New Zealand. He added that Dravid and Kohli shouldn't ignore the performances of Shreyas Iyer in his debut Test at Kanpur while taking the correct decision. https://opinionexpress.in/tara-singh-returns-sunny-deol-and-ameesha-patel-start-filming-gadar-2 Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel from 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' have reunited for the film's sequel, 20 years after the blockebuster. https://opinionexpress.in/induce-creativity-in-bureaucracy-sc-sets-24-hour-deadline-for-centre-states-to-act-against-air-pollution The Supreme Court on Thursday minced no words to slam the Centre and state governments over the severe air pollution in the national capital and expressed concern that nothing was happening on the ground to improve the air quality. https://opinionexpress.in/now-book-your-uber-ride-via-whatsapp-in-india In a global-first move, ride-hailing major Uber and Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp on Thursday announced that people in India can now book an Uber ride via the company's official WhatsApp chatbot. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-police-uses-ranveer-singhs-83-dialogue-for-covid-protocols The official Instagram handle of the Mumbai Police has shared a Bollywood reference yet again to create awareness about Covid protocols. https://opinionexpress.in/light-drizzle-expected-in-delhi-today-imd As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, there is a possibility of light rainfall over parts of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-slams-delhi-govt-for-opening-schools-amid-severe-air-pollution The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the Delhi government for opening the schools in the backdrop of severe air pollution in the national capital. The top court said the Delhi government made work-for-home for adults, but children have to attend schools. https://opinionexpress.in/how-long-should-youth-of-india-have-to-be-patient-varun-gandhi BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Thursday once again questioned own government on the job and paper leaks. He said that 'first there is no government job and if there are some opportunities then paper gets leaked'. He questioned how long the youth of India have to be patient. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclonic-circulation-brings-copious-rainfall-in-western-india Due a cyclonic circulation off the western coast, several districts of western Maharashtra, parts of Gujarat and central India received widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall with multiple stations recording more than 60 mm rains in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/ireland-reports-1st-case-of-omicron-variant Ireland has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, said the country's Department of Health. https://opinionexpress.in/where-is-upa-mamata-takes-jibe-at-congress Taking a broad swipe at the Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that there is no UPA left now but called upon all the like-minded Opposition parties to unitedly fight the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. https://opinionexpress.in/if-rahul-has-already-been-approached-by-new-teams-it-is-against-bcci-guidelines-punjab-kings IPL franchise Punjab Kings is unhappy about K L Rahul leaving the team despite getting "all the freedom" as captain over the past two seasons and says it would be unethical if he has already been approached by a new franchise. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-ceo-parag-agrawal-to-receive-1mn-annual-salary Parag Agrawal, who has recently been named as the CEO of microblogging platform Twitter, will receive an annual salary of USD 1 million along with other perks and bonuses. https://opinionexpress.in/badshah-payal-dev-spin-music-video-for-us-reality-show-remake Rapper Badshah and singer Payal Dev have come together for the music video 'Sajna' created for a reality show 'Say Yes to the Dress India'. https://opinionexpress.in/hyundai-sales-drop-21-pc-in-november Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Wednesday reported a 21 per cent decline in total sales to 46,910 units in November. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-highly-uncertain-may-require-stringent-response-scientists The newly detected Omicron variant of coronavirus is "highly uncertain" but may require a "very stringent response", scientists have said. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-infection-linked-with-increased-complications-in-pregnancy-birth-study Pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to have complications with pregnancy and birth compared to those without the ínfection, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-to-be-cheaper-by-rs-8-per-litre-in-delhi-as-aap-govt-decides-to-cut-vat-sources The Delhi government on Wednesday decided to reduce the VAT on petrol, bringing down the price of the fuel in the city by about Rs 8 per litre, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-new-zealand-cancel-training-sessions-due-to-rain India and New Zealand were forced to cancel their training sessions at the iconic Wankhede stadium here on Wednesday due to rain. https://opinionexpress.in/jem-commander-among-2-terrorists-killed-in-kashmir-gunfight https://opinionexpress.in/rs-adjourned-till-noon-as-opposition-protests-suspension-of-mps Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Wednesday adjourned for almost an hour as placard-carrying opposition MPs trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans against the suspension of 12 MPs for their "unruly" behavior. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-bans-sharing-of-images-videos-without-peoples-consent Twitter has announced to ban sharing of private media, such as photos and videos, without permission from the individuals that are shown in those images. https://opinionexpress.in/rihanna-declared-national-hero-by-barbados Singer Rihanna was honoured by Prime Minister Mia Mottley at an event which marked Barbados's new status as a republic, which was attended by Prince Charles. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-says-long-distance-romance-has-been-hard Priyanka Chopra Jonas has been filming her upcoming series 'Citadel' in London over the last 12 months, but the actress says it's been tough to be apart from her husband American pop singer Nick Jonas for so long. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-parties-stage-protest-in-parliament-complex-against-suspension-of-12-rajya-sabha-mps Opposition parties put up a united front and staged a joint protest in front of the Gandhi statue inside the Parliament complex on Wednesday against the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-over-500-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-above-17150 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 500 points in early trade on Wednesday, tracking gains in index majors HDFC twins, Tata Steel and Reliance Industries amid positive cues from Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-below-one-lakh-after-547-days India added 8,954 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,45,96,776, while the active cases were recorded at less than a lakh after 547 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/oli-re-elected-uml-chairman-in-nepal Former Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli was elected as Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party-UML for the second time on Tuesday, defeating senior party leader, Bhim Bahadur Rawal, by a huge margin. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-with-chinese-debt-would-end-up-just-like-uganda-ex-army-commander Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka's former Army Commander and Presidential candidate, has warned that Sri Lanka which has fallen into Chinas debt trap would end up like Uganda, which had to give away their only international airport to China. https://opinionexpress.in/leaked-documents-show-xi-jinpings-direct-links-with-crackdown-on-uyghurs In apparently the first ever instance of material with "top secret" statements made by a Chinese head of state getting leaked into the public domain -- new documents called 'Xinjiang Papers' have surfaced, showing Chinese President Xi Jinpings links with the crackdown on Uyghur Muslims. https://opinionexpress.in/waited-for-long-sc-to-decide-punishment-for-vijay-mallya-in-jan-2022 The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it has waited for sufficiently long, and the process to award punishment to Vijay Mallya in a contempt of court, in which he was held guilty in July 2017, must get over. The top court has scheduled the matter for disposal in January, where it will decide the quantum of punishment for him. https://opinionexpress.in/android-auto-receives-dual-sim-support-report The search giant Google has started rolling out a new update for the Android Auto app that finally brings dual SIM support. https://opinionexpress.in/noise-unveils-new-earbuds-at-rs-2499 Domestic tech-lifestyle brand Noise on Tuesday launched its new pair of truly wireless earbuds -- Air Buds Pro -- that is powered by the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature at Rs 2,499. https://opinionexpress.in/oil-marketing-companies-keep-diesel-petrol-prices-unchanged Oil marketing companies on Tuesday kept the prices of diesel and petrol unchanged across major Indian cities. https://opinionexpress.in/886-illegal-migrants-rescued-off-libyan-coast The International Organisation for Migration has said that 886 illegal migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya in the past week. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-elite-special-forces-tasked-with-night-raids-on-former-security-force-members  The Taliban have intensified searches for former members of the Khost Protection Force (KPF), a special forces unit that had been founded and supported by the US Central Intelligence Agency. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-to-hold-meeting-on-omicron Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar will hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the possible impact of the new Covid variant 'Omicron' in the state and also to take a call on formulation of new Covid guidelines. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-vaccine-czar-says-india-will-have-4-5-bn-doses-in-2022  India's vaccine czar, Dr N.K. Arora, Chairman, Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), has said the country has "a very robust pipeline for new vaccines", which will be in place in the "coming eight to 12 weeks". https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-to-meet-sharad-pawar-india-inc-in-mumbai West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will call on the Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar during her Mumbai visit starting here Tuesday, official sources said here. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovics-father-flays-australian-open-organisers-says-novak-probably-wont-play https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-brings-indias-greatest-cricket-story-alive-in-83-trailer The trailer for Ranveer Singh-starrer '83' is finally unveiled bringing alive one of the most unforgettable moments of Indian cricket. https://opinionexpress.in/who-spl-session-seeking-pandemic-treaty-amid-omicron-concerns A special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off here amid growing concerns over the latest Omicron coronavirus variant, where the participants aim to negotiate a new "pandemic treaty." https://opinionexpress.in/central-school-boy-iit-parag-agrawal-breaks-into-born-in-india-us-ceos Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has named IIT Mumbai, central school alumnus, Parag Agrawal, as his successor. IANS refreshes a list of prominent CEOs of US Inc. and the schools in India (and the US) that shaped their lives. https://opinionexpress.in/paytm-listing-debacle-sparks-concern-from-investors-for-other-ipos The Paytm listing debacle has sparked concern from investors and entrepreneurs, fearful that it could derail a string of expected Indian flotations that were supposed to cement the country's status as a leading destination for tech start-ups after the US and China, Financial Times reported. https://opinionexpress.in/omicron-may-impact-apac-economic-recovery-moodys-analytics Low vaccination rates against the Covid-19 disease in Asia-Pacific countries, including India, may add to the existing risk to the recovery of the economy, according to a new analysis by Moody's Analytics. https://opinionexpress.in/jinnah-could-never-fight-for-pakistan Jinnah would not have enjoyed being the head of Pakistan for long. He delighted himself mixing with the elite, whether Parsee, Hindu or Muslim https://opinionexpress.in/impending-crisis The new mutation of the virus signals danger and we are not prepared to face it, yet again https://opinionexpress.in/tight-fight The timely need is to realise the need for reining in our raging urge to heedlessly travel https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-first-test-ravindra-patels-stubborn-resistance-forces-thrilling-draw India picked up three crucial wickets, including one each on the first and last balls of the second session, to leave the final session of the ongoing first Test against New Zealand tantalizingly poised. At tea in the Green Park Stadium, New Zealand are 125/4 in 63.1 overs, with at least 31 overs to survive while India need six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-variant-still-responsible-for-99-of-covid-cases-globally-who While the world is on high alert due to the new Omicron Covid strain, Delta variant continues to be a major cause of the pandemic contributing to 99 percent of cases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-withdraws-application-in-subsidies-for-german-factory-report Elon Musk-owned electric car maker Tesla has withdrawn an application for over $1 billion in subsidies for battery production at Gigafactory Berlin. https://opinionexpress.in/spider-man-no-way-home-to-release-a-day-earlier-in-india Tom Holland-starrer 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', which was earlier scheduled to hit Indian theatres on December 17, will now release a day earlier to treat fans. https://opinionexpress.in/moto-g31-smartphone-launched-for-rs-12999-in-india Motorola on Monday launched a new smartphone 'Moto G31' with a MediaTek processor, triple camera unit at the back and a 5,000mAh battery. https://opinionexpress.in/ayushmann-khurrana-money-heist-rightfully-found-prominent-place-in-pop-culture Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana has confessed his love for the popular Spanish series 'Money Heist' and has paid homage to his favourite character 'Professor' played by Sergio Marquina. https://opinionexpress.in/lok-sabha-passes-bill-to-repeal-three-farm-laws A bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws, against which farmers have been protesting for over a year, was passed by the Lok Sabha within minutes of introduction on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-may-face-fifth-covid-wave-fauci-on-omicron-variant The US has "the potential to go into a fifth wave" of coronavirus infections, said top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci amid the rising cases due to the newly detected Covid variant Omicron and stagnating vaccination rates. https://opinionexpress.in/closer-to-create-independent-task-force-sc-seeks-states-response-on-worsening-delhi-air-pollution The Supreme Court on Monday said if the state governments do not implement the direction issued -- by top court, the Centre, and the air quality management commission -- to curb air pollution, then the court will set up a task force for the implementation of these directions. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-reports-3rd-case-of-omicron-covid-19-variant Australian authorities announced on Monday a third case of the omicron COVID-19 variant as government leaders reconsidered plans to relax border restrictions this week. https://opinionexpress.in/param-bir-singh-appears-before-panel-probing-corruption-charges-against-anil-deshmukh Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh on Monday appeared before the commission probing corruption allegations against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. https://opinionexpress.in/rajya-sabha-adjourned-till-2-pm-amid-uproar Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Monday adjourned for an hour as a mark of respect to the passing away of sitting MP Oscar Fernandes. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-ready-to-discuss-all-issues-answer-all-questions-pm-modi Ahead of the Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the government is ready to discuss all issues and answer all questions but the dignity of Parliament and the Chair should be maintained. https://opinionexpress.in/winter-session-leaders-of-oppn-parties-meet-at-parliament-house-complex Leaders of several opposition parties on Monday met in Parliament House complex and discussed their joint strategy to press for a bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws and bring a law to legalise MSP to farmers. https://opinionexpress.in/neck-stiffness-forces-saha-to-miss-day-five-of-first-test Stiffness in the neck did not allow India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha to take the field on day five of the first Test against New Zealand here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-decline-over-1-pc-in-opening-trade-on-covid-worries Key stock indices Sensex and Nifty declined by more than 1 per cent in the early trade on Monday due to deep losses in financials, IT and auto stocks amid lingering worries over the emergence of the new COVID variant Omicron. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-8309-new-covid-cases-active-cases-decline-to-103859 With 8,309 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,45,80,832, while the active cases have declined to 1,03,859, the lowest in 544 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-amazon-india-head-future-group-promoters-for-fema-violations The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to Amazon India's management and Future Group promoter for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act case. https://opinionexpress.in/all-govt-depts-on-high-alert-in-view-of-new-covid-19-variant-sisodia Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday said that all government departments are on high alert in the wake of a new COVID-19 variant and appealed to people to avoid unnecessary gatherings. https://opinionexpress.in/himanshi-khurana-takes-to-aerial-silk-for-fitness 'Bigg Boss 13' contestant and actress Himanshi Khurana is learning the art of aerial silk for fitness. She says it is underrated and that it takes immense mental strength to perform it. https://opinionexpress.in/motorola-to-launch-first-200mp-camera-smartphone-report Samsung had announced its 200MP ISOCELL HP1 sensor in September and now a new report has claimed that Motorola will be the first one to use this sensor followed by Xiaomi. https://opinionexpress.in/18-killed-in-bengal-road-accident-shah-guv-condole-deaths In a major accident, at least 18 people were killed and several others injured on a state highway at Haskhali in West Bengal's Nadia district on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/all-party-meet-convened-by-govt-oppn-parties-demand-discussion-on-pegasus-row-price-rise An all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament started on Sunday with most opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Pegasus snooping row, price rise and unemployment. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-variant-spreads-to-more-countries-as-world-on-alert The new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus has popped up in more European countries, just days after being identified in South Africa, leaving governments around the world scrambling to stop the spread. https://opinionexpress.in/gautam-gambhir-receives-another-death-threat-third-in-6-days Former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir on Sunday received another death threat allegedly from 'ISIS Kashmir', the third in six days, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-first-test-ashwin-and-iyer-fight-back-after-nz-bowlers-strike-hard Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer led the fightback job for India on day four of the first Test at the Green Park Stadium after New Zealand took four crucial scalps to leave the hosts in trouble. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-appeals-to-fans-to-not-burst-crackers-inside-cinema-halls Sharing a video of fireworks being set off during the theatrical screening of his latest film "Antim: The Final Truth", Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has urged his fans to steer clear of such activities that can cause a "huge fire hazard". https://opinionexpress.in/india-leading-the-world-in-field-of-start-ups-pm-modi Asserting that this is an era of start-ups, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is leading the world in this field with more than 70 start-ups having crossed the valuation of USD 1 billion. https://opinionexpress.in/winter-session-of-parliament-to-begin-on-stormy-note-on-monday The Winter Session of Parliament is set to begin on a stormy note on Monday, with the government ready to bring in a bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws. https://opinionexpress.in/air-pollution-delhi-environment-minister-to-hold-review-meeting-on-monday Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will hold a high-level meeting on Monday to review the air pollution situation in the capital, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/diabetes-a-silent-disease-with-life-threatening-complications In recent decades, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has emerged as one of the leading causes of chronic illnesses, disability, and death. https://opinionexpress.in/armaan-malik-i-was-heavily-bullied-in-school Singer Armaan Malik, who has belted out hits such as 'Buttabomma', 'Sab Tera' and 'Buddhu sa mann' among many others, has talked about facing rejection, standing up to bullies and overcoming self-doubt. https://opinionexpress.in/inter-beats-venezia-2-0-juventus-loses-to-atalanta Inter Milan kept up the pressure on the top two in Serie A as the defending champion won at Venezia 2-0. https://opinionexpress.in/macro-data-new-covid-variant-updates-to-drive-stock-markets-this-week-analysts Stock markets this week will be driven mostly by updates related to the new coronavirus variant that sent equities tumbling globally on Friday, macroeconomic data announcements and auto sales numbers, analysts said. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-india-decline-to-105691-lowest-in-543-days-govt India saw a single-day rise of 8,774 new coronavirus infections, taking the country's total tally to 3,45,72,523, while the active cases have declined to 1,05,691, the lowest in 543 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/cm-channi-calls-for-a-wipe-out-of-aap-sad-from-electoral-scene A call is giving to wipe out the AAP and the SAD from the electoral scene in the ensuing Assembly polls by Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi: he said it is now crystal clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amarinder Singh and Badals are hand in glove to barter away the interests of the state, be it agriculture, industry or common man's cause. https://opinionexpress.in/uganda-loses-most-prominent-airport-to-china-debt-trap The Ugandan government has lost its major airport to China for failing to repay a loan, African media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/incumbent-upon-judges-to-exercise-discretion-in-their-utterances-in-courtrooms-president President Ram Nath Kovind said on Saturday that it is incumbent upon the judges to exercise utmost discretion in their utterances inside courtrooms, as indiscreet remarks, even if made with good intention, can give space for dubious interpretations to run down the judiciary. https://opinionexpress.in/chiranjeevis-offers-financial-help-for-sivasankar-masters-covid-treatment National Award-winning choreographer Sivasankar Master is fighting Covid-19. The dance master is currently hospitalised and it is reported that 75 per cent of his lungs are infected. https://opinionexpress.in/janhvi-kapoor-wraps-shoot-of-mili-its-been-an-inspiring-journey Bollywood actor Janhvi Kapoor has finished shooting for film "Mili", backed by her filmmaker father Boney Kapoor. https://opinionexpress.in/cant-expect-the-taliban-to-change The restrictions are vague and vulnerable to varying interpretations, which would give the Taliban ample opportunity to crack down on anyone https://opinionexpress.in/cash-cow India is far from joining the top milk-exporting nations because of its large domestic demand https://opinionexpress.in/intolerance More than 70 years since Independence, we as a nation haven't grown up enough to grow together https://opinionexpress.in/conspiracy-to-frame-me-in-anil-deshmukh-style-nawab-malik Maharashtra Minorities Affairs Minister Nawab Malik on Saturday made a startling claim that a conspiracy is underway to frame him in an 'Anil Deshmukh-style fake case', allegedly at the "behest" of some officials in central agencies - but did not identify them. https://opinionexpress.in/sidharth-malhotra-starts-filming-dharma-productions-yodha Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra has commenced shooting for Dharma Productions' first action film franchise "Yodha". https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-territory-must-not-be-used-by-pak-based-terror-groups-india-tells-russia-china-during-trilateral-meet India told Russia and China today that Afghan territory must not be used for terror activities by Pakistan-based terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. https://opinionexpress.in/rajini-congratulates-maanaadu-producer-who-says-hes-boosted-by-superstars-call Megastar Rajinikanth called and congratulated Suresh Kamatchi, the producer of director Venkat Prabhu's just-released film 'Maanaadu', featuring Silambarasan, S.J. Suryah and Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead. https://opinionexpress.in/measuring-viral-rna-may-help-predict-which-covid-patients-will-die The amount of a SARS-CoV-2 genetic material -- viral RNA -- in the blood is a reliable indicator in detecting which patients will die of the infectious disease, researchers have found. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-quietly-unveils-new-smartphone-galaxy-a03 South Korean tech giant Samsung has launched a new Galaxy A03 that will come in a few configurations including 3GB+32GB, 4GB+64GB and 4GB+128GB options. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-forms-5-member-panel-to-monitor-central-vista-project The Union government has formed a five-member Central Vista Oversight committee to monitor and ensure timely completion of its ambitious Central Vista Redevelopment project. https://opinionexpress.in/skoreas-daily-covid-cases-bounce-back-above-4000-deaths-hit-record-high South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose above 4,000 with the numbers of deaths and critically ill patients hitting fresh record highs on Saturday, deepening worries about the further spread of Covid-19 under a phased scheme for a gradual return to normal life. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-first-test-india-take-out-young-and-williamson-to-keep-nz-at-1972 After being made to toil on day two of the first Test at the Green Park Stadium, India were rewarded with scalps of Will Young and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in the first session of day three on Saturday. At lunch, New Zealand are 197/2 in 85.3 overs, trailing India by 148 runs. https://opinionexpress.in/paytm-q2-loss-widens-to-rs-473-crore Financial technology firm Paytm's parent One 97 Communications on Saturday reported widening of consolidated loss to about Rs 473 crore in the second quarter ended September 30, 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-urges-pm-modi-to-stop-flights-from-countries-affected-by-new-covid-variant Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop flights coming to India from those countries which are affected by a new variant of the coronavirus infection. https://opinionexpress.in/who-classifies-b11529-as-variant-of-concern-named-omicron The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the new Covid variant detected in southern Africa this week as the 'Variant of Concern' following the Technical Advisory Group meeting on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-rakhi-sawant-ritesh-get-teased-suniel-shetty-ravi-kishan-on-weekend-ka-vaar The previous 'Bigg Boss 15' episode already saw entries of wild card contestants. Rakhi Sawant was seen dancing on the track 'Mera Piya Ghar Aaya' to welcome her husband Ritesh. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-first-test-ks-bharat-takes-keeping-duties-in-sahas-absence KS Bharat, India's second wicketkeeper-batter in the Test squad against New Zealand, has taken up wicket-keeping duties on day three of the first Test at the Green Park Stadium. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-to-chair-important-meeting-on-covid-situation Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important meeting on the Covid situation and the vaccination drive in the country with top officials on Saturday, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-total-active-cases-down-to-107019-lowest-in-541-days India saw a single-day rise of 8,318 new coronavirus infections taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,45,63,749, while the active cases have declined to 1,07,019, the lowest in 541 days, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/stand-up-for-right-against-wrong-cji-to-lawyers Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Friday urged lawyers to protect the institution from motivated and targeted attacks and to not shy away from standing up for what is right, and against what is wrong. The Chief Justice made the remarks while addressing a Constitution Day celebration organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association. https://opinionexpress.in/supranationalism-will-hold-us-back Marxism believes the nation-State to be an exploitative instrument of capitalists, just as Islam believes it to be the death of its faith https://opinionexpress.in/clean-up The parties that select candidates with criminal records should face the possibility of deregistration https://opinionexpress.in/water-woes There's a pressing need to nationalise rivers in the subcontinent before we perish https://opinionexpress.in/india-asks-pak-to-expedite-trial-in-2611-mumbai-terror-attacks-case India on Friday summoned a senior diplomat of the Pakistani High Commission on the 13th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and pressed for an expeditious trial in the case, saying the families of 166 victims from 15 countries are still awaiting closure. https://opinionexpress.in/investors-wealth-tumble-over-rs-448-lakh-cr-as-markets-plummet Investors' wealth tumbled Rs 4.48 lakh crore during day trade on Friday with the BSE benchmark plummeting 1,488 points tracking weak global trends. https://opinionexpress.in/magnitude-61-quake-jolts-northeast-parts-of-west-bengal A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the northeast region, including Assam and Mizoram, in the early hours of Friday, the National Seismology Department said. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-in-hundreds-descend-at-delhi-up-border-on-protest-anniversary Hundreds of farmers in tractors started arriving at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border as Friday marked one year of the ongoing farmers' protest against the central laws. https://opinionexpress.in/india-remembers-hansraj-bharadwaj-on-the-law-day Constitution Day also known as 'Samvidhan Divas', is celebrated in our country on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect from 26th January 1950. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 19th November 2015 notified the decision of Government of India to celebrate the 26th day of November every year as 'Constitution Day' to promote Constitution values among citizens. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-seeks-centre-rakesh-asthanas-replies-on-ngos-plea-against-his-appointment-as-delhi-cp The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the plea of an NGO challenging the Delhi High Court order which upheld the Centre's decision to appoint senior IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police Commissioner. https://opinionexpress.in/phone-bhoot-to-hit-the-big-screen-on-july-15-2022 Katrina Kaif, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khatter-starrer horror-comedy 'Phone Bhoot' is all set to release on July 15 next year. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-risk-can-increase-post-second-vax-dose-study A team of researchers has suggested that consideration of a third vaccine dose might be warranted as a new study has found a gradual increase in Covid-19 infection risk after the second vaccine dose. https://opinionexpress.in/new-covid-variant-in-safrica-affecting-those-under-25 The new Covid-19 variant, B.1.1.529, detected in South Africa is mainly affecting people in the under 25 age group, among whom the vaccination rate against the virus is only 26 per cent, according to health officials. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-first-test-southees-5-wicket-haul-leads-in-nz-bowling-out-india-for-345 A 13th five-wicket haul from pacer Tim Southee led New Zealand in bowling out India for 345 in 111.1 overs on day two of first Test at the Green Park Stadium here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/france-opts-for-3rd-shots-not-lockdown-to-fight-new-wave France has launched a plan to give COVID-19 booster shots to all adults, as it opted against a further lockdown or curfew to help combat a worrying uptick in infections in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-singh-all-pumped-up-to-showcase-greatest-story-glory-with-83 Bollywood power couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone on Friday shared a glimpse of India's "greatest story" as they unveiled the teaser of their upcoming film '83'. https://opinionexpress.in/2611-13th-anniv-mumbai-pays-homage-to-bravehearts-victims Mumbai on Friday remembered the bravehearts and victims felled by bullets and others who saved lives on the 13th anniversary of the dastardly terrror strikes by ten Pakistani terrorists who paralysed the city on November 26-29 2008. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-expected-to-grow-by-85-yoy-in-q2fy22 India's Q2FY22 GDP is expected to grow by 8.5 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis amid support from a favourable base, Acuite Ratings and Research said. https://opinionexpress.in/oneplus-to-further-push-movie-making-camera-tech-in-2022 As smartphone cameras become more advanced for professional-grade video filmmakers, OnePlus said on Friday that pushing its camera capabilities with industry-leading innovations in order to provide users with premium image quality will remain a key focus in 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/air-pollution-levels-in-delhi-up-againunfavourable-weather-conditions-major-factor Air pollution levels in Delhi worsened on Friday morning due to unfavourable meteorological conditions -- low temperature and slow wind speed -- and the air quality index read 403 at 9 am, which falls in the severe category. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-over-1687-pts-in-friday-trade-nifty-sinks-near-17000-pts Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted over 800 points in early trade on Friday, on heavy across-the-board selling amid a negative trend in global markets and unabated foreign fund outflows. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-stock-market-nose-dives-by-1200-points The benchmark equity indices on the BSE and National Stock Exchange (NSE) extended their opening losses and were trading over 2 per cent lower in the morning session on Friday on heavy across-the-board selling amid a negative trend in global markets and unabated foreign fund outflows. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-first-test-shreyas-iyer-scores-maiden-test-century-on-debut-at-kanpur India batter Shreyas Iyer scored his maiden Test century on debut during the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at Green Park Stadium here on Friday. Iyer reached the milestone with two runs through point off pacer Kyle Jamieson. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-10549-fresh-covid-cases-488-deaths In the last 24 hours, India reported 10,549 fresh Covid-19 cases and 488 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family welfare said on Friday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-shreyas-iyer-scores-maiden-test-century India batter Shreyas Iyer scored his maiden Test century on debut during the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at Green Park Stadium here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-gdp-expected-to-grow-by-85-yoy-in-q2fy22-acuite India's Q2FY22 GDP is expected to grow by 8.5 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis amid support from a favourable base, Acuite Ratings and Research said. https://opinionexpress.in/crypto-assets-big-threat-to-people-climate-swedish-authorities As India and the US prepare to fix an unregulated world of cryptocurrencies, top Swedish financial and environment authorities have called for an European Union (EU)-wide ban on cryptocurrency mining, saying the consumer risks are significant as crypto assets are commonly used for criminal purposes such as money laundering, terrorist financing and ransomware payments. https://opinionexpress.in/kanshi-rams-family-accuses-mayawati-of-usurping-party The family of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder, late Kanshi Ram, have said that they will support anyone who can defeat Mayawati in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-protest-to-continue-for-msp-other-issues-tikait Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait made it clear on Thursday that the protest by farmers will continue for Minimum Support Price (MSP) law and to oppose various legislations which are in pipeline and are harmful to their interests https://opinionexpress.in/2611-mumbai-attacks-ruined-indo-pak-relations November 26, 2021 will mark the 13th anniversary of the worst ever terror attack in India, which changed the dynamics and relationship between India and Pakistan for an indefinite time. Today, as India looks towards Pakistan and demands punishment to the culprits, Pakistan continues to deny all the allegations. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-alleges-rampant-corruption-by-ruling-bjp-demands-prezs-rule-in-ktaka The delegation of Karnataka Congress leaders met the Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Thursday and urged for invoking President's rule for 'failure' of constitutional machinery in the state by the ruling BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/global-ai-software-market-to-hit-62-bn-in-2022-gartner Global artificial intelligence (AI) software revenue is forecast to reach $62.5 billion in 2022, an increase of 21.3 per cent from 2021, according to Gartner. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-agrees-to-examine-plea-against-ordinances-extending-cbi-ed-chiefs-tenures The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a PIL against the two ordinances, which allows the Central government to extend the tenure of heads of the CBI and Directorate of Enforcement (ED) for up to five years. https://opinionexpress.in/new-botswana-variant-is-most-mutated-version-of-covid British experts have sounded the alarm over a new Covid variant believed to have emerged in 'Botswana' that is the most mutated version of the virus yet, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-iyer-jadeja-half-centuries-help-india-reach-2584-at-stumps Fine half-centuries by Shreyas Iyer (75 not out off 136 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (50 not out off 100 balls) helped India reach 258/4 in 84 overs at stumps on Day One of first Test against New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/bitter-family-feud-may-lead-to-messy-unraveling-of-hinduja-group The increasingly bitter feud in the Hinduja Group has raised the possibility of a messy unraveling of the 107-year-old group, putting at risk one of the world's largest conglomerates. With dozens of companies -- including six publicly traded entities in India -- the closely-held Hinduja Group employs more than 150,000 people in 38 countries in truck-making, banking, chemicals, power, media and healthcare, Bloomberg reported. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-lays-foundation-stone-of-noida-international-airport-in-jewar Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated Noida International Airport at Jewar, after inaugurating several big ticket projects in Purvanchal and Bundelkhand earlier. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-agree-on-transitional-approach-on-equalisation-levy-2020 India and the US have agreed on a 'transitional approach' on 'Equalisation Levy' 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-new-zealand-claw-back-with-crucial-scalps-as-india-reach-1544-at-tea Kyle Jamieson (3/38), and Tim Southee (1/30) made crucial strikes as New Zealand clawed back in the second session of the first Test at the Green Park Stadium here on Thursday. At tea, India were 154/4 in 56 overs with debutant Shreyas Iyer (batting on 17 off 55 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (6 off 13 balls) at the crease. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-is-it-the-end-of-the-road-for-neha-and-vishal-jay-simba-out After the eviction of Simba Nagpal from the bottom 6, now it seems Jay Bhanushali is the next one to be evicted from the 'Bigg Boss 15' house. https://opinionexpress.in/why-free-treatment-ok-for-ministers-not-for-masses-kejriwal Taking a dig at his political rivals over their "freebie" remarks, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked why it is fine for ministers to get free treatment while the same facilities if provided to the people are criticised. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-commutes-to-life-term-death-penalty-awarded-to-three-in-2013-shakti-mills-gangrape-case The Bombay High Court on Thursday commuted to life imprisonment the death penalty awarded to three convicts in the 2013 gangrape case of a 22-year-old photojournalist inside the defunct Shakti Mills compound in central Mumbai, saying that they "deserve imprisonment for life to repent the offence committed by them". https://opinionexpress.in/the-legacy-of-the-division-of-india Hindus and Muslims derive their inspiration from different sources of history. Very often, the hero of one is a foe of the other https://opinionexpress.in/woes-continue The Taliban may get aid but not recognition unless they start recognising women’s rights https://opinionexpress.in/gaining-muscle The TMC has been successful in nagging the BJP unlike the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-ncrs-air-quality-to-further-improve-after-nov-27 Delhi-NCR's air quality which will deteriorate to the 'very poor' category for two days starting Thursday will register a slight improvement from November 27, Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi (Ministry of Earth Sciences) said in its bulletin. https://opinionexpress.in/germany-latest-country-to-pass-100000-deaths-from-covid-19 Official figures released Thursday show Germany has become the latest country to pass the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. https://opinionexpress.in/ips-officer-param-bir-singh-lands-in-mumbai Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who has been declared a proclaimed offender by a Mumbai court, reached the city on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/deploy-additional-forces-in-tripura-for-free-fair-municipal-polls-sc-to-centre The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to deploy two additional companies of central paramilitary forces in Tripura as expeditiously as possible for municipal elections held on Thursday. The top court emphasized that it should be ensured that every polling booth is manned by paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair elections. https://opinionexpress.in/aarya-2-trailer-sushmita-sen-gets-fierce-in-second-season Sushmita Sen-starrer 'Aarya' is returning with its second season as the makers of the series have released the trailer and by the looks of it, this time it's going to have even more nerve-wracking thrill, more intense undertones of crime and higher stakes. https://opinionexpress.in/pubg-mobile-surpasses-7bn-in-lifetime-revenue-globally PUBG Mobile from Tencent has surpassed $7 billion in 'worldwide lifetime player spending' across Apple App Store and Google Play Store, following a record Q3 growth. https://opinionexpress.in/how-covid-affects-pregnant-mothers-and-babies Covid-19 infection during pregnancy leads to distinct immune changes in mothers and babies, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-gill-half-century-steers-india-to-821-at-lunch An unbeaten half-century by Shubman Gill (52 not out off 87 balls) steered India to 82/1 at lunch on Day One of the first Test against New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium here on Thursday. Giving Gill company at the crease has been vice-captain Cheteshwar Pujara (15 not out off 61 balls). https://opinionexpress.in/varuns-deadly-bhediya-look-unveiled-film-to-release-on-nov-25-2022 Actor Varun Dhawan's first look from his upcoming film 'Bhediya' has been unveiled and he looks every inch deadly. Along with the poster, the makers also announced that the comedy-horror movie will hit the big screen on November 25, next year. https://opinionexpress.in/after-india-us-regulators-to-mull-over-crypto-risks-in-2022 The banking regulators in the US have announced a plan to clarify the rules and regulations around how banks can use cryptocurrencies over the next year, at a time when governments the world over, including India, are weighing the risks associated with cryptocurrencies and safeguard investors. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-vs-nz-iyer-kisses-maiden-test-cap-after-receiving-it-from-gavaskar Ahead of the start of India's first Test against New Zealand at the Green Park Stadium, there was a moment to cherish for Shreyas Iyer. Iyer, the middle-order batter, became the 303rd Test cricketer for India. Though his debut was confirmed on Wednesday by captain Ajinkya Rahane, Iyer was handed his maiden Test cap by legendary cricketer and fellow Mumbaikar, Sunil Gavaskar. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-on-positive-note-today The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Thursday opened on a positive note during the morning trade. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-on-positive-note-today The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Thursday opened on a positive note during the morning trade. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-9119-fresh-covid-cases-396-deaths-in-24-hrs India reported 9,119 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-seeks-eow-sebi-status-reports-in-ponzi-scheme TheSupreme Court has directed the Economic Offences Wing (EoW) of the Mumbai Police and market regulator SEBI to file status reports in the alleged Rs 7,500 crore ponzi scheme, which defrauded 18-20 lakh investors. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-rife-with-speculation-about-human-space-mission-centre-in-space-shift With speculations and rumours abounding on shifting of its human space mission centre and the headquarters of private sector space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), officials of the Indian space agency are worried lot. https://opinionexpress.in/covaxin-offered-only-50-protection-against-covid-during-2nd-wave-in-india Two-dose of Covaxin, developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, provided only 50 per cent protection against the Covid-19 infection during the second wave of the pandemic in India, according to the first real-world assessment published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/farm-laws-repeal-bill-2021-cleared-by-cabinet The union cabinet on Wednesday cleared 'The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021' that will repeal the three contentious farm laws, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19. https://opinionexpress.in/helen-mirren-would-be-a-slytherin-in-harry-potter Veteran star Helen Mirren, who is set to host the upcoming series 'Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses', feels she would have to choose the green-themed house Slytherin in the magical school of Hogwarts. https://opinionexpress.in/bomb-hoax-call-in-delhi-bound-shatabdi-express-creates-panic Panic gripped Delhi-bound Shatabdi express after Gurugram police received a call about a bomb being placed in the train, police said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/buzz-around-prabhas-radhe-shyam-doesnt-impress-fans Telugu star Prabhas is in focus as his upcoming period drama 'Radhe Shyam' is nearing release. With Pooja Hegde as the female lead opposite Prabhas, the makers are trying to promote the epic drama. https://opinionexpress.in/be-careful-with-banning-all-cryptocurrencies-in-india-experts With the Indian government seeking to ban all private cryptocurrencies in the upcoming Crypto bill 2021, experts and leading industry players on Wednesday said that provisions relating to "banning" private cryptocurrencies would have to be looked at very carefully. https://opinionexpress.in/dell-technologies-posts-record-284-bn-sales-in-q3 Dell Technologies has announced a record third quarter (Q3) results, generating revenue of $28.4 billion (up 21 per cent) with a net income of $3.9 billion, driven by growth across commercial PCs, servers and storage verticals. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-is-rakhi-sawant-the-latest-wild-card-entry 'Bigg Boss 15' is moving ahead with twists and turns to hold on to viewer attention. And the latest news doing the rounds is that Rakhi Sawant is entering the show as a wild card contestant. https://opinionexpress.in/this-is-national-capital-sc-says-wont-close-the-case-on-air-pollution-in-delhi The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the government that it cannot micromanage the actions taken by state governments to stop stubble burning https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-to-meet-modi-today West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is on a four-day visit to the national capital, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-9283-fresh-covid-19-cases-437-deaths In the last 24 hours, India recorded 9,283 fresh Covid-19 cases and 437 fatalaties, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sibal-attacks-govt-over-rise-in-prices-of-fuel-vegetables Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday attacked the Centre over the inflation, and said it has reached 'milestones' in price graphs. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-mp-gambhir-receives-death-threat-from-isis-kashmir Former cricketer and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Gautam Gambhir has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, alleging that he and his family have received death threats from ISIS-Kashmir. https://opinionexpress.in/bill-to-ban-all-cryptocurrencies-to-be-tabled-in-winter-session-of-parliament The Union government will move a Bill which seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India in the Winter Session of Parliament starting November 29. https://opinionexpress.in/absconder-notice-pasted-at-ex-mumbai-top-cop-param-bir-singhs-home A Mumbai court order declaring former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh as 'absconder' was pasted outside his Juhu home here on Tuesday, officials said, adding the court order directed him to report before the magistrate. https://opinionexpress.in/kl-rahul-ruled-out-of-first-test-suryakumar-yadav-added-to-squad Senior India opener KL Rahul was on Tuesday ruled out of the two-Test series against New Zealand due to a muscle strain in his left thigh. https://opinionexpress.in/semiconductor-supply-improving-waiting-periods-coming-down-says-maruti-suzuki The availability of semiconductors has slowly but surely improved which has allowed for greater production as well as reduced waiting periods for some car models, automobile major Maruti Suzuki India said. https://opinionexpress.in/raveena-tandon-unveils-trailer-of-aranyak-talks-about-women-in-uniform She ruled the 1990s with her effortless performances and swept the audiences off their feet with her dance moves, now actress Raveena Tandon is all set to maker her digital debut with Netflix's upcoming crime thriller 'Aranyak', where she will be seen playing a police officer. https://opinionexpress.in/exposure-to-harmless-coronaviruses-boosts-sars-cov-2-immunity-study Previous antibody responses to other, harmless coronaviruses may confer immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/us-daily-covid-cases-up-18-cdc The seven-day average of reported Covid-19 infections in the US has increased by 18 per cent, said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky. https://opinionexpress.in/show-stopper Event managers make our moments their ownbut we haven’t yet realised their challenges https://opinionexpress.in/ugly-city The degrading condition of urban poor is a challenge that the Govt must take heed of https://opinionexpress.in/uniform-civil-code-is-a-progressive-step Article 15 is violated by Muslims themselves. A man is entitled to marry up to four wives but the wives cannot marry more than one husband https://opinionexpress.in/galwan-clash-colonel-b-s-babu-posthumously-awarded-mahavir-chakra Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment who led from the front against the brutal Chinese attack in Galwan Valley in June last year, was on Tuesday posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for displaying "exemplary courage" during the clash. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-jonas-shares-first-look-from-the-matrix-resurrections Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas features in a never-seen-before avatar in her much-anticipated Hollywood film “The Matrix Resurrections”. https://opinionexpress.in/video-chat-app-zoom-has-2507-customers-paying-over-100k-each In the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic where remote work and learning took centre-stage, 2,507 customers are now contributing more than $100,000 to video chat app Zoom in trailing 12 months revenue, up approximately 94 per cent from the same quarter last fiscal year. https://opinionexpress.in/21-volumes-in-same-case-bulky-documents-delay-future-amazon-hearing-in-sc The Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Tuesday pointed to the parties in the Future-Amazon case that they have filed bulky documents in the matter -- 21 volumes in the same case -- and it causes unnecessary inconvenience, as documents are repeated. The top court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter on December 8. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-air-quality-improves-on-the-back-of-winds Delhi's air quality improved from "very poor" to "poor" and the air quality index (AQI) read 276 at 9 am on Tuesday with favourable wind speed, up to 25 kmph, aiding dispersion of pollutants over the two last days. https://opinionexpress.in/central-vista-sc-dismisses-plea-challenging-change-in-land-use-of-plot The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the change in land use of a plot where the new official residence of the vice president will come up as part of the ambitious Central Vista project in Lutyens' Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/international-emmys-no-win-for-nawazuddin-siddiqui-vir-das-and-aarya Actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vir Das and series "Aarya", led by Sushmita Sen, could not register a win at the 2021 International Emmy Awards but the comedian said it was "an honour" to represent the country at the awards ceremony. https://opinionexpress.in/sindhu-to-contest-bwf-athletes-commission-election-in-december India's two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu will be contesting the BWF Athletes' Commission election to be held during the World Championships in Spain on December 17. https://opinionexpress.in/49th-international-emmys-david-tennant-tehran-call-my-agent-4-get-top-awards The Indian challenge at the 49th International Emmy Awards, which concluded at Casa Cipriani in New York City on late Monday night (US Eastern Time), ended with Nawazuddin Siddiqui losing out to Scottish actor David Tennant in the Best Performance by an Actor category. https://opinionexpress.in/49th-international-emmys-david-tennant-tehran-call-my-agent-4-get-top-awards The Indian challenge at the 49th International Emmy Awards, which concluded at Casa Cipriani in New York City on late Monday night (US Eastern Time), ended with Nawazuddin Siddiqui losing out to Scottish actor David Tennant in the Best Performance by an Actor category. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-over-700-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tests-17300 Equity benchmark Sensex plunged over 700 points in early trade on Tuesday, tracking losses in index majors Infosys, ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries amid persistent foreign fund outflows. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-7579-new-covid-cases-lowest-in-543-days In the last 24 hours, India registered 7,579 new coronavirus cases, the lowest single-day spike in 538 days, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/jagan-government-rolls-back-laws-sticks-to-3-capital-decision The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday repealed two laws enacted last year to create three state capitals but announced that it will come out with a new comprehensive legislation addressing all issues including legal matters for the larger good of the people. https://opinionexpress.in/committee-panel-on-farm-laws-to-go-public-today The Supreme Court appointed committee on the issue of three contentious farm laws held a meeting on Monday and said they would hold a press conference on Tuesday to announce the fate of the report that they had submitted in March. https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-rising-to-become-vishwa-guru-rss-chief Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said that India is now rising but not just to become a superpower but to become a Vishwa Guru (World Leader). https://opinionexpress.in/13rd-of-companies-will-fail-at-anywhere-work-in-2022-research As hybrid workplaces are set to redefine the future of work in the new normal, one-third of companies will fail at meeting 'anywhere work' goals, and it will not be the Covid virus' fault. https://opinionexpress.in/modern-education-utilitarian-not-equipped-to-build-students-character-cji Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Monday said the modern education system tends to focus only on the 'utilitarian' function of education and it is not equipped to deal with the moral and spiritual function which builds the character of the students. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-protects-ex-mumbai-cp-from-arrest-in-criminal-cases-lodged-against-him-maharashtra The Supreme Court Monday granted protection from arrest to former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh in criminal cases lodged against him in Maharashtra and sought responses from the state government, its DGP and the CBI on his plea. https://opinionexpress.in/airtel-raises-prepaid-tariffs-by-20-effective-from-nov-26 Telecom major Bharti Airtel will raise the prepaid tariffs by around 20 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/hectic-schedule-time-away-from-home-taking-a-toll-on-kiwis-mccullum Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has partly blamed the hectic schedule for the Black Caps' 3-0 T20I series loss to India, saying that while it was frustrating to lose in such a manner, it was more on account of players being away from home for far too long. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-agrees-to-hear-trinamool-plea-on-tripura-situation The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a contempt petition by Trinamool Congress claiming that the law and order situation is worsening in the state as the date for local body elections scheduled on November 25 draws closer. https://opinionexpress.in/austria-enters-nationwide-lockdown-to-fight-soaring-cases Austria went into a nationwide lockdown early Monday in a desperate effort to contain spiralling coronavirus infections. https://opinionexpress.in/auckland-lockdown-to-end-as-new-zealand-tries-new-virus-tack Bars, restaurants and gyms can reopen in Auckland from early December but customers will be required to show proof they've been fully vaccinated, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/paytm-shares-continue-to-decline-for-2nd-day-tumble-nearly-14-pc Shares of newly-listed One97 Communications, Paytm's parent company, continued to decline for the second day in a row on Monday, tumbling nearly 14 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/meta-delays-encrypted-messages-on-fb-insta-to-2023 Meta-owned Facebook Messenger and Instagram are delaying plans to encrypt users' messages until 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/ahead-of-parliament-session-mamata-to-arrive-in-delhi-today Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Monday evening for a four-day visit. She is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-bans-women-from-appearing-in-tv-dramas Women have been banned from appearing in television dramas in Afghanistan under new rules imposed by the Taliban-led government, the BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-grenade-blast-near-pathankot-army-camp A grenade blast occurred outside a gate of the Army cantonment here, prompting authorities to sound an alert, police said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ashwin-is-always-an-attacking-option-for-a-captain-rohit Ravichandran Ashwin is "always an attacking option" in the middle overs of a T20I match when a team needs wickets, India captain Rohit Sharma said of the seasoned off-spinner. https://opinionexpress.in/bts-megan-thee-stallion-doja-cat-top-winners-list-at-american-music-awards K-pop sensation BTS took home the prestigious Artist of the Year title at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater here on Sunday night ( US Pacific Time). Their superhit number 'Butter' also won the Favourite Pop Song award, reports 'Variety'. https://opinionexpress.in/bb-15-salman-says-in-the-next-24-hrs-only-top-5-contenders-will-be-left-in-the-game The 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode of 'Bigg Boss 15' will see special guest Bharti Singh shaking a leg with host and superstar Salman Khan. https://opinionexpress.in/air-quality-in-delhi-improves-as-winds-sweep-city Strong surface winds brought some relief from high pollution levels in Delhi and improved visibility on Monday morning, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tanks-over-400-pts-in-early-trade-ril-plunges-4-pc Equity benchmark Sensex plunged over 400 points in early trade on Monday, tracking losses in index majors Reliance Industries, Kotak Bank and Bajaj Finance amid a weak trend in global markets and persistent foreign fund outflows. https://opinionexpress.in/daily-covid-19-cases-in-country-lowest-in-538-days India recorded 8,488 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 538 days, taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to  3,45,18,901, while the active cases declined to 1,18,443, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/kisan-mahapanchayat-puts-further-pressure-on-modi-government-for-msp The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of the farmers' unions, is slated to hold a Mahapanchayat in Lucknow on Monday to press for a law guaranteeing MSP and seek the dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son is an accused in the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-government-under-pressure-for-remunerative-msp The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday decided to send an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising the pending demands of the farmers' movement, including central legislation to guarantee a remunerative minimum support price (MSP), while also deciding to continue their previously announced programmes. https://opinionexpress.in/rajasthan-cabinet-expanded-15-ministers-sworn-in Fifteen ministers – 11 cabinet and four ministers of state – were sworn in on Sunday in Rajasthan, in a much-awaited expansion of the Ashok Gehlot ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/air-pollution-delhi-schools-to-remain-shut-for-physical-classes-till-further-orders Schools in Delhi will remain closed for physical classes till further orders while online classes and board exams will continue, the Directorate of Education (DoE) announced on Sunday in view of the prevailing air quality situation. https://opinionexpress.in/skm-meeting-underway-at-singhu-border A day after declaring that its agitation will go ahead despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to repeal the three farm laws, a meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) is underway on Sunday at the Singhu border to decide on a future course. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-grants-bail-to-four-men-for-hoarding-selling-covid-19-medicines-at-exorbitant-rates The Delhi High Court has granted bail to four men, who were arrested for allegedly hoarding and selling at exorbitant rates life-saving medicines to treat COVID-19 patients during the second wave of the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/daunting-to-play-triple-role-in-satyameva-jayate-sequel-says-john-abraham John Abraham is back with the second installment of his vigilante actioner “Satyameva Jayate” in which the actor stars in a triple role, something he said was a challenge. https://opinionexpress.in/belarus-vs-poland-migrants-heading-nowhere Leaders in the EU think that Belarusian President Lukashenko is creating the illegal passage for migrants from most of the war-torn and poverty-ridden countries to neighbouring Poland and other rich nations of the EU. https://opinionexpress.in/fw-de-klerk-end-of-an-era The infamous apartheid regime in South Africa came to an end with a series of discussions and dialogues between 1990 and 1993. This was the result of unilateral steps initiated by the de Klerk Government. https://opinionexpress.in/is-claimed-blasts-raise-concerns-in-afghanistan Concerns among residents of Kabul have increased the the Afghan capital witnessed a series of bomb blasts conducted by the Islamic State (IS) terror group, with the two latest explosions in Dashti Barchi killing one person and wounding six others last week. https://opinionexpress.in/ajay-devgn-sidharth-malhotra-starrer-thank-god-books-july-2022-theatrical-release Actors Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra and Rakul Preet Singh-led slice of life comedy "Thank God" is set to hit cinema halls on July 29, 2022, makers announced on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/how-wearable-tech-can-reveal-your-performance-at-work Not just keeping you fit and healthy, data from fitness trackers and smart watches can also predict individual job performances as workers travel to and from the office wearing those devices, says a study. https://opinionexpress.in/some-irresponsible-nations-with-hegemonic-tendencies-twisting-definition-of-unclos-rajnath-singh Taking a dig at China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said "some irresponsible nations" with their narrow partisan interests and hegemonic tendencies are coming up with wrong definitions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). https://opinionexpress.in/ott-platforms-debut-at-iffi-with-screenings-masterclasses The Netflix original 'Dhamaka', starring Kartik Aryan and Mrunal Thakur, will be screened here at the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India, where OTT platforms are making their debut. https://opinionexpress.in/feel-frustrated-the-scandal-has-been-aired-in-public-tim-paines-wife Australian cricketer Tim Paine's wife, Bonnie, has said that it broke her heart to see her husband stepping down as Test skipper ahead of the Ashes series in the wake of the sexting scandal that the wicketkeeper-batter finds himself in the midst of. https://opinionexpress.in/messi-scores-his-first-league-goal-for-paris-saint-germain Lionel Messi scored his first goal in the French league and Kylian Mbappe grabbed the fastest goal of his career as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nantes 3-1. https://opinionexpress.in/global-factors-to-guide-markets-stocks-may-face-volatility-analysts Equity markets would watch out for global cues in absence of any major event on the domestic front, and indices may face volatility in view of the scheduled derivatives expiry this week, analysts said. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-air-quality-remains-very-poor Delhi's air quality remained “very poor” on Sunday morning and strong surface winds are likely to bring some relief from high pollution levels during the day, authorities said. https://opinionexpress.in/rajasthan-cabinet-reshuffle-fifteen-ministers-to-take-oath-at-4-pm Fifteen new Rajasthan ministers will take oath at 4 pm on Sunday at the Raj Bhavan here as part of the Cabinet reshuffle, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/active-covid-19-cases-in-country-lowest-in-532-days India logged 10,488 new coronavirus infections taking the country's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,45,10,413, while the active cases declined to 1,22,714, the lowest in 532 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/work-on-secret-chinese-military-base-in-uae-stopped-after-us-intervened The US intelligence agencies found evidence this year of construction work on what they believed was a secret Chinese military facility in the UAE, which was stopped after Washington's intervention, according to a report on Friday, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/richa-chadha-hails-tigmanshu-dhulia-as-one-of-the-finest-directors Richa Chadha recently wrapped up filming of her upcoming web series 'Six Suspects', which is based on Vikas Swarup's 2008 novel of the same name. https://opinionexpress.in/terrorist-killed-in-jks-kulgam-encounter One terrorist was killed in an ongoing encounter with the security forces in the Ashmuji area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/rajkummar-sanya-starrer-hit-to-release-on-may-20-2022 Actors Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra's upcoming mystery thriller 'Hit - The First Case' is all set to release in theatres next year on May 20. https://opinionexpress.in/ril-saudi-aramco-to-re-evaluate-proposed-investment-in-o2c Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Saudi Aramco have mutually agreed to re-evaluate the proposed investment of the latter in RIL's 'O2C'. https://opinionexpress.in/us-cdc-authorizes-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-for-all-adults The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed booster doses of Pfizer/BioNTech's and Moderna's Covid-19 vaccines for all US adults. https://opinionexpress.in/aamir-khans-laal-singh-chaddha-locked-for-baisakhi-2022-release Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has locked Baisakhi 2022 for the release of his much-talked-about film 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. It will hit the big screen on April 14, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/indore-cleanest-city-for-5th-time-in-row-in-centres-annual-cleanliness-survey Indore was adjudged India's cleanest city for the fifth time in a row in the Central government's annual cleanliness survey, the results of which were announced on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/129-crore-covid-19-vaccine-doses-provided-to-states-uts-health-ministry Over 129 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union Territories so far through free of cost channel and through direct state procurement category, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/anand-mahindra-says-not-invested-a-single-rupee-in-crypto Indian business tycoon Anand Mahindra said that he has not invested a "single rupee" in cryptocurrencies. https://opinionexpress.in/checkup-finds-biden-vigorous-harris-briefly-in-power President Joe Biden remains “healthy” and “vigorous” and fit for duty, but is showing some signs of aging, his doctor said Friday after the oldest president in American history underwent his first routine physical in office and — in a history-making moment — briefly transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he underwent a colonoscopy. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-to-allow-entry-of-travellers-fully-vaccinated-with-sinopharm-sinovac-covaxin Travellers who are fully vaccinated with the shots from Sinopharm, Sinovac and Covaxin will be allowed to enter Canada starting November 30, the Canadian government said. https://opinionexpress.in/female-worker-sues-tesla-for-rampant-sexual-harassment-in-us A female Tesla employee has filed a rare lawsuit against Elon Musk-run electric car company in the US, accusing the automaker of creating a hostile work environment where sexual harassment was "rampant." https://opinionexpress.in/rani-mukerji-i-shot-for-dhik-chik-song-despite-terrible-knee-pain With 'Bunty Aur Babli 2' releasing to generally positive reviews, Rani Mukerji, who reprises the role of Vimmy in this second edition of the original film where she was seen with Abhishek Bachchan, recollected an incident from the films shoot where she continued to work for the part, despite a terrible knee injury. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-10302-fresh-covid-infections-267-more-deaths-active-cases-decline-to-124868 India's COVID-19 infection tally rose by 10,302 in a day to reach 3,44,99,925 while the number of active cases declined to 1,24,868 during the same period, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-air-quality-in-very-poor-category-minimum-temperature-145-deg-c The national capital's air quality was in the 'very poor' category on Saturday but is predicted to improve significantly from Sunday owing to relatively strong winds. https://opinionexpress.in/never-felt-india-jersey-was-running-away-from-me-harshal India seamer Harshal Patel, who impressed on his international debut, feels the secret behind his success was all about realising his limitations and actualising his true potential. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-bitcoin-scandal-to-damage-bjp-in-south-india The Bitcoin scandal blame game touched a new low in the state among Karnataka politicians as leading of ruling BJP and opposition Congress indulged in personal attacks. https://opinionexpress.in/repeal-of-farm-laws-unfortunate-says-sc-panel-member Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on Friday to repeal the three farm laws has brought cheers to the agitating farmers' organisations. https://opinionexpress.in/rajasthan-3-cabinet-ministers-offer-to-quit-their-posts In a major political development, Rajasthan Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra, Health Minister Raghu Sharma and Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary wrote to interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi, expressing their desire to leave their ministerial positions and work for the organisation. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-mulling-diplomatic-boycott-of-winter-olympics-in-beijing US President Joe Biden has confirmed that he is mulling a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, CNN reported. "It's something we're considering," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office following a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. https://opinionexpress.in/strike-disrupts-normal-life-in-kashmir Normal life was affected in the Kashmir valley on Friday due to a strike called by the Hurriyat Conference to express solidarity with the families of the civilians killed in the Hyderpora encounter earlier this week, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/ab-de-villiers-announces-retirement-from-all-formats-of-cricket Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers on Friday announced his retirement from all formats of cricket. After his international retirement in 2018, de Villiers had continued to play in franchise cricket, notably for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). https://opinionexpress.in/abhishek-bachchan-bob-biswas-is-one-of-the-coolest-films-ive-worked-on Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is all geared up for the release of 'Bob Biswas', which he says is one of the coolest films he has worked on. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-ties-going-through-a-bad-patch-beijing-has-no-credible-explanation-on-violation-of-agreements-jaishankar External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday that India and China are going through a "particularly bad patch" in their ties because Beijing has taken a set of actions in violation of agreements for which it still doesn't have a "credible explanation" and it is for the Chinese leadership to answer where they want to take the bilateral relationship. https://opinionexpress.in/flipkart-forays-into-healthcare-sector-with-flipkart-health Domestic e-commerce platform Flipkart on Friday announced its foray into the healthcare sector through the launch of Flipkart Health+, to provide consumers access to affordable and convenient healthcare. https://opinionexpress.in/fpis-stock-holding-value-soars-to-usd-667-bn-in-sep-qtr-report The value of the foreign portfolio investors' (FPI) holdings in the domestic equities reached USD 667 billion in three months ended September 2021, a surge of 13 per cent from the preceding quarter, according to a Morningstar report. https://opinionexpress.in/celebrations-at-ghazipur-border-crowd-expected-to-swell-after-farm-laws-repeal-announcement Celebrations erupted Friday morning at Ghazipur - a landmark farm laws' protest site at Delhi's border - with the Centre's announcement that the contentious legislations will be repealed. https://opinionexpress.in/tim-paine-resigns-as-australia-captain-after-sending-explicit-messages-to-female-co-worker Australian Test captain Tim Paine on Friday stepped down from the post after being investigated by Cricket Australia for sending explicit messages to a female co-worker. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-air-quality-remains-very-poor-mercury-dips-to-109-degrees-celsius The air quality in the national capital continues to be in the 'very poor' category with the air quality index (AQI) clocking the value of 370 at 8 am on Friday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/victory-against-injustice-rahul-gandhi-on-pms-announcement-to-repeal-farm-laws The country's 'annadatas' have made "arrogance bow its head" through 'satyagraha', Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday and described the Centre's decision to repeal the farm laws as a "victory against injustice". https://opinionexpress.in/in-his-30th-year-in-cinema-ajay-devgn-recalls-career-defining-phool-aur-kaante-stunt Thirty years ago, a lean bloke said the line, "Agar tere paas jaagir hai, toh mere paas jigar hai" (You may have a fief, but I have a heart), and these words in 'Phool Aur Kaante' set Ajay Devgn on the path to eventual stardom. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-static-as-oil-cos-keep-petrol-prices-unchanged Consumers continue to get relief from rising fuel prices as oil marketing companies (OMCs) have kept pump prices of petrol and diesel unchanged post revision of duties by the state governments on Diwali eve. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-records-11106-new-cases-active-cases-decline-to-126620 India saw a single-day rise of 11,106 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's tally to 3,44,89,623, while the active cases have declined to 1,26,620, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/protest-will-end-when-farm-laws-repealed-in-parliament-tikait Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday said the ongoing anti-farm laws protest will be withdrawn only after the contentious legislations are repealed in Parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-announces-repeal-of-3-farm-laws Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that the Centre has decided to repeal all three farm laws. https://opinionexpress.in/unanswered-questions-beg-immediate-attention-in-kashmir-shootout Monday's encounter at the Hyderpora area in Srinagar has raised more questions than the authorities have so far satisfactorily answered. Four persons were killed in the encounter, including a foreign militant, his local associate, Altaf Ahmad, the owner of the building where the encounter took place, and Mudasir Gul, who ran a call centre on a rented floor of the same building. IGP (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar told reporters that the owner of the building, Altaf Ahmad Bhat, was asked to knock at the doors of the rooms in his building where the foreign militant was reportedly hiding. Kumar said the hiding militant fired from a pistol from the room he was hiding in, and the security forces fired with AK rifles in retaliation. https://opinionexpress.in/india-deploys-naval-ship-in-persian-gulf-to-ensure-safe-trade India has deployed a naval ship in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to ensure safe and secure movement of trade, instill confidence in the maritime community and contribute to regional maritime security. https://opinionexpress.in/recent-reforms-have-made-banks-financial-health-strong-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that Centre's banking reforms during the past six-to-seven years have supported the sector in "every way". https://opinionexpress.in/bitcoin-scam-kingpin-goes-incommunicado The kingpin of sensational Bitcoin scandal Srikrishna Ramesh has gone incommunicado in spite of the Karnataka government instructing the police to provide security to him. https://opinionexpress.in/no-protection-no-hearing-until-we-know-where-you-are-says-sc-on-ips-officer-param-bir-singhs-plea The Supreme Court Thursday asked former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh to disclose his location and said, "no protection, no hearing until we know where you are". https://opinionexpress.in/over-100-indian-sikhs-politicians-to-visit-gurdwara-kartarpur-sahib-in-pakistan Over 100 Sikh pilgrims from India, including Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, are expected to arrive at the revered Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan on Thursday using the visa-free Kartarpur corridor, some 20 months after the pilgrimage was suspended following the COVID-19 outbreak. https://opinionexpress.in/india-gear-up-for-series-win-and-better-middle-order-show-by-tapan-mohanta India will look to clinch the series albeit with a more impactful batting performance from the middle-order in the second T20 International here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-alleges-china-built-villages-near-doklam-grabbed-100-sq-km-land The Congress on Thursday once again attacked the government over border row with China and alleged that China has established three villages near Doklam https://opinionexpress.in/instagram-to-shut-down-threads-by-year-end Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram is reportedly shutting down its standalone messaging app, Threads, by the end of this year. https://opinionexpress.in/trf-hizb-commanders-among-five-terrorists-killed-in-kulgam-encounter District commanders of The Resistance Front (TRF) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) were among five terrorists killed in twin encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam, police said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/air-quality-in-city-in-very-poor-category The air quality in the national capital remained in the very poor category with the air quality index (AQI) clocking the value of 344 at 8 am on Thursday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/having-a-blast-kartik-aryan-says-completion-of-dhamaka-in-10-days-surprised-him Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who plays protagonist 'Arjun Pathak' in the upcoming movie 'Dhamaka', shared how the entire movie was completed in just 10 days, on 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-inflation-rate-soared-to-near-decade-high-in-oct The UK's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) soared by 4.2 per cent in the 12 months to October, hitting the highest pace since November 2011, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. https://opinionexpress.in/preity-zinta-gene-goodenough-welcome-twins-via-surrogacy Bollywood star Preity Zinta on Thursday announced that she and her husband, financial analyst Gene Goodenough have become parents to twins -- a son and a daughter -- through surrogacy. https://opinionexpress.in/again-under-house-arrest-mehbooba-mufti Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter on Thursday and wrote that she has been put under house arrest. https://opinionexpress.in/purpose-of-law-not-to-allow-offender-sneak-out-sc-sets-aside-hc-skin-to-skin-contact-ruling The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the Bombay High Court judgement which held skin-to-skin contact was necessary for invoking charges under the POCSO Act. https://opinionexpress.in/camila-cabello-shawn-mendes-break-up Singers Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes have announced their break-up after dating for over two years, saying they will "continue to be best friends". https://opinionexpress.in/badminton-sindhu-reaches-quarter-finals-in-indonesia-masters India's PV Sindhu reached the women's singles quarter-finals of the 2021 Indonesia Masters badminton tournament, beating Spain's Clara Azurmendi in three sets here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-on-positive-note-zomato-asian-paints-in-green The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Thursday opened on a positive note during the morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-cautions-on-cryptocurrency-says-nations-need-to-work-together Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that all democratic countries need to work together on cryptocurrency and ensure that it does not end up in the wrong hands. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-daily-covid-cases-rise-to-11919 India on Thursday reported 11,919 fresh Covid cases and 470 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family welfare on Thursday morning https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-sheds-314-pts-nifty-ends-below-17900 Equity benchmark Sensex dropped 314 points on Wednesday tracking losses in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC twins and Kotak Bank. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-leader-files-complaint-against-comedian-vir-das-for-maligning-indias-image A BJP leader from Delhi has lodged a complaint against actor-comedian Vir Das alleging that he used "derogatory" statements against India at an international platform with an intention to malign the country's image, police said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/number-of-people-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19-surpasses-those-partially-vaccinated The number of fully vaccinated individuals against COVID-19 has surpassed the partially vaccinated eligible population for the first time in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ganguly-replaces-kumble-as-icc-crickets-committee-chairman BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has been appointed as the Chairman of the ICC men's Cricket Committee, the game's governing body said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/tv-debates-causing-more-pollution-than-anybody-says-sc Debates on TV news channels are causing more pollution than anybody with statements made in the court being taken out of context, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ind-v-nz-sharma-and-dravid-are-quite-similar-temperament-wise-says-gavaskar Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that head coach Rahul Dravid and T20I skipper Rohit Sharma are quite similar on temperament levels. He also feels that their bond will be very good as they understand each other well. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-surface-go-3-to-be-available-in-india-from-nov-23 Microsoft Surface Go 3 to be available in India from Nov 23 https://opinionexpress.in/richa-chadha-wraps-up-shooting-for-series-six-suspects Actress Richa Chadha has wrapped up shooting for her upcoming series 'Six Suspects' https://opinionexpress.in/tripura-violence-sc-grants-protection-from-arrest-to-journalist-others-booked-under-uapa (Courtesy: IANS) https://opinionexpress.in/to-ensure-absolute-impartiality-sc-appoints-retired-hc-judge-to-monitor-probe-in-lakhimpur-kheri-case The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, a former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, to monitor the Lakhimpur Kheri violence probe and to ensure fairness and independence in the investigation. https://opinionexpress.in/manish-tewari-targets-rahul-says-cong-should-not-indulge-in-hindutva-debate Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday targeted Rahul Gandhi and said the party leaders should not indulge in Hindutva debate, 'which is miles away from the core ideology of the Congress'. https://opinionexpress.in/air-pollution-no-lockdown-but-several-other-restrictions-in-delhi-ncr Work from home for 50 per cent staff for both government and private offices, shutting down six of the 11 thermal power plants in 300 km radius of Delhi, ban on construction activity till November 21 with exemptions and all schools, colleges and educational institutions to hold online classes only - these are some of the main directives as part of the emergency measures in view of the severe air pollution. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-deploying-starlink-satellite-internet-systems-at-supercharger-stations Elon Musk-owned Electric Vehicle (EV) company Tesla has reportedly started deploying Starlink antennas at Supercharger stations in an effort to offer satellite-based internet to owners while charging their EVs. https://opinionexpress.in/rajkummar-rao-got-married-to-my-everything Bollywood actors Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa are now a married couple after dating each other for over a decade. https://opinionexpress.in/us-concerned-by-s400-system-arriving-in-india-but-no-decision-on-sanctions The US has concerns over the Russian Triumf S400 anti-missile system that has started arriving in India, according to Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby. https://opinionexpress.in/kbc-13-rani-mukerji-saif-ali-khan-all-set-to-appear-as-special-guests Bollywood actors Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan along with Sharvari Wagh and Siddhant Chaturvedi will be on the hotseat for the Friday special episode of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 13'.They will be playing the game with host Amitabh Bachchan and also share some personal stories associated with their careers in Bollywood and also throw light on their experience in the industry. They will also be talking about their personal lives and share a few anecdotes.Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari will be seen dancing on the track 'UP Hile, Patna Hile' and Saif and Rani open up on their connection with Kolkata and how much they adore Bengali dishes.Moreover they will also talk about working together after 12 years. Beside this Amitabh will be playing a game called 'Poll Khol Ke Bol' with Saif and Rani and he will be shaking a leg with the guests on the song 'Shava Shava' from the movie 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham''Kaun Banega Crorepati 13's 'Shaandaar Shukravaar' episode will air on November 19 on Sony Entertainment Television. https://opinionexpress.in/tejashwi-poses-15-questions-on-liquor-ban-in-bihar Ahead of an assessment meeting on liquor ban, leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav has raised 15 pertinent questions and asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to deliberate on them. https://opinionexpress.in/battlegrounds-mobile-india-partners-with-riot-games https://opinionexpress.in/fire-tv-brings-new-alexa-voice-feature-to-netflix Amazon has announced a new Alexa voice feature on Fire TV platform to launch a show or movie from Netflix when a user says, "Alexa, play something on Netflix" https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-price-relief-continues-as-omcs-keep-petrol-diesel-prices-unchanged-on-tuesday Consumers continue to get relief from the rising fuel prices as oil marketing companies (OMCs) have kept the petrol and diesel rates unchanged post revision of duties by the state governments on Diwali eve. https://opinionexpress.in/foreign-terrorist-among-4-killed-in-srinagar-encounter-igp-kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said in a press conference that the four persons killed in an encounter at Hyderpora in Srinagar included a foreign terrorist, a local militant, an over ground worker (OGW) and the house owner. https://opinionexpress.in/neymar-to-miss-argentina-brazil-world-cup-qualifier Brazil forward Neymar will miss his team's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Argentina because of a leg muscle injury, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has said. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-xi-discuss-complex-nature-of-ties-during-virtual-meet In their first face-to-face virtual summit, US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Tuesday discussed the "complex nature" of ties between the two superpowers, as well as the "importance of managing competition responsibly", the White House said. House, the Presidents "covered areas where our interests align, and areas where our interests, values, and perspectives diverge". https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-8865-new-covid-cases-lowest-in-287-days In the last 24 hours, India registered 8,865 new Covid-19 cases, marking the lowest single-day infection spike in the last 287 days, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.The nationwide death toll currently stood at 4,63,852 after 197 more people succumbed to the virus, according to the Ministry.The recovery of 11,971 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 3,38,61,756. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.27 per cent, the highest since March 2020.The active caseload stands at 1,30,793, the lowest in 525 days. Active cases presently account for 0.38 per cent of the country's total positive cases, the lowest since March 2020.Also in the same period, a total of 11,07,617 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the cumulative total to 62.57 crore.Meanwhile, the weekly positivity rate at 0.97 per cent has remained less than 2 per cent for the last 53 days now.The daily positivity rate at 0.80 per cent has also remained below 2 per cent for last the 43 days and less than 3 per cent for 78 consecutive days.With the administration of 59,75,469 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage has reached 112.97 crore as of Tuesday morning.This has been achieved through 1,16,00,209 in sessions. https://opinionexpress.in/air-pollution-ncr-state-officials-meet-ahead-of-sc-hearing https://opinionexpress.in/joe-bidens-ties-with-kamala-harris-are-in-crisis US President Joe Biden's ties with Vice President Kamala Harris are in crisis, with the latter's staff furious that she is being 'sidelined', while the President's team is increasingly frustrated by how Harris is playing with the American public, the Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/need-an-action-plan-by-tomorrow-sc-directs-centre-states-on-curbing-air-pollution The Supreme Court on Monday sought an action plan within 24 hours from the Centre and state governments, detailing steps taken by task forces to stop air pollution caused by vehicular traffic, construction work, stubble burning, power plants, entry of heavy vehicles, dust, etc. https://opinionexpress.in/called-up-coach-langer-to-say-i-want-warner-in-team-australia-skipper-finch Aaron Finch backing opener David Warner through his bad patch was perhaps the Australian limited-overs captain's masterstroke at the ICC T20 World Cup, as the 35-year-old reposed the faith of his skipper to guide the team to its maiden ICC T20 World Cup title. https://opinionexpress.in/ready-to-take-steps-like-complete-lockdown-to-control-local-emissions-delhi-govt-to-sc The Delhi government has told the Supreme Court that it is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control the local emission, which would help in bringing down the air pollution in the national capital, but added that it will have only a limited impact. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-air-quality-improves-at-318-aqi-likely-to-remain-same-for-next-few-days Delhi's air quality on Monday marginally improved to 'very poor' with an overall AQI of 318 and is likely to remain the same for the next few days. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-was-shocked-to-see-aayushs-transformation Bollywood superstar Salman Khan says he was shocked to see his brother-in-law and actor Aayush Sharma's huge physical transformation from his debut movie 'LoveYatri' to his upcoming film 'Antim: The Final Truth'. https://opinionexpress.in/fire-breaks-out-in-delhis-nangloi-4-injured As many as four people received burn injuries after an LPG cylinder caught fire in western Delhi's Nangloi area on Monday morning, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/renowned-historian-babasaheb-purandare-passes-away-at-100 Renowned historian, authority on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, writer and theatre personality Balwant Moreshwar alis Babasaheb Purandare passed away in a private hospital following a brief illness early on Monday, his family sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/barelvi-centres-respond-to-raza-academy-call-for-a-bandh-created-riots The role of Raza Academy has come to the forefront in the background of the recent violence in Amravati in Maharashtra. Several recent events put the focus on Raza Academy as violence escalated in Amravati and other cities of Maharashtra following protests by Raza Academy against the Tripura violence. https://opinionexpress.in/nehru-had-big-role-in-nation-building-says-bommai Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had a major role in the Independence movement and nation-building after the country attained Independence, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-become-t20-world-champions-with-8-wicket-thrashing-of-new-zealand Australia lifted their maiden T20 World Cup trophy with a commanding eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the title clash which was rendered one-sided by Mitchell Marsh with his blistering 77-run knock, here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-win-t20-world-cup Australia skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bowl against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup title clash, here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/ordinances-brought-to-extend-tenures-of-cbi-ed-directors-up-to-five-years The Centre has brought in ordinances to extend the tenure of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) chiefs up to five years. Currently, the tenure of directors of both central investigation agencies is of two years, and now, as per the ordinances, they can get an extension of maximum three years. https://opinionexpress.in/cji-law-needs-to-operate-humanely-invokes-nehru-legacy The Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Sunday said primarily the ability of constitutional courts is to function with absolute independence and necessary boldness in the face of adversity -- which defines institution's character -- and emphasized "the law needs to operate humanely", and the state judiciary has to be sensitive to people's problems and their practical difficulties. https://opinionexpress.in/pubg-new-state-crosses-1-cr-downloads-on-google-play-store South Korean game developer Krafton recently launched a new game in its PUBG franchise -- PUBG: New State -- in over 200 countries, including India and now the game has crossed an impressive one crore downloads on Google Play Store. https://opinionexpress.in/plea-in-delhi-hc-seeks-ban-on-salman-khurshids-book-comparing-hindutva-to-isis A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking direction to stop the publication, circulation, and sale of former Union Minister Salman Khurshid's book for its alleged remarks on Hindutva. https://opinionexpress.in/teltumbde-among-26-naxals-killed-in-maha-say-police Top Maoist leader Milind Teltumbde was among the 26 Naxals killed in an encounter with police in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, a senior police official said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/air-quality-in-delhi-remains-severe The pollution level at several places in the national capital remained in the 'severe' category even as the air quality in few areas improved from 'very poor' to 'poor' on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/rajkummar-goes-down-on-one-knee-proposes-to-long-time-girlfriend-patralekha Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa are now engaged as the actor went down on one knee to propose to her with a ring. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-pays-tribute-to-nehru-on-his-birth-anniversary The Congress leaders on Sunday paid rich tributes to the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Interim President Sonia Gandhi visited the Shanti Van in the morning to pay her tributes. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-prices-remain-static-as-global-oil-prices-softens Fuel prices have remained unchanged in the country post revision of duties by the state governments and the centre providing further relief to consumers from the consistent increase in rates earlier. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-to-interact-with-party-workers-in-up-today Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will hold a meeting titled 'Pratigya Sammelan- Target 2022' with the party office-bearers of the organisations of 10 districts in Bulandshahr on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-kheri-violence-8-witnesses-want-security-removed In an interesting development, eight of the 90 key witnesses in the Lakhimpur Kheri case in which Ashish Misra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra Teni, is the main accused, want their police security removed. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-to-retain-up-with-significant-reduction-in-number-of-seats The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to return to power in 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, though with significant reduction in the number of seats that the saffron party is expected to win, as per the latest round of opinion poll of more than 72,000 samples surveyed in the ABP-CVoter-IANS poll between first weeks of October and November. https://opinionexpress.in/437-voters-in-5-poll-bound-states-see-modi-as-best-pm-candidate As many as 43.7 per cent voters in the five poll-bound states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand see current Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the best candidate for the posit, as per the ABP-CVoter-IANS 5-State Snap poll. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-says-hinduism-hindutva-are-different After a controversy erupted over remarks made by senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid in his new book 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times', the Congress seems to have got into more trouble with Rahul Gandhi saying that Hinduism and Hindutva are different things. https://opinionexpress.in/blast-inside-afghan-mosque-kills-2-injures-17 At least two people were killed and 17 others injured in a bombing inside a mosque in Afghanistan's Nangrahar province, according to officials. https://opinionexpress.in/poland-smash-andorra-in-world-cup-qualifier-italy-held-by-switzerland Poland beat hosts Andorra 4-1 to secure the second place in the Group I of the FIFA World Cup European qualification here. https://opinionexpress.in/metaverse-can-pose-an-existential-threat-to-facebook-warns-meta Meta (formerly Facebook) is aware that virtual reality can be a "toxic environment" especially for women and minorities, and Metaverse would be an "existential threat" to Facebook if it turned off "mainstream customers from the medium entirely", the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/marvel-rolls-out-first-looks-star-leads-of-moon-knight-she-hulk-ms-marvel Setting the stage for its slate of Disney Plus series for 2022, Marvel Studios released first looks for three of its upcoming shows onto the streamer: 'Moon Knight' starring Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke; 'She-Hulk' starring Tatiana Maslany and Mark Ruffalo; and 'Ms. Marvel' starring newcomer Iman Vellani. https://opinionexpress.in/minor-fire-breaks-out-in-taj-express-all-passengers-safe A minor fire broke out in an AC coach of New Delhi-Jhansi Taj Express on Saturday morning, the Northern Railways said. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-oct-retail-inflation-inches-up-on-high-food-input-prices India's October retail inflation inched-up on sequential basis on the back of a marginal rise in food prices along with high fuel and commodity prices. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-to-experience-moderate-fog-next-week-imd Delhi will experience moderate fog with a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius from November 17 onwards, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). https://opinionexpress.in/as-gambhir-seethes-langer-all-praise-for-warners-controversial-six-off-double-bounce-delivery While former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has castigated Australian opener David Warner for smashing Pakistan spinner Mohammad Hafeez's delivery, which had bounced twice, over the mid-wicket fence for a six, during their T20 World Cup semifinal here on November 11, Aussie coach Justin Langer showered praise on his batter saying, "It's one of the best things I've ever seen in cricket". https://opinionexpress.in/rising-prices-economic-issues-biggest-problems-facing-the-country Nearly 32.8 per cent of the people feel that rising prices and economic issues are the biggest problems the country is facing at the moment, while just 6.1 per cent of them are worried about corruption, as per the ABP-CVoter-IANS 5-State Snap Poll conducted in the poll-bound states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-agrees-to-hear-plea-seeking-steps-against-hate-speech The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea seeking direction to the Central government to analyse various international laws and take "effective and stringent" steps against the menace of hate speech and rumour-mongering in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/instagram-adds-text-to-speech-and-voice-effect-options-in-reels Meta-owned photo-sharing app Instagram has announced that it is adding two new TikTok inspired features 'text-to-speech' and 'voice effects' in Reels. https://opinionexpress.in/gujarat-pocso-court-awards-life-term-to-man-for-raping-minor-in-29-days A POCSO Court has sentenced a 39-year-old man to life imprisonment till death for raping a four-year-old girl in Surat in just 29 days. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-signs-law-to-ban-huawei-zte-from-doing-business-in-us US President Joe Biden has signed the law to ban Chinese tech companies like Huawei and ZTE from getting approval for network equipment licences in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/md-rizwan-was-in-icu-for-2-nights-before-he-played-a-scintillating-knock-for-pak Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan would have been the hero of the match had his team won the ICC T20 World Cup semifinal against Australia on Thursday night. Unfortunately, the wicketkeeper-batter's 52-ball 67 run knock went in vain here as the Kangaroos won the semifinal by five wickets with an over remaining. https://opinionexpress.in/vicky-announces-new-film-govinda-naam-mera-with-kiara-bhumi Amid wedding rumours, actor Vicky Kaushal on Friday announced the title of his upcoming film 'Govinda Naam Mera', which also stars Kiara Advani and Bhumi Pednekar. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-vicky-to-tie-the-knot-at-six-senses-fort-in-rajasthan Bollywood stars Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are all set to tie the knot at the Six Senses Fort Hotel in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district. https://opinionexpress.in/global-cues-value-buying-lift-indices-sensex-gains-over-230-pts Positive global cues along with value buying opportunities lifted India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - during Friday's early-morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/dwayne-johnson-reveals-why-he-urinates-in-water-bottle-at-the-gym Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson addressed his old comments about urinating in water bottles while working out. https://opinionexpress.in/covaxin-778-per-cent-effective-says-data-published-in-the-lancet Covaxin, India's first indigenous vaccine for Covid-19, has been found to be 77.8 per cent effective, according to the safety and efficacy analysis data from Phase III clinical trials peer reviewed and published in reputed medical journal The Lancet. https://opinionexpress.in/baghel-pilot-to-meet-sonia-gandhi-on-friday Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan's former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot are scheduled to meet Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi here on Friday, sources said, adding that the agenda for discussion could be different for both the leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/surgery-on-thackeray-successful-to-go-home-in-a-day-or-two Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray underwent a successful surgery by a team of orthopaedic surgeons at the Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital to cure a neck problem, here on Friday morning, Shiv Sena Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut said here. Official sources said that Thackeray will be discharged from the hospital in a day or two. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-wakes-up-to-shallow-fog-very-poor-aqi Delhi woke up to shallow fog on Friday with reduced visibility and an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 390 under the 'very poor' category. https://opinionexpress.in/comparing-hindutva-to-isis-factually-wrong-azad   https://opinionexpress.in/losing-case-on-merits-not-deficiency-of-service-by-advocate-sc The Supreme Court held that losing the case on merits after the advocate argued the matter could not be termed as deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act. A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and B.V. Nagarathna said: "Only in a case where it is found that there was any deficiency in service by the advocate, there may be some case. In each and every case where a litigant has lost on merits and there is no negligence on the part of the advocate/s, it cannot be said that there was any deficiency in service by the advocate/s." https://opinionexpress.in/total-ban-on-mining-leads-to-illegal-mining-huge-loss-to-public-exchequer-sc Supreme Court has observed that a total ban on legal mining, apart from giving rise to illegal mining, also causes huge loss to the public exchequer.A bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Sanjiv Khanna, and B.R. Gavai said: "A balanced approach of sustainable development ensuring environmental safeguards. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-australia-thrash-pakistan-by-5-wickets-in-semis-to-face-new-zealand-in-final Australia reached the final of the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup after beating Pakistan by 5 wickets in a thrilling second semifinal of the tournament at the Dubai International Stadium, here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/varun-gandhi-flays-kangana-ranaut-for-anti-national-freedom-remarks BJP MP Varun Gandhi slammed film actor Kangana Ranaut on Thursday for her reported remarks that India attained freedom in 2014 and what it got in 1947 was "alms", and said it is an anti-national act and must be called out as such. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-politicise-national-security-issues-amarinder Rejecting the Punjab government resolution moved in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday against the proposed move of the Centre to extend the operational jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked the state government not to politicise the issue of national security for petty partisans ends and motives. https://opinionexpress.in/siddhant-weighs-in-on-the-insider-vs-outsider-debate Siddhant Chaturvedi, who will be soon seen in the YRF comedy 'Bunty Aur Babli 2' as the new 'Bunty', has charted a path on his own. https://opinionexpress.in/vicky-kaushal-says-dad-was-keener-on-him-becoming-an-engineer Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal says that his father was keener on him pursuing engineering as a profession. But he himself felt that it was not the field where he could fit in. https://opinionexpress.in/raftaar-out-with-new-party-song-ghana-kasoota After making the audience laugh with his comic skills on 'One Mic Stand 2', Raftaar has now dropped his dance number titled 'Ghana Kasoota' where he has featured alongside Surbhi Jyoti. https://opinionexpress.in/nawab-malik-i-am-not-alone-in-this-fight Nationalist Congress Party Minister Nawab Malik on Thursday dismissed the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's charges that he was waging a "solitary battle" without anybody from the Maha Vikas Aghadi government backing him. https://opinionexpress.in/kraftons-pubg-new-state-launched-globally-including-india South Korean game developer Krafton on Thursday launched a new game in its PUBG franchise -- PUBG: New State -- in over 200 countries, including India. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-will-no-longer-crop-single-images-on-web-app Micro-blogging site Twitter in May removed its automated image cropping on Android as well as iOS for larger image previews and now the company has finally brought the same solution to its web app. https://opinionexpress.in/rafale-row-cong-to-amp-up-pressure-for-jpc-probe-during-winter-session In the wake of new "revelations" on the Rafale fighter jet deal, the Congress will step up its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the "dubious" deal in the winter session of Parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/us-inflation-surges-in-october US inflation remained elevated in October as supply chain disruptions have persisted for months, surging to the highest level in three decades, the Labour Department reported. https://opinionexpress.in/sooryavanshi-rakes-it-in-enters-rs-100-crore-club Stakes were at an all-time high for the film industry with director Rohit Shetty's 'Sooryavanshi' releasing in theatres during Diwali. https://opinionexpress.in/amazon-vs-future-sc-asks-future-not-to-proceed-with-sale-of-retail-assets-to-reliance-till-next-hearing The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hear on November 23, the Future group plea against Amazon NV Investment Holdings, over former's sale of retail assets to the Reliance group. The top court orally asked the Future group to not proceed with the matter at any other forum till the top court finally hears the case. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-hold-for-a-week-despite-firm-global-oil-rates Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged for the seventh consecutive day on Thursday under the daily price revision mechanism followed by oil marketing companies, thus providing further relief to consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/global-cues-subdue-equity-markets-sensex-down-over-400-pts Negative global cues along with foreign fund outflows subdued India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - during Thursday's early-morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-offloads-tesla-shares-worth-11bn-after-twitter-poll-troll Elon Musk has offloaded Tesla shares worth $1.1 billion, after he was trolled on Twitter for a controversial poll last weekend where he proposed selling 10 per cent of his stock in the electric car-maker. https://opinionexpress.in/rain-fury-75000-police-personnel-ready-for-emergency-in-tn A total of 75,000 police personnel drawn from local police, armed reserve, Tamil Nadu Special Police and Home Guards gave been kept ready in the wake of heavy rains lashing Chennai and adjoining districts, Tamil Nadu Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/its-cong-vs-cong-in-punjab-on-ag-removal Congress MP from Punjab Manish Tewari and party's former state chief Sunil Jakhar have targeted Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over the removal of Advocate General A.P.S. Deol. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-tweets-cost-tesla-shareholders-horrid-200bn Clearly, two of the costliest tweets in the history of Global Inc - and who else but Elon Musk, the world's richest man, to have bunged them in. "Much is made lately of unrealized gains being a means of tax avoidance, so I propose selling 10% of my Tesla stock," Musk asked by way of a "yes" or "no" poll on the microblogging platform over the weekend. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-pla-in-pakistan-occupied-kashmir Chinese People Liberation Army personnel are carrying out a survey of the border posts and villages in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to strengthen the Pakistan military apparatus across Line of Control, said sources, adding Indian security forces are keeping an eye on the activities and motives behind the survey. https://opinionexpress.in/kohli-thanks-outgoing-india-support-staff-for-their-contribution ndia captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the outgoing coaching staff -- Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar -- for their contributions in making the Indian team a strong outfit. https://opinionexpress.in/gayle-du-plessis-among-players-picked-for-lanka-premier-league The likes of West Indies' Chris Gayle, South Africa's Faf du Plessis and Pakistan's Shoaib Malik were picked up for this edition of the Lanka Premier League during the 'Player Draft' held in Colombo on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-initiates-digital-mission-for-digitisation-of-health-records The Union Health Ministry has initiated digital registration of all medical facilities and doctors under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. https://opinionexpress.in/nsas-meet-on-afghanistan-india-calls-for-greater-cooperation-consultations National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday called for close consultations and greater cooperation among the regional countries, participating in the NSA-level conference on Afghanistan here. https://opinionexpress.in/vmware-intel-to-help-indian-women-developers-restart-careers Enterprise software major VMware on Wednesday announced its collaboration with Intel in India to enable women developers restart their careers after a break. https://opinionexpress.in/australias-new-south-wales-crosses-90-vaccination-mark  Health authorities in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), said on Wednesday that the long-awaited 90 per cent double-dose target for its over-16 population had been passed. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-afsana-khan-told-to-move-out-of-the-house Afsana Khan has reportedly been asked to move out of the 'Bigg Boss 15' house as she went physical with Shamita Shetty on the show. https://opinionexpress.in/kriti-sanon-joins-team-ganapath-in-the-uk Tiger Shroff once again left the audience stunned with his jaw-dropping action video from his under-production film 'Ganapath', a few days back. Cranking the excitement up a notch, Tiger's co-star Kriti Sanon has now joined the film's crew in the UK. https://opinionexpress.in/google-announces-first-cohort-of-gni-startups-lab-india After announcing the Google News Initiative (GNI) Startups Lab, tech giant Google on Wednesday announced the names of ten startups that will form the first cohort of the GNI Startups Lab. https://opinionexpress.in/reeling-under-rain-havoc-tn-braces-for-more Even as it is reeling under the impact of rain fury, Tamil Nadu is bracing for more trouble with the Met Department predicting further rain over the next five days. The state government has put the death toll so far, due to rains, at five. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-real-estate-problems-to-hit-global-markets-us-federal-reserve Troubles in China's vast real estate sector could spill over to the global economy, including the United States, according to the US Federal Reserve, the CNN reported. https://opinionexpress.in/bamboo-solution-to-tackle-climate-crisis-expert-at-cop26 With the construction industry having a huge environmental footprint, especially in developing nations like India, where a lot of construction to take place over the next 50 years, timber and bamboo offer a solution to reduce carbon emissions, says an expert. https://opinionexpress.in/glad-law-minister-understands-hard-work-put-in-by-judges-cji-lead Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Tuesday said he was glad that Law Minister Kiren Rijiju fully understood the hard work put in by judges. Both the Chief Justice and Law Minister addressed the Legal Services Day celebrations, organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at Sharda University, Noida. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-authorised-force-against-tlp-pak-military-opposed The Pakistan military leadership had advised against the use of force against the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protesters after Prime Minister Imran Khan had authorised it, Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/rohit-to-lead-india-in-t20is-against-kiwis   https://opinionexpress.in/governor-cannot-delay-decision-on-disqualification-of-mlas-sc New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday orally observed that the Manipur Governor cannot delay a decision on the recommendation made by the Election Commission on disqualification of 12 BJP MLAs on the issue of the office of profit. https://opinionexpress.in/tlp-relief-may-promote-demands-from-various-banned-outfits-in-pak The decision by the Imran Khan led-government to give a major relief to the previously proscribed organisation Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) from the First Schedule, has not only disappointed many in the country, but has also spread concerns over the precedent being set by the government, that may prompt other banned outfits to demand the same relief. https://opinionexpress.in/for-ekta-kapoor-padma-shri-honour-is-the-answer-to-sceptics TV producer Ekta Kapoor was recently awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour. Given her success, Ekta has become a force to reckon with. https://opinionexpress.in/us-lawmakers-urge-biden-to-declare-formal-end-to-korean-war A group of US lawmakers sent a letter to President Joe Biden last week, urging his administration to quickly engage with North Korea and discuss declaring a formal end to the Korean War, an activist group said. https://opinionexpress.in/sanjay-bangar-appointed-rcb-head-coach Indian Premier League (IPL) side Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday announced the appointment of former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar as head coach of the franchise for the 2022 season of the lucrative league. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-to-add-indias-covaxin-to-approved-list-from-nov-22 Hyderabad-based pharma major Bharat Biotech's Covid vaccine Covaxin will be added to the UK government's approved list of vaccines for international travellers from November 22. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-declares-holidays-on-chhath-kartik-purnima Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced public holidays on 'Chhath' (November 10) and 'Kartik Purnima' (November 19) in view of the 'popular sentiments'. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-defence-expo-focuses-on-space-ai-cooperation Indian and US defence officials and business people have focused on partnering in space and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at a virtual expo, according to the US Department of Defence (DoD). https://opinionexpress.in/oneplus-nord-2-x-pac-man-edition-announced-for-rs-37999 Smartphone maker OnePlus has officially announced the Pac-Man Edition of the Nord 2. https://opinionexpress.in/nasa-spacexs-crew-2-astronauts-return-to-earth-safely Four astronauts, part of NASA-SpaceX Crew-2 mission, have safely returned to Earth after setting a record for the longest spaceflight by a US crewed spacecraft. https://opinionexpress.in/confined-i-into-the-dustbin-and-replaced-it-with-we-thats-my-achievement-shastri There were no egos in the Indian dressing room and the word 'I' was consigned to the dustbin during the last five years of his tenure as the chief coach of the side, asserted Ravi Shastri as he addressed his last press conference following the nine-wickets win against Namibia in the final 'Super 12' game of the ICC T20 World Cup here. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-rises-over-100-pts-in-early-trade-nifty-tops-18100 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 100 points in early trade on Tuesday tracking gains in index-heavyweights ICICI Bank, Infosys and L&T, despite a weak trend in Asian markets and sustained foreign fund outflow. https://opinionexpress.in/badshah-divine-mikey-mccleary-give-desi-touch-to-red-notice Musicians Badshah, Divine, Jonita Gandhi and Mikey McCleary have collaborated with Universal Music India for a celebratory song titled 'Bachke Rehna Re Baba' for the upcoming action-packed Netflix film 'Red Notice'. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-prices-remain-unchanged-for-5th-straight-day After big cuts in petrol and diesel prices following the Centre and states reducing taxes, fuel prices remained unchanged on Tuesday providing further relief to consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-minimum-temperature-dips-to-13-degrees The minimum temperature in Delhi dipped to 13 degrees Celsius as residents of the national capital woke up to a misty Tuesday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-govt-to-train-shramik-mitras-to-help-construction-workers Delhi government will train 700 to 800 'Shramik Mitras' across the national capital to ensure that the registered construction workers are aware of the assistance schemes proposed for them by the government. https://opinionexpress.in/army-signs-mou-wkashmir-university-for-academic-courses-to-soldiers A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday between the University of Kashmir and the Srinagar headquartered 15 corps of the army to provide different courses to soldiers serving in Kashmir. https://opinionexpress.in/final-voter-list-for-odisha-panchayat-polls-to-be-published-on-dec-14 The final voters' list for Panchayat elections in Odisha will be published on December 14, State Election Commissioner (SEC) Aditya Prasad Padhi said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/wang-yaping-becomes-first-chinese-woman-to-walk-in-space Wang Yaping has become the first Chinese female astronaut to conduct spacewalk outside the Tianhe space station module, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). https://opinionexpress.in/microsofts-carbon-negative-goal-to-get-un-award  Microsoft will be carbon negative by 2030. By 2050, the US-based tech giant will remove from the environment all the carbon the company has emitted either directly or by electrical consumption since it was founded in 1975. https://opinionexpress.in/big-tech-now-a-quarter-of-sp-500-combined-market-cap Microsoft is now worth a smidge more than Apple, making the Satya Nadella-led cloud software giant the world's most valuable company. Both companies are worth about $2.5 trillion, CNN reported. https://opinionexpress.in/aus-surpasses-2020-covid-death-toll-amid-3rd-wave Australia's coronavirus death toll for 2021 has surpassed that of last year as the country continues to battle the third wave of the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/gayle-an-absolute-legend-but-nowhere-near-fans-expectations-at-t20-world-cup Former West Indian cricketer Samuel Badree said that he expected a much better performance from the Caribbean side than what they dished out at the ICC T20 World Cup, given that many of them were playing their last World Cup. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-unbeaten-pakistan-beat-scotland-by-72-runs-finish-as-group-2-toppers Pakistan continued their unbeaten streak in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with a 72-run win over Scotland in their last Group 2 match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Sunday. With the big win, Pakistan signed off from the Super 12 as the toppers of Group 2. They are the only team to enter the semi-finals undefeated. https://opinionexpress.in/salma-hayek-confirms-multiple-movie-deals-with-marvel-following-eternals Actress Salma Hayek has signed up with Marvel for "multiple" movies. "I did sign multiple movie deals. That doesn't mean they're going to put me in it." https://opinionexpress.in/spider-man-no-way-home-to-release-in-india-on-dec-17 Actor Tom Holland and Zendaya starrer 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' is all set to hit the Indian big screen on December 17.The film will also have appearances from Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds and Marisa Tomei as Aunt May.Holland's version of Peter Parker made its debut in 'Captain America: Civil War' and went on to feature in two solo movies and two 'Avengers' films.The poster of the film was unveiled on Monday. It shares a glimpse of William Dafoe's Green Goblin in the background. Meanwhile, Dr. Otto Octavius also known as Doc Ock's mechanical arms, Electro's lighting, and sand from Sandman can also be seen.Sony Pictures Entertainment India is releasing 'Spiderman: No Way Home' in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. https://opinionexpress.in/4-crpf-men-killed-after-colleague-opens-fire-in-chhattisgarhs-sukma Four CRPF personnel were killed and 13 others injured after their colleague opened fire at them in a camp of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/drop-armed-resistance-against-the-taliban-russia-to-massod Noting the formation of a new resistance front against the Taliban by some politicians and military leaders of the previous Afghan regime, Russia has called for abandonment of any plans of armed struggle which could further destablise the situation in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/imperial-college-london-has-multiple-ties-with-chinese-military-specialists Imperial College London has established multiple ties with Chinese military specialists besides forging relationships with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/frl-flags-cci-over-amazons-evil-non-desirable-designs The independent directors of Future Retail Limited (FRL) have written to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), urging it to act to stop Amazon from "perpetuating its evil non-desirable designs" for the purpose of eliminating competition. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-new-zealand-wins-end-indian-hopes A clinical bowling performance followed by a solid batting display led New Zealand to a comprehensive 8-wicket win over Afghanistan in their last Super 12 stage match and helped them qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/work-as-bridge-of-faith-for-common-man-pm-modi-tells-party-workers Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked BJP workers to reach out to the people and work as a "bridge of faith" for the common man. https://opinionexpress.in/sooryavanshi-hits-the-screen-alls-well-that-ends-well The cinemas have opened up for business, in some states, without conditions save for Covid-19 protocols like sanitization etc, while in others they will have to function under restrictions in sitting capacity. There was a great sense of relief and a wave of joy when, finally, the Maharashtra government too agreed to lift the total lockdown. https://opinionexpress.in/why-centre-not-giving-clarity-on-arunachal-congress Amid the Pentagon report on China's Intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress on Sunday asked the Centre to clarify the situation, and also alleged that the government's approach was like "head in sand", which is damaging country's the territorial sovereignty. https://opinionexpress.in/travis-scott-concert-tragedy-spiked-drugs-behind-cases-of-cardiac-arrest Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has promised a "thorough review and investigation" of the tragedy at the Travis Scott-headlined Astroworld festival in the city, where eight people died and more than 300 were injured as crowds surged and stampeded during Scott's set, reports 'Variety'. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rain-cyclonic-winds-predicted-in-tn-for-next-few-days The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rain in several districts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday and for the next few days. https://opinionexpress.in/ducati-unveils-its-most-advanced-e-scooter Italian motorcycle brand Ducati has unveiled its most advanced electric scooter yet, the Ducati Pro-III e-scooter at $924. https://opinionexpress.in/actor-vishwa-likely-to-leave-bigg-boss-telugu-5 Saturday's episode of 'Bigg Boss Telugu 5' had host Nagarjuna creating much fun with his conversations with the inmates and making them do other fun tasks. With not many incidents to address this week, Nagarjuna had congratulated Anne for winning the captaincy task as he proceeded to talk about individual performances this week. https://opinionexpress.in/karnataka-cheers-cricketer-kl-rahul-athiya-shetty-bonding Ever since India cricketer KL Rahul announced to the world about his lady love, Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty, by wishing her happy birthday, the people of Karnataka, especially Rahul's fans, are in celebration mode. https://opinionexpress.in/travis-scott-concert-tragedy-two-children-aged-14-and-16-among-8-dead Two children, aged 14 and 16, were among the eight people who died at American rapper Travis Scott's Astroworld music festival in Houston on Friday night (U.S Central Time), the city's mayor said. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-price-rise-on-pause-after-duty-cuts After big cuts in petrol and diesel prices following the Centre and states reducing taxes, fuel prices have remained unchanged providing further relief to consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/at-10853-india-sees-marginal-decline-in-new-covid-cases India reported 10,853 fresh Covid cases and 526 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family welfare on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-national-executive-meet-begins-in-delhi The first meeting of BJP national executive after 2019 Lok Sabha polls started in the national capital on Sunday to discuss forthcoming Assembly elections in five states and other current issues. https://opinionexpress.in/ncp-linked-sunil-patil-mastermind-of-cruise-party-raid-bjp-activist In yet another twist to the Cordelia Cruiser raid, a BJP activist on Saturday claimed that Sunil Patel, who is linked with NCP leaders, is the alleged "mastermind" of the sensational case in which Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested. https://opinionexpress.in/bhai-dooj-horror-maha-hospital-blaze-toll-shoots-up-to-ten In a 'bhai-dooj' day gruesome tragedy, at least 10 patients perished and 7 more are injured when a massive blaze swept through the Intensive Care Unit of the Ahmednagar Civil Hospital, here on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/ncb-ddg-sanjay-singh-starts-probe-in-aryan-khan-drug-case The newly constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Narcotics Control Bureau Deputy Director General Sanjay Singh on Saturday started probe in six drug cases including of Aryan Khan lodged with Mumbai Zonal office. https://opinionexpress.in/search-operation-underway-in-jks-rajouri-for-trapped-terrorists A massive search operation was underway on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district where two terrorists are believed to be trapped, according to police sources. https://opinionexpress.in/ready-to-contest-polls-from-wherever-party-says-yogi In the run-up to the 2022 Assembly polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that he is ready to contest the elections from wherever the party decides. https://opinionexpress.in/despite-rotten-rating-on-rotten-tomatoes-eternals-makes-good-money In the footsteps of the Marvel superhero films released this year, 'Eternals' raked in $9.5 million at its Thursday previews, making it the third best for the Covid era, behind 'Black Widow' ($13.2 million) and 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' ($11.6 million). Its haul was ahead, though, of 'Shang-Chi', which had opened with $8.8 million, reports 'Variety'. https://opinionexpress.in/cinema-is-back-sooryavanshi-lifts-box-office-with-historic-numbers Rohit Shetty's "Sooryavanshi" finally released on Friday after hitting multiple roadblocks over the last 18 months, but it seems to have been worth the wait. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-protest-fire-breaks-out-in-tent-installed-at-delhis-singhu-border Amid the ongoing farmers' protest at various borders of the national capital against the three Central farm laws, a fire broke out in a tent installed at the Singhu border. However, there has been no loss of human lives reported due to the fire. https://opinionexpress.in/f1-extends-chinese-grand-prix-contract-to-2025 Formula 1 has extended its contract with the Chinese Grand Prix, in a move that will keep the championship coming to Shanghai until 2025. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovic-overcomes-fritz-stays-on-course-for-sixth-paris-masters-title Serbian world No. 1 Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a record 37th ATP Masters 1000 crown, overcoming the early resistance of American Taylor Fritz to reach the Rolex Paris Masters semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win in 74 minutes here. https://opinionexpress.in/kristen-stewart-wants-to-play-james-bond-villain Actress Kristen Stewart has revealed that she would love to star in a 007 movie and suggested that she could combine the roles of Bond girl and Bond villain. https://opinionexpress.in/athiya-shetty-kl-rahul-make-relationship-public On actress Athiya Shetty's 29th birthday, cricketer KL Rahul made their relationship Instagram official with a loved-up post. https://opinionexpress.in/air-quality-in-delhi-ncr-a-notch-better More than 36 hours after Diwali celebrations, the pollution level in the National Capital Region continued to remain in the 'severe' category on Saturday, but with the AQI level coming down to less than 500 and strong winds during the day are likely to help dissipate the pollution further. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-10929-fresh-covid-cases India on Saturday reported 10,929 fresh Covid-19 cases, 14.2 per cent lower than Friday's overall infections, according to the Union Health Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-shah-rajnath-greet-nation-on-bhai-dooj Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP National President J.P. Nadda greeted the nation on the occasion of Bhai Dooj on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/joblessness-top-concern-of-urban-indians-in-oct-2021-survey Joblessness is the top concern of Urban Indians in October 2021 while global citizens are more worried about poverty and social inequality, Ipsos What Worries the World global monthly survey has said. https://opinionexpress.in/fm-shares-video-to-highlight-digital-payment-revolution The revolution in digital payment is sweeping through India with even petty shops and even roadside vendors using QR code but a video shared by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Twitter shows even alms-seekers are not left behind. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-india-thrash-scotland-by-8-wickets KL Rahul (50 off 19 balls) and Rohit Sharma (30 off 16 balls) went berserk in Power-play as India thrashed Scotland by eight wickets in a Group 2 match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium here on Friday. After bowling out Scotland for 85, India made 89/2 with 81 balls to spare. The win means that India has a higher net run rate than Afghanistan and New Zealand. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-ncb-head-sameer-wankhede-deboarded-from-cruise-ship-case In a significant development, the Narcotics Control Bureau's controversial Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede was on Friday shifted out from the investigations into the sensational cruise ship party raid of October 2 in which Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, was arrested. https://opinionexpress.in/gene-that-doubles-risk-of-lung-failure-due-to-covid-common-in-south-asians University of Oxford scientists have uncovered a gene that doubles the risk of lung failure and death from Covid, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/aryan-with-friends-visit-ncb-office-to-mark-presence-in-mumbai As directed by the Bombay High Court, Aryan Khan, Munmun Dhamecha and Arbaaz Merchant on Friday visited the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to mark their weekly 3-hour attendance with the probe agency. https://opinionexpress.in/uber-hit-with-24-bn-net-loss-in-q3-as-rides-return-to-normal Ride-hailing company Uber witnessed wider losses to the tune of 2.4 billion dollars in the third quarter (Q3), owing to a drop in the value of its investment holdings and particularly in China-based online mobility firm Didi. https://opinionexpress.in/do-something-have-another-tournament-on-the-lines-of-cpl-in-wi-says-a-frustrated-pollard West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard has asked Cricket West Indies (CWI) to start another tournament, other than the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), in order to unearth "new talents" in the wake of another humiliating defeat suffered at the hands of Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup 'Super 12' round. https://opinionexpress.in/squid-game-tops-3-billion-minutes-viewed-globally South Korean survival drama television 'Squid Game' has become a global phenomenon since its debut on Netflix on September 17. It has topped three billion total minutes viewed during the week of October 4, according to Nielsen Streaming Content Ratings rankings. https://opinionexpress.in/a-day-after-rate-cuts-petrol-diesel-prices-remain-static A day after big cuts in petrol and diesel prices following Centre and states reducing taxes, fuel prices remained unchanged on Friday under the daily price revision mechanism followed by oil marketing companies. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-unveils-adi-shankaracharyas-idol-at-kedarnath-to-revive-cultural-legacy The people of Karnataka are feeling proud as the idol of Adi Shankaracharya (Hindu philosopher who revived Hinduism in India) was unveiled in Kedarnath in Uttarakhand on Friday, said the sculptor, who carved the idol here in nine months. The 12-feet Shankaracharya idol was sculpted out of a single piece of rock by local sculptor Arun Yogiraj and his team. https://opinionexpress.in/worlds-first-oral-pill-against-covid-is-ready The UK's medicines regulator on Thursday approved Merck's molnupiravir -- the world's first oral antiviral medicine against Covid-19, which can halve the risk of hospitalisation or death for patients with mild or moderate cases of the infectious disease, the company said. https://opinionexpress.in/nations-fail-to-address-climate-literacy-to-combat-crisis With COP26 in full swing, now is the critical time for countries to commit to and prioritize formal climate education as a strategy to combat the climate crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-wild-card-entry-raqesh-bapat-says-shamita-shetty-a-strong-contender Ex-Bigg Boss OTT contestants Neha Bhasin and Raqesh Bapat are the new wild card entries in the 'Bigg Boss 15' house. They will join the other ‘Bigg Boss OTT contestants Shamita Shetty, Pratik Sehajpal and Nishant Bhat. Rajiv Adatia had already got a place in the house as a wild card entry. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-air-quality-turns-hazardous-after-diwali The air quality index (AQI) crossed the 600-mark at several places across the national capital with a few places in east Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida crossing the 800-mark on Friday morning, hours after the people burst firecrackers on Diwali night making the Delhi-NCR air hazardous. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-diwali-to-all-our-esteemed-readers-patrons Celebrating the festival of light, joy, and happiness.. https://youtu.be/p1W-NCaSTYU https://opinionexpress.in/concern-over-chinas-compliance-with-biological-weapons-nuclear-warheads China's advancements in its nuclear capability, including that the accelerated pace of their nuclear expansion, may enable China to have up to 700 deliverable nuclear warheads by 2027, the US Department of Defense (DOD) said. https://opinionexpress.in/aqi-of-8-areas-in-delhi-ncr-crosses-400-mark-on-diwali-afternoon Even before bursting of crackers, the air quality of Delhi-NCR region has worsened further as AQI of eight areas here has crossed the 400-mark and settled at 'severe' category by Thursday afternoon, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/exxonmobil-chevron-toyota-among-negative-companies-on-climate-policy The top five most negatively influential global companies on Paris-aligned climate policy are ExxonMobil, Chevron, Toyota, Southern Company and Sempra, the North American energy infrastructure company headquartered in California. https://opinionexpress.in/after-stamp-us-lawmaker-pilots-bill-for-diwali-holiday-rocks-twitter New York Congresswoman, Carolyn B. Maloney has piloted a bill that aims to secure a federal holiday on Diwali. Maloney, 75, is chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and former chair of the Joint Economic Committee, the first woman to hold both of these positions. Only 18 women have chaired Congressional committees. She is most remembered among Indians for a seven-year-long battle, before US postal service, in 2016, finally issued a stamp commemorating Diwali. https://opinionexpress.in/growing-is-attacks-put-taliban-in-precarious-position In the two months since the Taliban took control of the country, the Islamic State (IS) affiliate in Afghanistan, known as IS-Khorasan or IS-K, has stepped up attacks across the country, straining the new and untested government and raising alarm bells in the West about the potential resurgence of a group that could eventually pose an international threat, The New York Times reported. https://opinionexpress.in/cm-bommais-rejected-on-his-home-turf-in-ktaka-what-next-for-bjp Karnataka BJP leaders though trying to cover up the humiliating defeat in Hangal bypolls with victory in Sindgi constituency, the results have triggered a debate on the party's grand plan of facing upcoming general elections under the leadership of present Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-to-launch-long-term-leasing-out-of-itdc-hotels After selecting a new buyer for Air India, the Central government has accelerated the process of handing out luxury hotels belonging to the ITDC on a long-term lease of around 40 to 60 years, industry insiders said. https://opinionexpress.in/diwali-brings-soaring-fuel-prices-down The Centre on Wednesday sweetened Diwali celebrations by announcing that it will slash excise duty rate on both petrol and diesel fuels, thus bringing down retail rates. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-biotechs-covaxin-gets-whos-nod The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday granted Emergency Use Listing approval to India's indigenously-developed Covid vaccine, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-attacks-xi-putin-for-skipping-cop26-summit US President Joe Biden has criticised the leaders of China and Russia for not turning up to the UN COP26 climate summit currently underway in Glasgow, the BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/akhilesh-to-ally-with-shivpal-give-him-full-respect Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said that his party will ally with his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL) in the 2022 Assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/by-poll-2021-wake-call-for-bjp-pleasant-surprise-for-congress The poll pundits have sounded the alarm bell for the ruling party for the severe disenchantment within the electorate of a poll-bound state. A similar disenchantment against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) showed in the results of three Lok Sabha constituencies and 29 assembly seats across 13 states.  https://opinionexpress.in/winds-will-blow-against-bjp-in-2022-chidambaram-after-bypoll-results Buoyed by the bypoll results, Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said that the electoral winds were now blowing against the BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/doing-bunty-aur-babli-2-wasnt-a-tough-decision-for-pankaj-tripathi Pankaj Tripathi is set to charm the audience once again with con-heist entertainer 'Bunty Aur Babli 2'. He will be seen playing the role of 'Jatayu Singh', a cunning cop who hatches a plan to pit the two pairs of con-artistes against each other. https://opinionexpress.in/kiara-advani-hails-faye-dsouzas-performance-in-one-mic-stand-2 The second season of 'One Mic Stand' brought influential figures like Chetan Bhagat, Sunny Leone, Karan Johar, Faye D'Souza and Raftaar under one roof as they underwent a litmus test for their comic skills in front of a live audience. https://opinionexpress.in/us-cdc-approves-distribution-of-pfizer-vax-for-kids-aged-5-11 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued formal recommendations for children aged 5-11 to get vaccinated against Covid-19 with the Pfizer vaccine. https://opinionexpress.in/widespread-rainsnow-forecast-for-jk-ladakh While the minimum temperatures continued to drop in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday, the weather office has forecast widespread rain/snow beginning from Thursday night. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-gives-customers-access-to-openais-powerful-language-model Microsoft has announced Azure OpenAI Service that will give customers access to OpenAI's powerful models in addition to the security, reliability, compliance, data privacy and other enterprise-grade capabilities built into Microsoft Azure. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovic-struggles-but-wins-opening-round-game-at-paris-masters Five-time Paris Masters champion, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, made a winning return to the Tour in his first singles game since his US Open final loss to Russian Daniil Medevdev in September, overcoming Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours to reach the third round here. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-national-executive-committee-meet-on-sunday To discuss the forthcoming assembly elections in five states and other current issues, the BJP's National Executive Committee (NEC) will be held on Sunday, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a valedictory speech. https://opinionexpress.in/robert-downey-jr-matt-damon-to-star-in-nolans-oppenheimer-movie Actors Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon will star in Christopher Nolan's upcoming World War II epic aOppenheimer', a drama about the development of the atomic bomb. https://opinionexpress.in/green-park-multi-level-parking-collapse-due-to-pallet-displacement-official A portion of the automated multi-level parking at Delhi's Green Park area collapsed due to a technical glitch in its pallets, an SDMC official said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/diwali-relief-petrol-diesel-prices-remain-static As a Diwali relief, fuel consumers were spared as oil marketing companies decided to keep the retail price of petrol and diesel unchanged on Wednesday in line with slight softening of global oil rates that is expecting OPEC to pump more oil this month. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-11903-covid-19-cases-in-24-hrs India registered 11,903 fresh Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/diwali-will-bring-an-end-to-bjps-misrule-in-up-akhilkesh Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has expressed confidence that this Diwali will bring an end to the misrule of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/choose-a-healthy-track-to-manage-diabetes The festive season is around the corner and with sugar-laden sweets, snacks and luncheons, festive eating tends to tip towards an indulgence. The pandemic alongside the festive season gives us double the reason to take care of our health, especially if you are living with a chronic health condition like diabetes. People with diabetes need to find ways to manage their health smartly and effectively to mitigate risks that come with the disease such as kidney problems, heart diseases, nerve issues, foot problems, and so on. Controlling glucose levels, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regular medical consultations are key to managing this disease effectively. https://opinionexpress.in/world-leaders-signal-clear-shift-from-ambition-to-action-at-glasgow World leaders were in the UK for day three of the UN Climate Change Conference or COP26 on Tuesday where a wide range of announcements focused on signalling a clear shift from ambition to immediate action. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-singh-new-political-party-is-punjab-lok-congress Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday resigned from Congress and sent a seven-page letter to party President Sonia Gandhi. He named his party the Punjab Lok Congress. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-in-himachal-lost-all-4-seats-to-congress In a major embarrassment for the state ruling BJP, the Congress on Tuesday won the Mandi Lok Sabha bypoll along with all three Assembly constituencies -- Arki, Fatehpur and Jubbal-Kotkhai -- in bypolls. https://opinionexpress.in/farah-khan-kunder-gets-uae-golden-visa Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan Kunder has been feted with the UAE Golden Visa. https://opinionexpress.in/prabhu-devas-unit-shoots-at-scenic-aagaya-gangai-waterfalls The unit of actor Prabhu Deva's upcoming film that is being directed by Pa Vijay has done something that most other film units haven't thought of doing before. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-candidate-leading-in-mandi-ls-seat Kargil war hero Brigadier (retd) Khushal Thakur of the BJP is trailing with over 4,500 votes over his nearest rival Pratibha Singh of the Congress in the Mandi parliamentary seat in Himachal Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-owned-satellite-company-starlink-forms-india-subsidiary Elon Musk-owned satellite company Starlink has registered its business in India and it is in process to apply for licenses in the country, according to Sanjay Bhargava, India director for Starlink. https://opinionexpress.in/auto-fuel-price-rise-continues-unabated Fuel prices increased again on Tuesday for the seventh consecutive day as global oil prices failed to relent and continued to remain firm. https://opinionexpress.in/facebook-india-seeks-14-day-extension-from-delhi-assembly-over-summon Facebook India has sought a 14-day extension to appear before the Delhi Assembly's Committee on Peace and Harmony, which had summoned the social media giant to send its senior representative to testify on November 2 over the February 2020 riots in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/w-bengal-bypolls-tmc-leading-in-all-four-constituencies Trinamool Congress is leading in all the four Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, early trends show. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-ed-arrests-anil-deshmukh-in-money-laundering-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh in an alleged money-laundering case after questioning him for more than 13 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/fb-instagram-remove-over-30-mn-content-pieces-in-india-in-sep Meta, the newly-formed parent company of Facebook and its family of apps, on Monday said that it has removed over 30 million pieces of content in September on Facebook and Instagram in India, as it faces intense security over user data privacy. https://opinionexpress.in/india-emerging-as-a-drug-trafficking-hub From a minor amount in the drug bust on a cruise ship off Mumbai to a haul of 3,000 kg heroin at a Gujarat port, cases of contraband consumption and seizures are on the rise in India, as government data bears out. This has got the authorities worried that the rise of Taliban in Afghanistan may have had a role in the emergence of India as the newest hub not just for consumption but also for trafficking of a variety of drugs. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-attacks-yogi-for-no-cabinet-rank-woman-minister-in-up Congress leaders have slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his comment that the party is not appointing a common woman as party president, and questioned him why there is no cabinet-rank woman minister in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/upi-transactions-cross-100-bn-for-1st-time-in-october India saw a whopping Rs 7.7 lakh crore (over $100 billion by value) digital transactions via unified payments interface (UPI) in October for the first time, according to latest data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-sbi-chairman-held-for-selling-hotel-property-at-cheap-price-by-declaring-it-npa Former SBI chairman Pratip Chaudhary has been arrested by the Jaisalmer Police from Delhi on the basis of arrest orders issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in the case of selling a hotel property at a cheap price after declaring it NPA. Pratip Chaudhary was arrested on Sunday and will be brought to Jaisalmer on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/record-no1-finish-at-stake-as-djokovic-begins-paris-masters-campaign Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic would be aiming to clinch his seventh year-end No. 1 finish in the ATP Rankings -- which would break his tie with American great Pete Sampras for the most year-end No. 1 finishes in history -- when he makes a long-awaited return to the Rolex Paris Masters beginning later on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gandhi-jayant-airport-meeting-creates-a-buzz Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had a chance meeting with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) President Jayant Chaudhary at the VIP lounge of the Lucknow airport which has created a buzz. https://opinionexpress.in/democratic-values-need-to-be-protected-at-all-costs-rahul Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi greeted several States which are marking their Formation Days on Monday. He said that the 'democratic values need to be protected at any cost as the States were carved for this'. https://opinionexpress.in/manushi-chhillar-roped-in-for-unicefs-nationwide-youth-campaign Debutante and former Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar has been roped in by Unicef for a youth campaign. She says there is an urgent need to connect young people to 21st century skills and livelihood opportunities, while engaging them as change-makers effectively. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-price-rise-continues-unabated-petrol-over-rs-115ltr-in-mumbai Petrol and diesel prices increased again on Monday, the sixth consecutive day of increase, as global oil prices failed to relent and continued to remain firm. https://opinionexpress.in/global-cues-lift-sentiments-equity-indices-trade-higher Healthy global cues along with better valuations lifted India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - during Monday's early-morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/schools-reopen-in-tamil-nadu-for-classes-1-to-8 Students of Classes 1 to 8 in Tamil Nadu have started attending school after a gap of nearly 20 months. The Covid-19 pandemic had led to the closure of schools since March 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/mainly-clear-sky-in-delhi-with-max-temperature-of-28-degrees Delhi will have a mainly clear sky on Monday, with a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 14 degrees, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-to-address-high-level-cop26-segment-on-monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the high-level 'Action and Solidarity: The Critical Decade' segment at the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change or COP26 on Monday evening. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-wc-boult-sodhi-set-up-new-zealands-8-wicket-rout-of-india Trent Boult (3/20) and Ish Sodhi (2/17) led a clinical show with the ball to set up New Zealand's eight-wicket thrashing of India in an important Group 2 match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/foreign-fund-flow-activity-will-increase-in-india The month of September saw listed funds inflows of $362 million, dominated by ETF inflows of $295 million. https://opinionexpress.in/xi-jinpings-lack-of-foreign-travel-signals-a-turn-inward-for-china Chinese President Xi Jinping's lack of face time with world leaders signals a turn inward on domestic issues and a reluctance to compromise on the global stage, The New York Times reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-bommais-final-goodbye-to-puneeth-rajkumar Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai bid an affectionate goodbye to Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar early on Sunday morning before the final procession at the Kanteerava Stadium. https://opinionexpress.in/auto-fuel-prices-rise-continues-unabated Petrol and diesel prices increased again on Sunday for a fifth consecutive day as global oil prices failed to relent and continued to remain firm. https://opinionexpress.in/sheikh-hasinas-son-blames-bnp-jamat-for-communal-violence-in-bdesh Terming the unholy alliance between the war criminals of 1971 Jamat-e-Islam and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as the evil ghosts of Pakistan, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Information technology advisor and only son of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, said these radical parties are responsible for the recent attacks on Hindus that left seven dead across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/officer-soldier-killed-in-mysterious-blast-in-jks-rajouri An officer and a soldier were killed in a mysterious blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K's Rajouri district on Saturday, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-will-end-up-making-modi-very-powerful-mamata Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to be very powerful because of the Congress' inability to decide on aligning with regional parties, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday, adding that apart from Tripura, Goa and Meghalaya, contesting in Uttar Pradesh was also on the party's radar. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-meets-pope-invitation-extended-to-visit-india Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Pope Francis on Saturday at the Vatican and invited the head of the Catholic Church to visit India. This gesture of PM Narendra Modi is likely to alter his governmemnt's anti-minority hardline image.   https://opinionexpress.in/loot-through-electricity-bills-will-be-ended-when-cong-forms-govt-in-up-priyanka Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday alleged that people of Uttar Pradesh are reeling under the "loot" of electricity bills in the BJP-ruled state and said this will be ended when her party comes to power. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-recalls-over-2750-model-3-model-y-vehicles-over-separating-suspensions Electric vehicle maker Tesla is recalling 2,791 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over concerns that their front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, potentially shifting the wheel alignment and increasing the risk of a crash. https://opinionexpress.in/ss-rajamouli-on-rrr-actors-audiences-have-risen-above-language-barriers Veteran Filmmaker SS Rajamouli says that he doesn't categorise actors or audience based on their language, for him there is just the Indian audience and actors that fit the part. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-origin-pharma-ceo-killed-in-robbery-attempt-after-casino-win The Indian-origin CEO of a pharmaceutical company has been killed in a robbery attempt allegedly by a man who followed him home from a casino after seeing him win nearly $10,000, according to media reports. https://opinionexpress.in/google-unable-to-meet-pixel-6-pro-demand-report Tech giant Google is unable to meet the Pixel 6 Pro demand and seems to be running low inventory, resorting to waitlists that notify about the phone's availability, media reports say. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-telugu-5-weekend-round-up Before the weekend eliminations happen, here is the whole week's round-up of 'Bigg Boss Telegu 5'. The week started with Sunny being the captain, as he and his ration manager RJ Kajal are seen doing their duties well, despite the initial hiccups. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-lucknow-ahmedabad-likely-to-target-warner-rahul-iyer-and-pandya-via-draft-system The 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a 10-team affair and the two new inducted teams, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, are likely to target T20 stars -- David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya and Surya Kumar Yadav, among others to make a solid team and loyal fan base. https://opinionexpress.in/rajkummar-bhumi-starrer-badhaai-do-to-release-on-2022-republic-day-weekend Actors Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar-starrer 'Badhaai Do' will release theatrically on 2022 Republic Day weekend. https://opinionexpress.in/puneeth-to-be-cremated-with-full-state-honours-on-saturday Famous Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar, who passed away at the age of 46, will be cremated on Saturday evening here with full state honour. https://opinionexpress.in/33-voter-turnout-recorded-in-assam-bypolls The ongoing bypolls to the five Assembly seats in Assam has registered a 33 per cent voter turnout since people started casting their ballots at 7 a.m. on Saturday, amidst tight security and Covid-19 protocols, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-bypolls-continue-peacefully Voting to the by-elections in the four Assembly constituencies in West Bengal is underway peacefully on Saturday, with Santipur recording the highest polling percentage in the first two hours. https://opinionexpress.in/clear-sky-in-delhi-ncr-aqi-very-poor Delhi-NCR will have a mainly clear sky on Saturday with the maximum temperature being pegged at 30 degrees Celsius and minimum at 15, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). https://opinionexpress.in/3327-polling-till-11-am-in-huzurabad-by-election Over 30 per cent polling was recorded in the first four hours of the by-election to the Huzurabad Assembly constituency in Telangana on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/aryan-khan-walks-out-of-jail-on-bail Ending a long vigil, Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, finally walked out of the Arthur Road Central Jail (ARCJ) here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/no-body-will-be-spared-in-bitcoin-drug-scandal-bommai Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday reiterated that his government is conducting investigations into drugs, money laundering and bitcoin scandals with all honesty and there is no question of saving anyone. https://opinionexpress.in/global-legislators-to-demand-tough-stand-on-china-from-g20-countries An unprecedented meeting of Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) is taking place in Rome to coincide with the G20 summit to expose China's human rights abuses before the international community. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-meets-indian-diaspora-in-rome On the first day of his visit to Rome ahead of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Indian diaspora in the Italian capital city. https://opinionexpress.in/kannada-film-star-puneeth-rajkumar-passes-away Popular Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar, son of Kannada cinema legend Rajkumar, passed away at the age of 46 following a massive heart attack on Friday. Consequently, security has been beefed up across Karnataka. https://opinionexpress.in/hum-do-hamare-do-a-frothy-family-drama-that-keeps-you-entertained Film: 'Hum Do Hamare Do' (Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar) https://opinionexpress.in/railway-min-withdraws-decision-on-sharing-irctc-convenience-fee-shares-recover-losses The Ministry of Railways has decided to withdraw its decision on sharing of convenience fee earned by IRCTC on online bookings of train tickets, DIPAM Secretary said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/quite-funny-when-people-talk-about-my-form-david-warner Australian opener David Warner has said that people talking about his form is "quite funny", given that he has hardly played competitive cricket in the last few months, adding that he was "never worried about it" coming into the ICC T20 World Cup here. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-police-removing-barricades-at-tikri-ghazipur-borders In a big relief to commuters, the Delhi Police have started removing barricades along the Tikri and Ghazipur borders, 11 months after these were installed to stop the farmers from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh entering the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/facebook-whatsapp-insta-apps-retain-name-as-parent-finds-a-new-one-meta Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday announced that his company will have a new name, Meta. https://opinionexpress.in/matthew-perry-to-release-autobiography-next-year 'Friends' star Matthew Perry is set to release an autobiography in late 2022, as he said he feels it's time for him to tell his own story "directly from the horse's mouth". https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-governor-shaktikanta-dass-term-extended The Centre has extended the tenure of Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das by another three years. https://opinionexpress.in/global-cues-dent-sentiments-equity-indices-trade-lower Mixed global cues dented India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - during Friday's early-morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-air-quality-poor-imd-forecasts-clear-skies Even though Delhi will have mainly a clear sky on Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed that the city's air quality index has dipped to the 'poor' category. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-ambassador-said-pegasus-was-bought-by-govt-chidambaram After the Israeli Ambassador said that the Pegasus spyware was sold to the government, former Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the first skeleton has tumbled out. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gandhi-meets-family-of-dead-farmer-in-lalitpur Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday met the family of a farmer who died allegedly due to distress over the non-availability of fertilizer. https://opinionexpress.in/glitz-and-dramz Situated in the heart of the capital, Dramz is a perfect mélange of cultures and cuisines, absolutely worth all the hype, says Ayushi SharmaStrolling through the pebbled walkway while entering the much-hyped restaurant, I realized that Dramz has been designed like a Scottish home situated in the heart of the capital. Without further ado, making my way through the three-and-a-half-levelled space, I found my comfortable spot at the open-air limited seating area from where I could catch the unhindered sight of one of the Mughal era’s iconic monuments – Qutub Minar. The majestic minaret was ablaze with golden lights that accentuated its intricate carvings. My mood was, certainly, set right for the night. But before indulging in the multi-cuisine menu of the restaurant, it would be interesting to note that the journey here does not begin with the food but with ambience. The infectious vibe seemed to pervade the place. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-problem-is-with-rahul-prashant-kishore Poll strategist Prashant Kishor has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party 'is not going anywhere for many decades and the problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he thinks that the BJP will be overthrown by people'. https://opinionexpress.in/cruise-drugs-case-hc-grants-bail-to-aryan-khan Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was on Thursday granted bail by the Bombay High Court, over 20 days after his arrest in the case of seizure of banned drugs aboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. https://opinionexpress.in/global-cues-puts-sensex-down-by-over-630-pts Negative global cues along with profit booking pulled India's key equity indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- lower during Thursday's post-noon trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-injured-starc-in-doubt-for-sri-lanka-match Australia pacer Mitchell Starc is doubtful for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup clash with Sri Lanka on Thursday after suffering a leg injury during training. The Australian team management is closely monitoring his condition after he appeared limping and in pain during the nets on Wednesday evening, according to reports in the Australian media. https://opinionexpress.in/whitehat-jr-launches-music-learning-course-for-adults WhiteHat Jr, online learning platform, on Thursday announced its entry into the 18+ segment with the launch of a specially curated course to offer immersive learning opportunities for music aspirants across all age groups. https://opinionexpress.in/richa-chadha-was-a-blessing-to-be-shooting-opposite-ali-for-first-time Actress Richa Chadha will be seen sharing screen space with her beau Ali Fazal in the upcoming series 'Call My Agent: Bollywood'. She calls it a blessing as she shot opposite the actor for the first time. https://opinionexpress.in/vidyut-jammwal-joins-hands-with-panorama-studios-for-third-collaboration Action star Vidyut Jammwal will be seen collaborating with Panaroma films for the third time after 'Khuda Haafiz' and its conclusion 'Khuda Haafiz Chapter II Agni Pariksha', the portions of which are currently being shot. https://opinionexpress.in/cant-hold-up-results-of-16-lakh-students-sc-paves-way-for-declaration-of-neet-results-2021 The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay High Court's order to reconduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for two candidates, paving the way for the declaration of results of over 16 lakh students who took the exam. https://opinionexpress.in/absconder-ncb-panch-witness-kiran-gosavi-nabbed-in-pune In a significant development, the Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) of Pune Police on Thursday nabbed absconder Kiran P. Gosavi, who is wanted in several cheating cases and the prime 'Panch-Witness' of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the October 2 cruise party raids. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-trade-lower-sensex-down-by-over-450-pts Negative global cues pulled India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - lower during Thursday's early-morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/speeding-truck-kills-3-women-farmers-at-tikri-border Three females farmers from Punjab died on Thursday after a speeding truck rammed into them near the protest site at Tikri border, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-military-strategist-mullah-yaqub-omar-visible-in-kabul Mullah Yaqub Omar, the new defence minister of Afghanistan and son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, made his first appearance before the media in Kabul on Wednesday, Express Tribune reported. https://opinionexpress.in/india-successfully-test-nuclear-capable-missile-agni-5 India on Wednesday successfully tested its nuclear-capable surface to surface ballistic missile Agni-5 that can hit a target at a range of 5,000 km from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island. https://opinionexpress.in/pio-minister-anita-anand-gets-defence-portfolio-in-trudeau-government Canada's first Hindu Cabinet minister Anita Anand made history on Tuesday by becoming the country's second-ever woman defence minister by replacing fellow Indo-Canadian Harjit Sajjan as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his new Cabinet. https://opinionexpress.in/us-senators-urge-biden-administration-to-waive-sanctions-against-india US Senators and India Caucus Co-Chairs Mark Warner and John Cornyn sent a letter to President Biden encouraging him to waive Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions against India for buying military arms from Russia. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-sets-up-expert-panel-to-probe-pegasus-allegations The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it was compelled to take up the cause to determine the truth, as it appointed an independent expert technical committee supervised by a retired top court judge, Justice R.V. Raveendran, to probe the Pegasus snooping allegations. https://opinionexpress.in/nawab-malik-alleges-wankhedes-links-with-global-drugs-mafia-seeks-probe Continuing the war against the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, Nationalist Congress Party Minister Nawab Malik on Wednesday accused the officer of alleged links with the international drug mafia and demanded a probe. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-rates-raised-again-by-35-paiseltr Petrol and diesel prices increased again on Wednesday after a two-day break as global oil prices failed to relent and continued to remain firm. https://opinionexpress.in/saif-ali-khan-on-shaking-a-leg-with-rani-mukerji-again Actor Saif Ali Khan, who will be seen shaking a leg with actress Rani Mukerji after over a decade in the upcoming film 'Bunty Aur Babli 2', says they needed a hit track such as 'Tattoo waaliye' to dance again after years. https://opinionexpress.in/bhupesh-baghel-anurag-thakur-in-himachal-to-campaign-for-bypolls Congress leader and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Union Minister Anurag Thakur (BJP) will on Wednesday campaign for their respective party candidates in the final leg of canvassing for the Himachal bypolls. https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-to-star-opposite-rajkummar-rao-in-bheed Actress Bhumi Pednekar will be seen sharing screen space with Rajkummar Rao once again after 'Badhaai Do' in the upcoming social drama 'Bheed', directed by Anubhav Sinha. https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-row-sc-sets-up-committee-to-probe-snooping-allegations The Supreme Court on Wednesday set up a three-member committee to probe the Pegasus spyware snooping allegations. This committee will be supervvised by a retired top court judge Justice R.V. Raveendran, who will be assisted by Alok Joshi, former IPS officer and Dr Sundeep Oberoi. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-announces-new-political-outfit Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced the launch of his own political party, ahead of the Assembly elections slated for early next year. https://opinionexpress.in/ashish-misra-sent-back-to-jail-from-district-hospital Ashish Misra, son of Union Minister of state Ajay Misra Teni, has been sent back to jail from the district hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-is-a-state-of-mind-a-mental-disease-singhvi Congress Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi has slammed former Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis for bringing religious overtures in India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match. https://opinionexpress.in/now-nawab-malik-celebrates-nikaah-of-sweet-couple-sameer-dawood-wankhede-shabana-quraishi In another shocker, the Nationalist Congress Party Minister Nawab Malik on Wednesday presented the purported 'nikaah' (Muslim marriage certificate) of Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, a day after the latter's wife and sister rubbished all allegations. https://opinionexpress.in/fourth-chinese-real-estate-company-defaults-on-offshore-bonds Modern Land China has become the latest developer from Asia's largest economy to miss a dollar bond payment, underscoring the stress spreading across the sector, Nikkei reported. https://opinionexpress.in/heathrow-warns-travel-may-not-come-back-to-pre-covid-level-till-2026 Heathrow airport has warned that air travel may not recover to pre-Covid levels until 2026 despite improving passenger numbers in the past three months, as it reported that losses since the start of the pandemic have reached £3.4bn, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/farm-laws-may-be-withdrawn-before-punjab-up-polls-akhilesh Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav has expressed the apprehension that the Modi government may withdraw the farm laws in view of the upcoming Punjab and Uttar Pradesh elections and later implement them afresh, once elections get over. https://opinionexpress.in/mahatma-gandhi-future-leaders-program-mgflp Mentoring program for politicians from the Indian community into Parliamentary and other political roles https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-kheri-violence-sc-seeks-up-govt-reply-in-lynching-fir-directs-protection-of-witnesses The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a separate report from the Uttar Pradesh Police on investigation in the second FIR in Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which four persons, including a journalist, were killed. The top court also ordered protection of witnesses in the case. https://opinionexpress.in/aryan-khan-drug-case-sameer-wankhede-in-delhi-to-meet-ncb-chief Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, who is heading the probe into Mumbai's high profile drugs case, on Tuesday reached the head office here to meet chief S.N. Pradhan. https://opinionexpress.in/discipline-unity-must-for-strengthening-cong-sonia-gandhi Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday underlined the need for discipline and unity to strengthen the party to fight the diabolical agenda of the RSS. https://opinionexpress.in/bunty-aur-babli-2-debutante-sharvari-had-her-pc-moment-on-sets Apart from unleashing nostalgia, the trailer of 'Bunty Aur Babli 2' has caught the audiences attention because of its new Babli, Sharvari. It also shows the actress donning a sexy metallic bikini and walking into the frame leaving the waves behind which in a way, reminded the audience of Priyanka Chopra Jonas' beach look from 'Dostana'. https://opinionexpress.in/lee-defends-warner-says-srh-player-was-not-allowed-to-go-to-the-ground-in-ipl Former Australian pace bowler Brett Lee has come to the aid of embattled country-mate David Warner, saying that the veteran opening batsman was "poorly treated" throughout the Indian Premier League by his franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). https://opinionexpress.in/rs-1000-crore-extorted-from-bollywood-in-mumbai-maldives-claims-nawab-malik In another sensational disclosure, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) national spokesperson and Minister Nawab Malik on Tuesday said at least an amount of Rs 1,000-crore has been 'extorted' in Mumbai and Maldives from Bollywood personalities. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-ios-14-privacy-changes-hitting-us-hard-mark-zuckerberg Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has once again slammed Apple for its App Store policies, saying the iOS privacy changes are negatively affecting its business. https://opinionexpress.in/prabhas-mythological-drama-readies-for-a-wrap Tollywood's superhero Prabhas' upcoming mythological drama 'Adipurush' is among the most-anticipated movies in recent times. Touted to be a visual extravaganza, the movie is expected to be a treat for VFX fans. https://opinionexpress.in/nse-registered-investor-base-crosses-5-cr-unique-investors The National Stock Exchange of India's unique registered investors base crossed the 5 crore count on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/lalu-calls-bihar-cm-nitish-as-most-arrogant Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and said that he was the most arrogant person in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/tikait-seeks-more-compensation-for-dalit-family Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has now demanded an additional compensation of Rs 40 lakh for the kin of Dalit sanitation worker Arun Valmiki, who allegedly died in police custody recently. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-may-launch-political-party-on-wednesday Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh may announce the launch of his own political party on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-ag-mukul-rohatgi-to-appear-for-aryan-khan-in-bombay-hc In a significant development, former Attorney General of India (AGI) Mukul Rohatgi is expected to appear for Aryan Khan's bail plea, scheduled to come up before the Bombay High Court, here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-run-tesla-hits-1-trillion-market-cap Elon Musk-run electric car company Tesla on Monday hit the $1 trillion market cap for the first time. Tesla becomes the fifth US company to join the $1 trillion club, after Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet. Its stock soared to a new record-high after it crossed $950 during the trading -- up more than 9 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/indigo-to-maintain-dominance-despite-tatas-thrust-in-aviation  Industry leader IndiGo is expected to maintain its dominant position in Indian skies, despite the massive build-up of Tata Sons' aviation assets. https://opinionexpress.in/pride-of-india-award A business networking event and Pride of India Award was organized under the aegis of Indo American Business Chamber of SMEs in which Mr. Robert Masih Nahar, Member of Parliament of Spain and Mr. Kanwarjit Dhanjal, Director of Brampton Board of Trade in Canada and Mrs. Meenu Ghosh, a well-known corporate personality were honored with the Pride of India Award. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-rpsg-group-bags-lucknow-cvc-capital-gets-ahmedabad-team Finally the wait is over, two new teams have been added to the cash-awash Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-headache-for-beijing-in-africa The misbehaviour of Chinese companies to local employees is fueling anti-China sentiments in Zimbabwe. It became evident after two blasts shook Zimbabwe's Mazowe district late last week. The two gas explosions left eight people dead including six Chinese nationals. The police is investigating the cause of the explosion. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-back-in-green-banking-stocks-on-the-rise India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - traded in the green during Monday's pre-noon trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/i-have-given-everything-to-bunty-aur-babli-2-debutante-sharvari Debutante Sharvari will be seen as the new 'Babli' in the comedy 'Bunty Aur Babli 2'. She says it is her big screen debut and has given it her all. https://opinionexpress.in/bunty-aur-babli-2-presents-me-as-hindi-film-hero-siddhant Actor Siddhant Chaturvedi, who wowed everyone with his performance as MC Sher in 'Gully Boy, turns hero for the first time in the upcoming film 'Bunty Aur Babli 2', where he plays the role of the new Bunty, a suave, smart conman from the big city. https://opinionexpress.in/team-was-jaded-after-hectic-ipl-long-break-will-help-immensely-kohli India skipper Virat Kohli did concede after the 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of Pakistan in an ICC T20 World Cup 'Super 12' game here that the "high-intensity" Indian Premier League 2021, which concluded here recently, did take a toll on the players and the week-long break before the next game will do his side a world of good. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-pays-obeisance-at-mata-kheer-bhawani-temple-in-kashmir Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid obeisance at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple shrine in J&K's Ganderbal district on Monday at the end of his three-day visit to the union territory. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-promises-to-give-healthcare-up-to-rs-10l-free-in-up Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has promised free healthcare up to Rs 10 lakh if the party comes to power in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/imd-predicts-partly-cloudy-day-for-delhi-ncr The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a partly cloudy Monday for Delhi-NCR, with the maximum temperature resting at 31 degrees Celsius and minimum at 18 degrees Celsius. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-trade-lower-sensex-down-by-over-300-pts India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - traded lower during Monday's early-morning session. https://opinionexpress.in/team-indias-meek-surrender-to-clinical-pak-draws-huge-criticism There is nothing permanent, like everything else, it has to end! However, watching it end like this was hard to comprehend. The men-in-blue had never lost a World Cup game to Pakistan. They were firm favourites in Sunday's match as well. But their rivals had other plans on the night as the Babar Azam-led side 'hammered' star-studded Virat Kohli's brigade enroute to breaking the long-running jinx. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-pakistan-win-toss-elect-to-bowl-first-against-india , Oct 24 (IANS) Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in a high-octane Group 2 match in Super 12 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/chaos-anarchy-in-punjab-congress-continues-manish-tewari The woes in the Punjab Congress seem to be far from over. Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib Manish Tewari on Sunday slammed former Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat alleging that the soap opera is still continuing in Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/ashamed-of-the-defeat-international-teams-dont-make-55-pollard West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard has said that the crushing defeat to England in the opening 'Super 12' game of the ICC T20 World Cup here was something he cannot be proud of, adding that wholesale changes could be in the offing in the defending champions' next game. https://opinionexpress.in/pratik-gandhi-wants-to-be-known-by-his-characters-not-his-name Actor Pratik Gandhi, who gained stardom overnight with his portrayal of Harshad Mehta in the web-series 'Scam 1992', says he has one wish and that is that he wants to be known by the character he plays and not by his own name. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-hiked-again-by-35-paiseltr-for-5th-consecutive-day Petrol and diesel prices rallied to their highest ever levels across the country, as rates were hiked again for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-appoints-yogi-adityanath-as-panna-pramukh-for-gorakhpur-seat The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh has appointed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as the 'panna pramukh' for booth number 246 in Gorakhnath area for Gorakhpur Assembly seat. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-price-increased-most-in-one-year-under-modi-rule-congress The Congress on Sunday slammed the government over yet another hike in petrol prices and alleged that in one year under the Modi rule the prices have increased manifold which is also a record. https://opinionexpress.in/jk-is-giver-not-taker-region-of-india Union Home Minister, Amit Shah said on Saturday that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Jammu and Kashmir is to convert the union territory into a 'giver' and not a 'taker' region of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/nearly-20-judges-have-no-place-to-sit-42-courts-lack-toilets-cji Highlighing major concerns over judicial infrastructure in the country, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Saturday made some shocking revelations, including how almost 20 per cent of the judicial officers in the country don't even have proper courtrooms to sit. https://opinionexpress.in/saif-puts-on-weight-to-play-railway-ticket-collector-in-bunty-aur-babli-2 Actor Saif Ali Khan had put on several kilos to play the role of a railway ticket collector named Rakesh for his upcoming film 'Bunty Aur Babli 2'. https://opinionexpress.in/no-mental-scars-from-2016-t20-world-cup-final-weve-moved-on-eoin-morgan England skipper Eoin Morgan has emphatically said that there will be "no" mental scars when his side takes on defending champions West Indies in their opening ICC T20 World Cup 'Super 12' game here late on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/anushka-shettys-sweet-wishes-on-prabhas-birthday-grab-hearts Actor Prabhas, who is referred to as the Telugu 'Rebel Star', has grown his image as a Pan-India star, with his engrossing movies like 'Baahubali' and 'Saaho'. As the 'Darling' actor celebrates his birthday on Saturday, his fans are all wishing him, creating virtual trends on social media platforms. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-banerjee-to-arrive-in-poll-bound-goa-on-oct-28 West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday announced that she will arrive in poll-bound Goa on October 28. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-begins-three-day-trip-to-jk Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on a three-day visit during which he will chair a high-level meeting on the security situation of the Union Territory. https://opinionexpress.in/candidate-cant-claim-cadre-of-choice-after-qualifying-civils-sc The Supreme Court on Friday said a candidate, as a matter of right, cannot claim allocation of cadre of his/her choice, after qualifying the civil services examination. https://opinionexpress.in/tehreek-i-labbaik-rattles-pakistan Lahore police have allegedly detained over 1,000 activists and workers of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) during a crackdown that was intensified across the Punjab province after the group announced a long march to Islamabad after the Friday prayers, Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-orders-probe-into-amarinders-relations-with-pak-friend-aroosa The Punjab government on Friday ordered a probe into former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's relations with his Pakistani woman friend Aroosa Alam and her relation with the ISI. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-positioning-cong-as-key-player-in-up-says-sp In an interesting twist to the political drama in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has alleged that the Congress is being positioned as the main challenger to the BJP by the Yogi Adityanath government itself. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-says-us-will-defend-taiwan-if-china-attacks US President Joe Biden said that Washington was committed to coming to Taiwan's defence if it comes under attack from China - a stance that seems in opposition to America's stated policy of "strategic ambiguity", CNN reported. https://opinionexpress.in/one-falls-to-death-as-fire-breaks-out-in-61-storey-mumbai-building A fire erupted on the 19th floor of a 61-storey residential building in south Mumbai, sending panic waves among the residents and resulting in the death of one person, here on Friday, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-pms-adviser-leaves-without-concluding-imf-talks Shaukat Tarin, adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, left Washington without concluding the talks that could have led to a much-needed endorsement of the governments economic policies by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-issues-notice-to-ex-twitter-india-md-on-up-govt-plea The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a plea by Uttar Pradesh government challenging the Karnataka High Court order quashing notice of personal appearance issued to then Twitter India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari. https://opinionexpress.in/death-toll-from-nepal-floods-landslides-reaches-101 The death toll from floods and landslides in Nepal triggered by unseasonal rainfall has increased to 101, with 35 others still missing, according to authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/snaps-stock-nosedives-22-as-apple-privacy-changes-hit-ad-biz Snap Inc, the parent company of Snapchat, saw its stock tumbling 22 per cent after missing revenue expectations for its third-quarter (Q3) earnings. However, daily active users on Snapchat rose 23 per cent (year-over-year) to 306 million. https://opinionexpress.in/tom-holland-mark-wahlberg-bring-adventure-video-game-to-big-screen-with-uncharted The first trailer for 'Uncharted', an adaptation of the hit Playstation video game franchise, starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, has been unveiled, with the duo globetrotting and searching for treasure. https://opinionexpress.in/economy-bouncing-back-at-fast-pace-post-pandemic-modi A day after India achieved the 100 crore vaccine-mark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the nation for the joint efforts in achieving the target and said the post-pandemic economy of the country is bouncing back at a fast pace. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-on-a-roll-hiked-again-by-35-paiselitre Petrol and diesel prices rallied to their highest ever levels across the country, as fuel rates were hiked again for the third consecutive day on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/indices-open-in-green-as-global-cues-buoy-sentiments Positive Asian markets along with value buying buoyed India's key equity indices during early-morning trade session on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/china-conducted-not-one-but-two-hypersonic-missile-tests-which-stunned-us China conducted not one, but two tests of new hypersonic weapons in July and August, the Financial Times newspaper has reported, raising more concerns in the United States about the growing military capabilities of its geopolitical rival, Al Jazeera reported. https://opinionexpress.in/india-denounces-paks-defence-of-chinas-persecution-of-muslims India has denounced Pakistan's efforts to defend China's persecution of its Muslim minority by attacking New Delhi with "false and malicious propaganda." https://opinionexpress.in/bitcoin-may-touch-100000-per-coin-by-end-of-2021 Despite uncertainties and high volatility surrounding it, Bitcoin has crossed $65,000 per coin for the first time and according to industry experts, the most sought-after cryptocurrency may touch the $100,000 mark by the end of this year. https://opinionexpress.in/dubai-investment-in-kashmir-rattles-pakistan Manoj Sinha administration has scaled up the security grid across the Kashmir Valley to pin down the militants, it has also ordered immediate measures for moving the workers to safer places. Along with these local procedures of immediate nature, the government has loudly conveyed that it is not going to be cowed down under any circumstances, The Dispatch reported. https://opinionexpress.in/lets-give-govt-credit-tharoor-on-100-cr-vaccination After India on Thursday achieved a major milestone of 100 crore vaccination, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that the credit should be given to the government and this is a matter of pride for the entire country. https://opinionexpress.in/manchester-united-owners-pick-bid-documents-for-ipl-franchise The Indian Premier League (IPL) is attracting attention of foreign investors as it gets ready to add two new franchises in the upcoming season. https://opinionexpress.in/kashmir-a-battle-that-has-been-laid-off-for-far-too-long On October 22, 1947 Pakistan attacked the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It was the beginning of a conflict that would leave thousands dead and maimed and scar the lives of millions. It was also the start of a feud between India and Pakistan that continues to this day. https://opinionexpress.in/musks-boring-company-gets-nod-to-expand-loop-under-las-vegas-strip Elon Musk's Boring Company has received the initial approval from officials to build a network of vehicle tunnels underneath Las Vegas. https://opinionexpress.in/bombay-hc-to-hear-aryan-khans-bail-plea-on-oct-26 The Bombay High Court on Thursday posted to October 26 the hearing of the bail application of Aryan Khan, arrested in a drugs case by the Narcotics Control Bureau. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-rates-hiked-again-diesel-rises-by-highest-margin Petrol and diesel prices on Thursday rallied to their highest-ever levels across the country, as fuel rates were hiked again for a second consecutive day by the highest margin so far this year of upto 45 paise a litre. https://opinionexpress.in/indices-open-in-green-as-value-buying-global-cues-buoy-sentiments Value buying along with positive Asian markets and healthy quarterly results buoyed India's key equity indices during early-morning trade session on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-achieves-major-milestone-of-one-billion-vaccinations India on Thursday achieved the major milestone of 100 crore vaccination-mark, nine months after the nationwide inoculation programme was started to protect the people against Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/ahead-of-hc-bail-plea-srk-meets-aryan-in-arthur-road-jail Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan on Thursday morning went to meet his son Aryan, currently lodged in a barrack with other criminals at the Arthur Road Central Jail (ARCJ) , after his detention and arrest by the NCB in a drugs case. https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-the-cusp-of-a-virtuous-cycle-morgan-stanley A virtuous cycle, supported by strong capex and productivity, is taking off in India, a Morgan Stanley research report said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/evergrande-default-threatens-china-contagion The rescue of embattled Chinese property company Evergrande appears to have stalled, leaving the developer on the brink of default and threatening to unleash contagion through the country's giant real estate sector, home prices, and economy, The Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-to-sc-on-states-withdrawing-consent-for-probe-is-bottleneck The CBI has told the Supreme Court that various state governments' decision to withdraw general consent for a CBI probe is proving detrimental not only for the investigation, but also for prosecution of cases. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-india-need-a-cricketing-bond-pcb-chairman-ramiz-raja Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has emphasised the need for the revival of sporting ties between archrivals India and Pakistan, who have been fighting it out against each other at their borders and the sporting arena. https://opinionexpress.in/nature-of-allegations-very-serious-sc-junks-bail-plea-by-alleged-isis-sympathiser The Supreme Court on Wednesday junked a bail plea by a man, arrested for allegedly collecting funds and recruiting people for international terror organisation ISIS. https://opinionexpress.in/special-court-rejects-bail-plea-of-aryan-khan In a huge jolt, a Mumbai Special NDPS Court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Aryan Khan -- the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan -- and two others, in the rave party raid case aboard a cruise ship on October 2. https://opinionexpress.in/eternals-stars-skip-elle-event-after-possible-covid-19-exposure 'Eternals' stars Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan and Lauren Ridloff and director Chloe Zhao did not attend Elle's Women in Hollywood event on Tuesday night due to possible exposure to Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-rates-hiked-again-petrol-at-rs-10619-a-litre-in-delhi Petrol and diesel prices on Wednesday rallied to their highest ever levels across the country, as fuel rates were hiked again by 35 paise a litre after a two-day pause. https://opinionexpress.in/gunfight-breaks-out-in-jks-shopian-district A gunfight broke out between the terrorists and security forces in the Dragad area of South Kashmir's Shopian district on Wednesday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/all-eyes-on-mumbai-special-court-suspense-over-bail-or-jail-for-aryan The Special NDPS Court in Mumbai is the focus of national attention as the bail plea of Aryan Khan -- son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan -- and 7 other youths come up for hearing later on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-on-a-positive-note-on-wednesday The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Wednesday opened on a positive note during the morning trade. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-inaugurates-kushinagar-international-airport Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport and said that this was a 'manifestation of decades of aspirations and efforts'. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-carries-out-raids-at-multiple-places-in-kashmir The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids at different places in Kashmir on Wednesday in connection with the terror funding case and the recent civilian killings. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-to-announce-new-party-soon-hints-at-pact-with-bjp-for-punjab-polls Formally saying goodbye to the Congress which made him the Chief Minister of Punjab twice and the state party president thrice, an 'upset' Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that he would soon announce the launch of his own political party to serve the interests of the people, including the farmers who've been fighting for their rights for over a year now. https://opinionexpress.in/mafiosi-suresh-pujari-nabbed-in-the-philippines-extradition-to-india-soon Dreaded absconding gangster Suresh Pujari, who was active in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region areas, has been nabbed in the Philippines, official sources said here on Tuesday. He was taken into custody four days ago by the Paranaque local police's Fugitive Search Unit in the southern Manila metropolitan region. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-showcases-indian-origin-women-techies-power-to-the-world It was Indian-origin women techies' turn to take the centre-stage as Apple unveiled its next line-up of products, including an all-powerful MacBook Pro with new M1 chips, next-generation AirPods and other products and services. https://opinionexpress.in/malala-yousafzai-asks-afghan-taliban-to-reopen-girl-schools Pakistani Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan to re-open secondary schools for girls with immediate affect. She put forward this demand in an open letter addressed to the new rulers of the war-torn nation. https://opinionexpress.in/afghanistan-is-worthy-of-chinese-investment-despite-turmoil-says-mouthpiece  For Beijing, Afghanistan still has strong development potential and is worthy of investment despite its decades of political turmoil, a Chinese mouthpiece said. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-expected-to-remain-on-fatf-grey-list Pakistan is expected to remain on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) till April 2022, as the country works towards completing an action plan to counter money laundering and terrorism financing. https://opinionexpress.in/there-cant-be-a-bigger-x-factor-than-bumrah-in-terms-of-bowling-irfan-pathan Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that there cannot be a bigger X-factor than pacer Jasprit Bumrah in India's bowling line-up for the T20 World Cup. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-memorable-moment-when-dhoni-caught-up-with-gayle Team India's mentor MS Dhoni and West Indies opener Chris Gayle were seen sharing a light moment in Dubai as the Super 12 teams get ready for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. https://opinionexpress.in/remo-dsouza-breaks-down-as-contestants-showcase-his-legacy When 'Dance+ Season 6' paid tribute to choreographer Remo D'Souza through their performances, where they showed how he had started from ground zero and became famous because of his unique dancing style, he broke down. https://opinionexpress.in/bank-gross-npas-to-rise-to-8-9-stressed-assets-to-touch-10-11-report  Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of banks will rise to 8-9 per cent this fiscal, well below the peak of 11.2 per cent seen at the end of fiscal, ratings agency Crisil said in a report. https://opinionexpress.in/us-industrial-production-tumbles-in-sep US industrial production tumbled in September due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Ida and severe supply constraints, the Federal Reserve said. https://opinionexpress.in/complete-desalination-plant-by-2023-stalin Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday urged the officials involved in setting up the 150 million litre per day (MLD) desalination plant coming up in Nemmeli to complete the work by April 2023. https://opinionexpress.in/india-israel-us-uae-ministerial-meeting-on-m-e-quad The foreign policy leaders of India, the US, Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held a virtual ministerial meeting for what could have the makings of a grouping in the Middle East similar to the Quad, but with a more limited security agenda. https://opinionexpress.in/blast-outside-balochistan-university-kills-cop-17-inured A policeman was killed while 17 persons were injured in a blast near the Balochistan University on Quetta's Sariab Road in Pakistan on Monday, the Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-13058-new-covid-cases-164-deaths India reported 13,058 new Covid cases on Tuesday, the lowest in 231 days, and 164 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-pla-increases-exercises-along-lac-india-enhances-survelliance-lt-gen-manoj-pande Eastern Army commander Lieutenant General Manoj Pande said that there has been an increase in the number of exercises by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the Tibet autonomous region in the last few months as India considers alternate border management. https://opinionexpress.in/sit-begins-questioning-farmers-in-lakhimpur-kheri-incident The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, has started zeroing in on local farmers. https://opinionexpress.in/nasas-new-lucy-asteroid-spacecraft-faces-solar-panel-glitch-1208 NASA's newly launched Lucy spacecraft, the US space agency's first-ever mission to explore distant asteroids and seek out the origin of our solar system, has faced some issues with one of it solar panels, the agency has said. https://opinionexpress.in/shreyas-talpade-rajpal-yadav-team-up-for-mannu-aur-munni-ki-shaadi Actors Shreyas Talpade and Rajpal Yadav are set to entertain the audience with their impeccable comedy tropes in their upcoming family drama 'Mannu Aur Munni ki Shaadi'. https://opinionexpress.in/irans-president-voices-concern-over-is-militants-in-af Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed concern about the presence of the Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan, state TV reported. https://opinionexpress.in/only-india-two-others-defy-housing-price-rise-in-60-countries-surveyed-by-imf While most economic indicators deteriorated in 2020, house prices largely defied the pandemic in over 57 of the 60 countries surveyed by the International Monetary Fund. https://opinionexpress.in/bhupesh-baghel-is-indias-best-performing-chief-minister Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is the best performing Chief Minister in the country, facing the least anger of the electorate, as per the IANS-CVoter Governance Index. https://opinionexpress.in/baby-rani-maurya-likely-to-be-bjps-mayawati-for-up-polls The BJP in Uttar Pradesh is all set to pit former Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya against Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in the Assembly elections scheduled next year. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-chairs-top-security-meet-of-dgps-igps-intel-officials Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday presided over the National Security Strategy Conference (NSSC) through video conferencing to discuss the prevailing security situation in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/tennis-ace-naomi-osaka-shares-stunning-pictures-of-greek-vacation Japanese tennis ace and four-time major winner, Naomi Osaka, has shared stunning pictures of her vacationing in Mykonos in Greece, as she celebrates her 24th birthday with her family and friends in the island paradise. https://opinionexpress.in/up-buying-power-at-rs-22-per-unit-says-yogi Uttar Pradesh Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has said that in this festive season, his government was buying electricity at a cost up to Rs 22 per unit from outside sources because he did not wish to dampen the spirit of festivals. https://opinionexpress.in/corruption-case-against-ex-tn-health-minister-vijayabaskar-premises-raided Officials of Tamil Nadu's anti-corruption bureau, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Monday carried out search operations at former AIADMK Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar's residence and other places. https://opinionexpress.in/no-hike-in-fuel-prices-on-monday-relief-for-consumers-facing-historic-high-rates Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged on Monday after increasing for four consecutive days as oil marketing companies (OMC) decided to pause to see developments in the global oil market before taking the next step. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-13596-new-covid-cases-lowest-in-230-days In the last 24 hours, India registered 13,596 new Covid-19 cases, which was the lowest single-day spike in 230 days, according to the Union Health Ministry's latest update on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/five-day-rss-event-in-ayodhya-top-rss-functionary-to-attend-the-event A five-day Akhil Bhartiya Sharirik Abhyas Varg of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will begin in Karsevakpuram in Ayodhya from Monday. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will reach Ayodhya on Tuesday and attend the event for three days. https://opinionexpress.in/pilot-loyalists-want-leadership-change-now Amid the ongoing feud between the Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot camps in Rajasthan, Pilot supporters now want to compromise on nothing less than the leadership change as the long-awaited cabinet reshuffle and expansion along with the delayed political appointments have left them frustrated. https://opinionexpress.in/moea-jaishankar-in-israel-to-consolidate-bilateral-relations India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday for a three-day visit, aiming to further solidify the strategic partnership with Israel. https://opinionexpress.in/is-says-it-will-target-shia-muslims The Islamic State (IS) terror group has said that they will attack Shia Muslims everywhere, Khaama Press reported. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-bappi-lahiri-farah-khan-bhuvan-bam-to-appear-as-special-guests This week of 'Bigg Boss 15' has witnessed many moments of conflicts, verbal wars and contestants have tried to demonstrate their power in the 'Bigg Boss' jungle. https://opinionexpress.in/no-additional-borrowing-by-centre-to-meet-gst-compensation-of-states-in-fy22 The Centre will stick to its borrowing programme for FY22 and will not tap the market for more funds to meet the GST compensation shortfall for states. https://opinionexpress.in/india-clinch-record-eighth-saff-championship-title Indian football team convincingly defeated Nepal 3-0 in the final to clinch the SAFF Championship trophy for a record eighth time at the National Football Stadium, here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/first-trailer-out-for-the-batman-starring-robert-pattinson The first full trailer for 'The Batman', directed by Matt Reeves of 'The Planet of the Apes' franchise, and starring Robert Pattinson (most recently seen in Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet') as Gotham's 'caped crusader', was released at a DC Fandome virtual event on Saturday night. https://opinionexpress.in/search-on-for-3-missing-persons-in-kerala-district Search is on for three people who went missing after landslides were triggered by heavy rain in the eastern high ranges of Kottayam. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-pak-agree-to-cooperate-on-marine-industry Iranian and Pakistani military commanders have agreed to cooperate in manufacturing military vessels and submarine maintenance, state media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/want-to-keep-it-simple-not-bowl-24-different-deliveries-starc Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc has said that his strategy in the current edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman would be to "keep it simple" and not bowl "24 different types of slow balls" like others of his breed do. https://opinionexpress.in/does-chiranjeevi-dislike-appearing-on-ott-platforms Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi has been busy with a few upcoming interesting projects in the pipeline. His upcoming action-drama 'Acharya' has grabbed all the attention and is gearing up for a release soon. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-rejects-putins-claim-of-is-presence-in-afghanistan The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that Islamic State (IS) terror group was present in the north of the country, saying it was "baseless", the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-rates-hiked-again-petrol-at-rs-10584ltr-in-delhi Petrol and diesel prices on Sunday rallied to their highest ever levels across the country, as fuel rates were hiked again by 35 paise a litre. https://opinionexpress.in/accelerate-action-to-achieve-net-zero-transport-emissions-un-summit The Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference, which brought together more than 100 countries along with thousands of experts, activists and business leaders, concluded with a call to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable transport that would result in major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and in improving the lives of millions of people. https://opinionexpress.in/india-adds-14146-new-covid-cases-over-97-cr-vax-doses-given India recorded 14,146 new cases of Covid-19 during the past 24 hours pushing the country's infection caseload to 3,40,67,719, even as the number of vaccinated people went past 97 crores, the Union Health Ministry said in an update on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-hints-at-reducing-taxes-on-fuel Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday hinted at reducing cess and sales tax on petrol and diesel in the state to ease the fuel prices which have touched an all-time high. https://opinionexpress.in/rains-lash-parts-of-delhi-ncr Several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday received light to moderate rainfall that is most likely to improve the air quality in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/top-let-commander-among-many-terrorists-killed-in-jk-encounter Top LeT commander responsible for the killing of two policemen has been eliminated in an encounter between terrorists and security forces at Drangbal area of Pampore in South Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/chorus-grows-for-rahul-gandhi-to-become-congress-president Congress Working committee members on Saturday appealed to Rahul Gandhi to take over as the president of the party. A proposal in this regard was mooted by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and vetted by other Chief Ministers and leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/apprehensions-in-aiadmk-over-sasikala-planning-comeback VK Sasikala, the former interim general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), who has been lying low for the past few months, visited former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's memorial in Chennai today. Political pundits say this is a politically significant move that could be Sasikala's bid to reclaim her position in the AIADMK. This event is planned a day ahead of the golden jubilee celebration of the founding of the AIADMK, the party has been battered in the recent rural local body polls winning just two seats in the district panchayat unions, is now facing another major problem with the ousted general secretary of the party. Apprehensions in AIADMK over Sasikala planning comeback are making rounds in Tamil Nadu.    https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-slams-congress-leaders-for-speaking-to-media Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, interim President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday slammed party leaders for speaking to the media. https://opinionexpress.in/oppo-f19s-another-decent-contender-in-mid-range-segment With an aim to further expand its presence in the Indian market, OPPO has launched its latest mid-range smartphone F19s ahead of Diwali. https://opinionexpress.in/kandahar-mosque-bombings-toll-reaches-47-is-claim-responsibility The Islamic State (IS) terror group on Saturday claimed responsibility for the bombings inside a mosque in Afghanistan's Kandahar city, which claimed the lives of 47 persons and injured 90 others, a local official has confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/after-winning-ipl-title-dhoni-praises-kkr-for-their-superb-comeback Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni praised the Kolkata Knight Riders, the vanquished finalists of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 edition, for their grand comeback in the UAE leg as they reached the summit clash despite a poor first part of the tournament. The former India captain said if any team deserved to win the IPL 2021 title it was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). https://opinionexpress.in/no-team-meetings-lengthy-chats-csk-just-go-out-and-do-their-job In 14 editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) held so far, Chennai Super Kings have won the title four times, finished runner-up five times, were placed third once, and ended fourth once. They were suspended for two seasons and it was only in the 2020 season that they failed to qualify for the playoffs, eventually finishing seventh. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-and-his-history-of-being-a-controversy-magnet Aryan Khan's troubles with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) may have dragged Shah Rukh Khan into the kind of spotlight he would have liked to avoid, but he himself is no stranger to controversies. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-15981-new-covid-cases-166-deaths India reported a total of 15,981 fresh Covid cases and 166 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said in its latest update on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-commends-indias-swift-substantial-response-to-pandemic The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Indian authorities' "swift and substantial" response to the Covid-19 pandemic and noted that there is the possibility of "a faster than expected recovery". https://opinionexpress.in/sardar-udham-cinematography-and-vicky-kaushal-shine-in-astutely-recreated-period-saga Film: Sardar Udham (Streaming on Amazon Prime); Duration: 162 minutes. https://opinionexpress.in/let-commander-trapped-in-jk-encounter A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander involved in the killing of two police personnel in Srinagar has been trapped in the ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Drangbal area of Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/poonch-rajouri-anti-terror-operation-enters-5th-day A counter insurgency operation entered the fifth day on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts as the Army deployed para commandos to eliminate terrorists whose exact number is still not known. https://opinionexpress.in/30-plus-dead-in-kandahar-mosque-blast More than 30 people have died while 90 others have been injured after an explosion tore through a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in the Afghan city of Kandahar, the BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/india-should-not-express-stance-on-china-bhutan-border-mou India has exercised long-term comprehensive control and influence on Bhutan, which has restricted the latter from developing foreign relations, said Chinese mouthpiece Global Times, blaming India. https://opinionexpress.in/bitcoin-could-cause-the-next-financial-crash Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could cause the next financial crash, according to a top Bank of England official, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/tatas-plan-to-pilot-synergy-between-airlines-post-spa Conglomerate Tata Group plans to pilot synergy between all its airlines to compete in various market segments. https://opinionexpress.in/armed-forces-scientists-most-trustworthy-politicians-least-survey Armed Forces and scientists have emerged as the most trustworthy citizens in India, while as politicians and advertising executives are the least, as work around sacrifice and service before self is revered by the Indians. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-to-reinvigorate-action-against-terrorism-financing-money-laundering India and the US have said they would reinvigorate action against terrorism-financing, tax evasion and money laundering after a high-level meeting on economic and financial partnership led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. https://opinionexpress.in/nitin-agarwal-is-the-deputy-speaker-of-up-legislative-assembly The ruling BJP has made up its mind to get Nitin Agarwal elected as the deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly, its alliance partner Apna Dal (S), has thrown a spanner by demanding that a Dalit or an OBC MLA be elected to the post. The election of the deputy speaker of the Uttar Pradesh legislative Assembly is due on October 18. https://opinionexpress.in/simplicity-is-my-preferred-fashion-statement-chitragandha Chitrangada Singh graced the 6degree #colorsofIndia show for designers Shikha & Srishti. We caught up with the gorgeous actress in a quick tete-e-tete on fashion, travel and what's on the cards: https://opinionexpress.in/indias-september-exports-imports-rise-yoy India's merchandise exports rose by 22.63 per cent on a year-on-year basis in September 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/e-com-players-log-46-bn-sales-in-india-festive-week-flipkart-leads The e-commerce players registered a whopping $4.6 billion (nearly Rs 32,000 crore) sales during the first week of the festive season -- a 23 per cent on-year growth -- driven by mobiles and fashion products, a new report showed on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-watch-series-7-to-go-on-sale-on-friday-in-india Apple Watch Series 7 is all set to go on sale in India starting from Friday and ahead of the sale, the iPhone maker has announced cash back as well as EMI options on the purchase of the latest Apple Watch with immense health benefits. https://opinionexpress.in/kkrs-dinesh-karthik-reprimanded-for-breach-of-ipl-code-of-conduct Indian Premier League has reprimanded Kolkata Knight Riders wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik for breaching the IPL code of conduct during his team's Qualifier 2 match against Delhi Capitals in Sharjah. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-urges-us-eu-to-end-sanctions Following a meeting with officials from the US and the European Union (EU), a Taliban delegation has urged the two sides to lift sanctions on the Afghan Islamic Emirate and allow banks in the country to "operate normally", the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/nora-fatehi-jacqueline-fernandez-summoned-by-the-ed-again-in-money-laundering-case After recording her statement in a money laundering case, actress Nora Fatehi is summoned again by the Enforcement Directorate. She will be seen arriving at the ED office today for further investigation. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-get-more-expensive-retail-prices-up-again-35-paiseltr Petrol and diesel prices rose again on Thursday after a two-day break, taking its retail rates to record high levels across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/anushka-to-daughter-vamika-making-me-braver-courageous-every-day Anushka Sharma's latest picture with her daughter Vamika is winning the internet. The actress-producer credits her little bundle of joy for making her braver and more courageous everyday. https://opinionexpress.in/venom-let-there-be-carnage-appears-rushed-from-start-to-finish Film: Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Releasing in Theatres on October 14). Duration: 97 minutes. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-market-make-gains-sensex-up-over-61k-pts India's key equity indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- made gains during Thursday's morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/infosys-q2fy22-yoy-consolidated-net-profit-up-119 IT major Infosys on Wednesday reported a 11.9 per cent year-on-year growth in its consolidated net profit after minority interest for the second quarter of FY22 at Rs 5,421 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/wipros-consolidated-q2fy22-yoy-net-profit-up-189 IT major Wipro on Wednesday reported 18.86 per cent year-on-year growth in its consolidated net profit for the second quarter of FY22. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-18987-new-covid-cases-246-deaths In the last 24 hours, India reported 18,987 fresh Covid-19 cases and 246 deaths, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-hits-back-denies-meeting-siddaramaiah Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa took to social media to proclaim that he will not rest until he puts BJP into the seat of power in Karnataka in the next assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/mandaviya-visits-manmohan-singh-at-aiims Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday morning visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to meet and enquire about the health condition of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-to-arrive-in-goa-to-take-stock-of-2022-poll-preparations Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Goa on Thursday to participate in two government functions as well as to take stock of the Bharatiya Janata Party's preparations for the upcoming 2022 state Assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/india-hits-out-at-chinas-objection-to-naidus-trip-to-arunachal India hit out at China on Wednesday for questioning the recent visit of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the state is an integral and inalienable part of India. https://opinionexpress.in/arrested-pak-terrorist-involved-in-2011-delhi-hc-blast-sources The suspected Pakistan terrorist, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in the national capital, has revealed that he was involved in the Delhi High Court blast in 2011 that claimed the lives of as many as 11 people then, official sources privy to the probe told IANS on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/finally-starting-midnight-adani-group-to-takeover-thiruvananthapuram-airport Almost a year after the State government suffered a big setback when the Kerala High Court dismissed their plea against Centre's move to lease out Thiruvananthapuram international airport to Adani Group, starting midnight Thursday, the running of the airport here will be handed over to the Adani Group by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-to-soon-get-qr-based-driving-licenses-rcs In a step towards digitisation of the system, Delhi Transport Department will soon issue QR based Smart cards for driving licenses (DLs) and registration certificates (RCs). https://opinionexpress.in/squid-game-becomes-netflixs-biggest-ever-series-launch The survival game series 'Squid Game' is officially the most popular TV show on its initial debut that Netflix has ever released, according to the streaming giant. https://opinionexpress.in/more-than-10-hrs-of-power-outage-in-many-districts-of-bihar As the electricity generation was hit due to coal shortage in the country, its effect has started showing in Bihar with many districts facing more than 10 hours of power outage for the last few days. https://opinionexpress.in/forceful-push-narine-impact-have-given-us-the-momentum-kkr-skipper-morgan Kolkata Knight Riders' drive to play "aggressive brand of cricket" has swung the momentum in their favour in the IPL 2021 UAE leg, said their skipper Eoin Morgan ahead of the Qualifier 2 clash against Delhi Capitals at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium later on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-15823-new-covid-cases-226-deaths-in-a-day India on Wednesday reported 15,823 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours. Total 226 deaths have also been reported in the same time span, pushing the death toll at 4,51,189, the Union Health Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-prices-rise-on-hold-for-2nd-consecutive-day Petrol and diesel price rise remained paused again on Wednesday much to the relief of consumers faced with an unprecedented increase in auto fuel prices for the past one month that has taken retail rates to record high levels across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/wont-repeat-post-poll-fiasco-of-2017-in-2022-goa-polls-chidambaram The Congress in Goa has vowed not to repeat the 2017 post-poll fiasco, when, despite being the single largest party, its leadership delayed submission of a letter staking claim to form a government in the coastal state, resulting in the BJP hurriedly cobbling together an alliance to form its government. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-on-a-strong-positive-note The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Wednesday opened on a positive during the morning trade. https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-close-aide-raided-by-it-unearth-rs-750-crore The sensational findings of the Income Tax Department during the recent raids in Bengaluru and other places on former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's close aide B.R. Umesh and others is a setback for the BJP veteran, party sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-keeps-top-global-spot-with-95-gdp-growth United Nations: India has emerged from a "very tough second wave" of Covid-19, Gita Gopinath, the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Chief Economist, said on Tuesday at the release of the flagship report that showed India continuing to be the world's fastest-growing major economy clocking a growth rate of 9.5 percent this fiscal year and 8.5 percent in the next. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-tamil-diaspora-is-concerned-about-chinese-investments The Central intelligence agencies have, according to sources, tipped-off Tamil Nadu intelligence units about the concerns raised by Sri Lankan Tamil groups over the excessive Chinese investments in the island nation. https://opinionexpress.in/tatas-plan-new-vertical-to-on-board-air-india-post-spa The Tata Group plans to create a new business vertical to on-board all its holdings in the airline industry, including Air India post the share purchase agreement. The new vertical will hold the Group's interest in Air India Express and AISATS. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-telugu-5-housemates-nominate-each-other-after-hamidas-elimination 'Bigg Boss Telugu 5' saw actress Hamida being shown the door during the weekend eliminations. With the nominations heat on Monday, the 'Bigg Boss' house had no bigger issues, except that the housemates nominated each other. https://opinionexpress.in/sibal-attacks-govt-over-security-situation-in-kashmir After spate of killings in Kashmir, the Congress has upped its ante and has cornered the government over the security issue in Kashmir and violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Tuesday launched an attack on the government over Kashmir siuation. https://opinionexpress.in/ncb-chief-not-under-watch-maha-home-minister Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Tuesday stated that the Mumbai Police have not kept the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under surveillance as alleged by the agency's Zonal Director Sandeep Wankhede. https://opinionexpress.in/kohli-blames-below-par-score-for-loss-to-kkr-in-his-last-game-as-rcb-skipper Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli, in his last press conference as captain of the Bangalore franchise, put the blame for the defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on a below-par batting performance, saying that an additional 15-odd runs could have made the difference for his side. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-singh-ive-idolised-big-b-srk-akshay-kumar-since-childhood Bollywood's livewire star Ranveer Singh shared that while growing up, he was mesmerised by on-screen personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, among others, who have all successfully hosted TV shows and entertained the whole of India. https://opinionexpress.in/coal-crisis-raj-govt-writes-to-centre-to-increase-coal-supply The Rajasthan government, feeling the crunch of the coal crisis, has been fighting hard to maintain demand-supply balance and has written to the Union Coal Secretary Anil Jain to increase the supply of coal from Coal India. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-on-a-positive-note The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Tuesday opened on a negative note and turned positive during the morning trade. https://opinionexpress.in/india-controls-world-cricket-now-says-imran-khan Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that money has become a "big player" in cricket and that countries like New Zealand and England wouldn't have dared to cancel their tours of India because "India controls" the sport. https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-gunfight-breaks-out-in-jks-shopian A gunfight has started between terrorists and security forces in the Feeripora area of South Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/suspected-pak-terrorist-arrested-in-delhi The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested a suspected Pakistani terrorist from the Laxminagar area of the city, an official said here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/subramanian-swamy-indian-army-chief-to-arrive-in-sl In a display of major diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and India, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy and Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane will arrive in the island nation on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-khan-and-pak-military-in-standoff-over-new-isi-chief Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has told the military that he was not on board with the decision to change the Director-General of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Faiz Hameed, Friday Times reported. https://opinionexpress.in/5-soldiers-critically-injured-in-gunfight-in-jks-poonch A junior commissioned officer (JCO) and four other soldiers were critically injured on Monday in an ongoing gunfight with the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. https://opinionexpress.in/india-never-had-more-decisive-govt-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched Indian Space Association (ISpA), an industry body aspiring to be the voice of the country's space sector, and underlined his dispensation's commitment to reforms, saying the country never had a more decisive government. https://opinionexpress.in/up-bjp-chief-summons-ajay-mishra-to-lucknow Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh has summoned Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni to Lucknow. https://opinionexpress.in/rajkummar-kriti-starrer-hum-do-humare-do-trailer-launched The makers of the upcoming family entertainer 'Hum Do Humare Do' starring Rajkummar Rao and Kriti Sanon have unveiled the film's trailer on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/talks-with-us-to-continue-if-necessary-taliban The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the caretaker Taliban government in Afghanistan said on Monday that talks with the US will continue if necessary. https://opinionexpress.in/new-ipad-mini-your-best-buddy-for-work-learn-from-anywhere As learning and work from home become a new normal in India, students and working professionals have been busy scouting for devices that let them create, design and innovate from anywhere, on the go. With its ultra-portable design and wide range of uses, the new Apple iPad mini is their go-to device. https://opinionexpress.in/now-start-personal-chat-from-microsoft-teams-on-windows-11 Microsoft on Monday announced that Windows 11 users can now start using Chat from Microsoft Teams on Windows. Chat from Microsoft Teams will be pinned to the Taskbar at Windows 11 startup. https://opinionexpress.in/talks-with-taliban-in-doha-candid-and-professional-us Discussions between the US and Afghan Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar, were "candid and professional," the State Department said. https://opinionexpress.in/stray-violence-mars-near-total-maha-bandh-to-protest-lakhimpur-incident Stray incidents of violence like stone-pelting at buses, private vehicles, burning tyres on roads to stop traffic and others marred an otherwise near-total Maharashtra Bandh, which disrupted normal life, here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/manushi-chhillar-important-for-men-women-to-be-vocal-about-rights-of-girls Bollywood debutante Manushi Chhillar, on International Day of the Girl Child on Monday, is using social media to create awareness about the need to be vocal about the rights of the girl child. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-raj-cm-ashok-gehlots-family-member The Enforcement Directorate summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's brother Agrasen Gehlot for questioning on Monday in a case of illegal export of fertilisers. Agrasen is required to appear before the officials in Delhi office. https://opinionexpress.in/speculation-of-change-in-chhattisgarh-has-ended-bhupesh-baghel After being appointed as a senior observer in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had a marathon meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, after which he said the issue of a rotational Chief Minister in his home state has ended, and the party under Priyanka's leadership in Uttar Pradesh is going to effect a change. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-to-begin-production-at-german-gigafactory-by-2021-end-musk Elon Musk has announced that Tesla Gigafactory in Germany will start rolling out first vehicles by the end of 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/sahil-shroff-bigg-boss-seems-easy-from-outside-but-it-is-not-so Actor Sahil Shroff has become the first evicted contestant of 'Bigg Boss 15'. Though he has no regrets about it. https://opinionexpress.in/gaikwad-willing-to-bat-20-overs-gives-me-confidence-dhoni Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that what gives him immense confidence in the abilities of young batter Ruturaj Gaikwad is that fact that he is "willing to bat 20 overs". https://opinionexpress.in/there-was-nothing-much-in-the-mind-dhoni-on-his-match-winning-cameo Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that he had "nothing much in the mind" when he walked in to bat with 24 runs still required off 11 deliveries in the playoffs match against the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals. https://opinionexpress.in/ashraf-ghanis-bodyguard-saw-him-escape-with-millions-of-dollars "I saw the Afghan President escape with millions," claims Brigadier General Piraz Ata Sharifi, the bodyguard of former Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani, adding that the latter left him to hide in squalid cellars after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August, the Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-price-hike-continues-unabated The prices of petrol and diesel prices rose again on Monday completing one full week of increases that has taken in retail rate to record high levels across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-market-trade-in-the-green-sensex-up-over-60k-pts India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - made gains during Monday's morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/lashkar-terrorist-behind-civilian-killing-gunned-down-in-jk-encounter The terrorist killed in a gunfight with the security forces in the Hajin area of Jammu and Kashmir' Bandipora district has been identified as a Lashkar-e-Taiba member, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/no-breakthrough-in-india-china-military-talks-to-resolve-remaining-border-disputes https://opinionexpress.in/taiwan-will-stand-tall-against-any-china-aggression Taiwan will not bow to pressure from China and will continue its democratic way of life, as tensions over the island continue, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistani-nuclear-scientist-abdul-qadeer-khan-dead Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is the founder of Pakistani nuclear programme, passed away due to lung problems on Sunday at the age of 85, his family said. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-investors-in-the-dark-as-cryptocurrency-ads-gather-steam "Kya aapke portfolio mein crypto hai?" If you have read such advertising lines recently -- and now watching crypto ads as you surf through IPL 2021, YouTube and various social media platforms -- make sure you hold on to your hard-earned money for a while. https://opinionexpress.in/two-more-detained-in-lakhimpur-kheri-violence The Lakhimpur Kheri police has detained the driver of Ankit Das, the nephew of former Congress MP late Akhilesh Das, in connection with the death of four farmers who were mowed down by a vehicle belonging to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni. https://opinionexpress.in/who-is-srks-manager-pooja-dadlani Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was detained by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) during a raid conducted on a cruise ship on October 3. Following which the Bollywood superstar's manager Pooja Dadlani has been reportedly acting as an intermediary between Aryan and the Khan family. https://opinionexpress.in/tahira-kashyap-was-in-icu-due-to-bottle-gourd-toxicity Filmmaker Tahira Kashyap was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after she threw up consuming her daily glass of green juice - a concoction of bottle gourd, gooseberries, and turmeric. https://opinionexpress.in/realme-c25y-is-another-decent-budget-smartphone In a bid to offer more options in the budget segment, global smartphone maker realme has come up with a new phone under its entry-level C-series starting at Rs 10,999. https://opinionexpress.in/vicky-kaushal-self-doubt-is-a-very-important-part-of-being-an-artiste National heartthrob and actor Vicky Kaushal has been a part of the acting business for nine years now. The actor agrees that self-doubt is an integral part of being an artiste and that it helps them grow. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-hit-fresh-record-high-increase-for-6th-straight-day Petrol and diesel prices rose again on Sunday for the sixth consecutive day, hitting a fresh record high. https://opinionexpress.in/thousands-of-afghans-receive-assistance-un-agency Thousands of Afghans have received humanitarian assistance within a week from September 27 to October 3 across the country, a UN agency has announced. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-proposes-but-loyalists-dispose Even as Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra makes efforts to galvanize the state organisation before the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, her band of loyalists seem determined to undo her efforts, say some party leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/clear-sky-and-warm-day-in-delhi-on-sunday Residents of the national capital on Sunday woke up to a clear sky, with a temperature of 26.8 degrees Celsius being recorded at 8.30 a.m. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-carries-out-raids-across-kashmir-valley-70-detained The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday carried out raids at 16 locations across Kashmir Valley in connection with two cases -- ISIS voice of Hind case and TRF case. https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-kheri-violence-ministers-son-evaded-crucial-questions His inability to respond to pointed questions about the sequence of events on October 3, when a group of farmers were trampled over by a SUV belonging to him, finally led Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni, to jail. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-police-summons-cbi-chief-to-probe-illegal-phone-tap-case In an unprecedented development, the Mumbai Police has summoned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Subodh Jaiswal for the probe into the illegal phone-tap case, officials said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-notifies-appointment-of-chief-justices-in-high-courts President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed chief justices to eight high courts, including Allahabad and Madhya Pradesh, besides approving the transfer of five chief justices in other high courts. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-way-ahead-of-rahul-as-preferred-pm-choice-across-india Narendra Modi remains the most-preferred Prime Ministerial candidate in the four poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, while in Punjab, another state that will go to the polls next year, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal holds the edge, as per the latest ABP-CVOTER-IANS State of States 2021 tracker https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-govt-garners-398-support-for-performance-survey The Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has received a support of 39.8 per cent in terms of performance among the five states going to the polls next year -- Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur -- as per the ABP-CVoter-IANS State of States 2021 tracker. https://opinionexpress.in/rave-party-case-ncb-raids-bollywood-producer-imtiyaz-khatri Continuing its swoop on Bollywood, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted raids on the home and office of Bollywood producer Imtiyaz Khatri in connection with the rave party operation of October 2, officials said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/it-was-difficult-to-start-again-in-the-uae-rohit-sharma-on-mis-dismal-show Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma has said the Covid-enforced break and injuries to some players when the Indian Premier League (IPL) was moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following its suspension in May, were some of the reasons for the five-time champions' dismal performance this year. https://opinionexpress.in/tomato-prices-shoot-up-from-rs-10-to-rs-60-in-bengaluru The retail price of tomatoes has shot up in various districts of Karnataka especillay in Bengaluru after supply crunch due to incessant rains. The price of tomatoes touched Rs 60 per kg at some places in Bengaluru from Rs 10 or Rs 15 per kg. Traders say that if the the same situation continues, the price will be close to Rs 100 in the state capital. https://opinionexpress.in/suryakumar-focuses-thoughts-on-t20-world-cup-after-mis-elimination Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav is looking forward to the next challenge -- the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE -- after his side failed to secure an IPL playoffs berth despite a herculean effort from the 31-year-old and young Ishan Kishan, who both scored at a blistering pace against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/fb-says-outage-affecting-insta-messenger-fixed-after-2nd-attempt-in-a-week Facebook has said the issues that blocked access to its apps and services for nearly two hours on Friday have been fixed. https://opinionexpress.in/hardik-hasnt-bowled-a-single-ball-yet-rohit-sharma Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma shed light on all-rounder Hardik Pandya's fitness saying that "he hasn't bowled a single ball yet", raising doubts on whether he would retain his place in the Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup beginning in a week's time. https://opinionexpress.in/ashish-mishra-appears-before-police-in-lakhimpur-kheri-violence-case After being served second notice, Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni and accused of running over farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, appeared before the Police on Saturday to record his statement. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-pratik-fights-with-vidhi-afsana-has-a-heated-exchange-with-karan As 'Bigg Boss 15' moves ahead, all the dramatic elements that make it so riveting are already in full play. The contestants have started playing their little games and using tactics to tackle rivalries. https://opinionexpress.in/us-taliban-officials-to-hold-talks-in-doha-over-weekend A US delegation will travel to Doha over the weekend to meet senior Afghan Taliban representatives, the State Department has announced. https://opinionexpress.in/mehbooba-mufti-prevented-from-visiting-anantnag Jammu and Kashmir authorities on Saturday prevented former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti from visiting Anantnag district. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-19740-new-covid-cases India on Saturday reported 19,740 fresh Covid cases and 248 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-case-ktaka-hc-gives-2-weeks-time-to-file-report The Karnataka High Court has given two weeks' time to submit the investigation report in connection with the case of giving preferential treatment to V.K. Sasikala, a close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister late Jayalalithaa in violation of prison rules when she was undergoing sentence in the corruption case. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-meets-visiting-danish-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday received his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, who is on a two-day visit to India, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. https://opinionexpress.in/the-jrd-tatas-legacy-has-come-back-home When speculation was rife about an imminent takeover of the ailing Air India by a Tata Sons SPV, a wit had commented: "For the Tatas, Tata doesn't mean goodbye." https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-files-chargesheet-against-rana-kapoor-in-cheating-case The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a chargesheet against former MD and CEO of Yes Bank Ltd, the promoter of a private company and others in a bank loan fraud case of over Rs 1,700 cr, an official said here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-defence-officials-discuss-new-partnership-in-indo-pacific The main India-US strategic defence coordination panel has discussed increasing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region with "like-minded partners" as security ties between the two countries expand, according to US Defence Department spokesperson Lt Col Anton Semelroth. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-stays-at-no-1-in-latest-survey Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to fare better in terms of satisfaction of work, according to the ABP-CVoter-IANS State of States 2021 tracker. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-sons-winning-the-bid-for-air-india "Welcome back, Air India," tweets Ratan Tata on Tata Sons winning the bid for Air India https://opinionexpress.in/sc-unhappy-with-up-govts-probe-in-lakhimpur-kheri-violence The Supreme Court on Friday said it is "not satisfied with the steps taken by the state" in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, and expected a responsible government, system and police. The top court also observed that handing over the case to the CBI was not the solution. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-cbi-can-directly-register-case-not-mandatory-to-conduct-preliminary-probe The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the CBI can directly register a case upon receiving credible information, which discloses cognizable offence and it is not mandatory, for the investigating agency, to conduct a preliminary probe (PE) before registering the case. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-be-2nd-fastest-growing-major-economy-in-fy2021-22 India's economy is expected to grow by 8.3 percent this fiscal year, according to the World Bank, making it the second-fastest-growing major economy. https://opinionexpress.in/several-chinese-troops-detained-in-indian-territory-let-off-following-military-talks Around 200 troops of China's People's Liberation Army entered into Indian territory last week leading to a face-off with the Indian Army at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/kkr-beat-royals-by-86-runs Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 86 runs in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/drug-seizure-aryan-khan-seven-others-remanded-in-judicial-custody A court here on Thursday sent Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, and seven others in 14-day judicial custody in connection with the alleged seizure of banned drugs from a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. https://opinionexpress.in/in-india-and-japans-vision-kenya-key-to-indo-pacific There are two primary geographic imaginations of the Western periphery of the Indo-Pacific region. The area as imagined by Australia (and until recently, by America), ends at the Western coast of India. As per this visualisation, this region is defined as the one stretching from Bollywood (located in Mumbai) to Hollywood (located in Los Angeles on the Western Coast of America). https://opinionexpress.in/russia-iran-bolster-partnership-to-face-taliban The foreign ministers of Russia and Iran will "synchronize their watches" on a number of topical issues, including Afghanistan and Tehran's nuclear deal, when they hold talks in Moscow on . https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-violence-sc-asks-up-to-explain-whether-accused-have-been-arrested The Supreme Court Thursday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain who are the accused against whom FIR has been registered in connection with the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, in which eight people were killed, and whether they have been arrested. https://opinionexpress.in/arrest-culprits-in-lakhimpuri-kheri-case-cong The Congress on Thursday attacked the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to arrest the culprits in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. https://opinionexpress.in/all-places-of-worship-in-maha-open-doors-devotees-out-in-force Lakhs of devotees from all religions thronged thousands of places of worship which were thrown open on Thursday after nearly six months in Maharashtra, as the threats of a Covid-19 third wave appeared to have receded, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/teachers-important-for-safety-of-children-says-ayushmann Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who has recently been appointed UNICEF's Celebrity Advocate for the global campaign EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children), has said that teachers can play a vital role in identifying and protecting children who are vulnerable to violence in schools. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-malik-clocks-fastest-delivery-has-williamson-kohli-gushing-over-his-pace Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Umran Malik on Wednesday night clocked 153kmph on the speed gun, the fastest delivery in the IPL 2021 season, and had both his skipper Kane Williamson and India captain Virat Kohli gushing over the new speed demon of Indian cricket. https://opinionexpress.in/kajol-revathy-collaborate-for-film-titled-the-last-hurrah Actress-turned-director Revathy and actress Kajol have joined hands for the upcoming film 'The Last Hurrah'. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-on-thalaivii-success-im-much-more-popular-now-than-ive-ever-been Four-time National Award-winning actress Kangana Ranaut is over the moon with the response her latest movie 'Thalaivii' is getting. She credits her team for the success and says that she is much more popular now than she has ever been. https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-retail-to-launch-7-eleven-convenience-stores-in-india Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), through its wholly owned subsidiary, 7-India Convenience Retail Limited, has entered into a master franchise agreement with 7-Eleven, Inc. (SEI) for the launch of 7-Eleven convenience stores in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/mukesh-ambani-with-a-net-worth-of-927-billion-tops-2021-forbes-list-of-indias-richest A soaring stock market propelled the combined wealth of members of the 2021 Forbes list of India's 100 Richest to a record US$775 billion, after adding $257 billion -- a 50 per cent rise -- in the past 12 months. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-rules-ngt-has-powers-to-take-suo-moto-cognisance-on-environmental-issues The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has power to take suo motu cognisance - on the basis of letters, representations, and media reports -- and can initiate proceedings on its own on issues pertaining to the environment. https://opinionexpress.in/it-is-duty-of-legislature-sc-turns-down-subramanian-swamys-plea-for-guidelines-for-npas The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a plea by MP Subramanian Swamy seeking framing of guidelines to deal with the menace of NPA in the banking sector, saying, "It is the duty of the legislature" and a policy matter, which should be decided by the government and RBI. https://opinionexpress.in/lower-oil-prices-lift-equity-indices-sensex-up-over-550-points India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - made healthy gains during Thursday's early morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/squid-game-mania-in-skorea-driven-by-nostalgia-new-talent 'Squid Game' in South Korea has become a breakout success for Netflix as the streamer's biggest non-English-language series. But audiences in the show's home country are divided over its merits. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-prices-rise-again-even-as-global-oil-softens Prices of auto fuels petrol and diesel rose sharply on Thursday even though global oil showed signs of softening with benchmark Brent crude falling to just over $80 a barrel from previous days high of over $82 a barrel. https://opinionexpress.in/7437-turnout-in-1st-phase-of-tn-rural-local-body-polls The first phase of the rural local body polls in the nine districts of Tamil Nadu, was relatively peaceful except for some minor skirmishes in Ranipet and Kallikurichi districts between the DMK and the AIADMK supporters. The voter turnout in the first phase of polls was 74.37 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/punjabs-extortion-case-nia-team-searches-up-village-for-suspects A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached a village in Meerut district to search for two men, who are suspected to have supplied illegal arms for an extortion racket that was busted in Punjab's Moga in May this year. https://opinionexpress.in/new-isi-chiefs-first-priority-is-to-crush-balochistan-freedom-movement The first and foremost priority of Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, who has been appointed as the new Director General of Pakistan's external spy wing Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is to crush the Balochistan freedom movement. https://opinionexpress.in/invesco-move-invalid-wont-let-illegal-takeover-happen-subhash-chandra Essel group patriarch Subhash Chandra on Wednesday came in defence of the existing management of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) in its fight against two of the company's largest shareholders, Invesco Developing Market Funds and OFI Global China Fund, which are seeking an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to oust the current board and place their own representatives. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-to-dedicate-35-psa-oxygen-plants-across-35-states-uts Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation 35 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants established under PM CARES, across 35 states and union territories on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-glorify-mahmud-ghaznavi-for-breaking-the-somnath-temple-idol In a provocative act, Taliban top leader Anas Haqqani has glorified Mahmud Ghaznavi and his act of breaking the Somnath temple idol. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-xi-to-abide-by-taiwan-pact US President Joe Biden said he and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to abide by the "Taiwan agreement", BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/whats-in-the-pandora-papers-and-why-does-south-dakota-feature-so-heavily A trove of confidential documents outlining how global elites squirrel away their wealth to avoid tax has been laid bare in the “Pandora Papers.” https://opinionexpress.in/kristen-stewart-calls-princess-diana-one-of-the-most-unknowable-people Actress Kristen Stewart, who is all set to portray the late Princess of Wales Diana in upcoming drama 'Spencer', has opened up on the amount of research she did to get an understanding of her role. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-umar-riaz-eyes-bollywood-post-show Umar Riaz, who is one of the contestants in the 15th season of "Bigg Boss", says he would like to explore himself as an actor if he gets a chance to work in the industry post his stint in the reality show. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-in-up-along-with-punjab-chhattisgarh-cms Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he will visit Lucknow and Lakhimpur Kheri along with Chief Ministers of Punjab and Chhattisgarh despite being denied permission by the administration. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-has-been-very-fair-sc-on-centres-decision-to-conduct-neet-ss-exam-by-old-pattern After being pushed by the Supreme Court, the Centre on Wednesday told the top court that NEET-Super Speciality exam scheduled in November this year will be held as per the old question pattern. https://opinionexpress.in/us-warning-china-over-taiwan-provocations US President Joe Biden's administration is warning China over its increasing provocations against Taiwan, a critical flashpoint amid the ongoing poor relations between Washington and Beijing, The Hill reported. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-and-diesel-prices-rise-sharply-as-global-oil-climb-continues Prices of auto fuels petrol and diesel rose sharply on Wednesday as global oil prices remained firm with benchmark crude again rising to cross the $82/barrel mark. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-cylinder-blast-kills-woman-4-kids-injured A 35-year-old woman was killed while her four children were injured in an LPG cylinder blast here, a Fire Department official informed on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-in-positive-range-today The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Wednesday opened on a positive note during the morning trade. https://opinionexpress.in/lakhimpur-kheri-violence-fir-clearly-nails-union-ministers-son The FIR lodged against Ashish Mishra Monu, the son of Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra 'Teni', in connection with the recent violent incident in Lakhimpur Kheri, in which a total of 8 people were killed, accuses the minister's son of serious charges. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-will-not-be-used-to-inflict-threat-on-indias-security The President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, assured India on Tuesday that he will not allow Sri Lanka to be used to inflict any threat on India's security. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-mumbai-thrash-rajasthan-by-8-wickets-keep-playoff-hopes-alive Mumbai Indians produced a clinical performance to beat Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets in the 51st match of the IPL 2021 to stay alive in the qualification race for the playoffs of the tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-indians-restrict-royals-to-909 Pacers Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Neesham shared seven wickets between them to help Mumbai Indians restrict Rajasthan Royals to a below-par 90 for nine in their crucial Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/rebound-galore-moodys-changes-indias-rating-outlook-to-stable Global ratings agency Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday changed India's ratings outlook to stable from negative. https://opinionexpress.in/mi-opt-to-field-against-royals-in-must-win-game Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss opted to field against Rajasthan Royals in a must-win IPL game for both teams here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-to-be-the-next-target-for-attack-taliban It is widely believed by the international community and global powers that the swift and shockingly fast takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan has been possible due to the support of Pakistan, which is said to have been a major beneficiary of gains as a result. https://opinionexpress.in/kishidas-cabinet-members-list-priorities-in-japan New Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet members on Tuesday started their first full day on the job, laying out their priorities for weeks and months ahead. https://opinionexpress.in/starvation-claiming-lives-of-children-in-afghanistan The situation in Afghanistan continues to move from bad to worse since the Taliban takeover and the formation of an interim government has prompted seizure of foreign aid and global recognition. https://opinionexpress.in/qualification-hopes-hanging-by-a-thread-mumbai-take-on-rajasthan Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals -- two teams in the same situation and sitting at 10 points from 12 games with only a slight difference in net run rate -- will clash later on Tuesday to take a step closer to enhancing their chances of a fourth-place finish and eventually, the playoffs qualification in IPL 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/yami-gautam-reveals-she-suffers-from-skin-condition-called-keratosis-pilaris Actress Yami Gautam has revealed that she is suffering from a skin condition called Keratosis pilaris and said that she developed the condition during her teenage years and that there is no cure for it. https://opinionexpress.in/fb-chooses-profit-over-safety-of-its-users-whistleblower A whistleblower, who leaked a selection of internal documents from Facebook, has claimed that "Facebook over and over again, has shown it chooses profit over safety". https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-releases-video-questions-modi-over-not-sacking-minister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday released a video of her statement, questioning the Prime Minister that why the Union minister has not been sacked and his son arrested, who is allegedly being involved in mowing down the farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. https://opinionexpress.in/how-facebook-outage-wreaked-havoc-on-the-global-ad-empire Facebook reported a 47 per cent (year-over-year) increase in ad revenue amounting to $28 billion in the second quarter (Q2) this year. The massive outage that left the entire family of Facebook apps down for several hours on a busy Monday produced a cascading effect on the global ad empire that is dependent upon the social networking giant to reach billions of consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/ncb-arrests-2-more-persons-in-cruise-ship-drug-case The Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested two more persons in connection with the case of seizure of banned drugs from a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast, an NCB official said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-asks-un-panel-to-condemn-pakistans-attempts-to-disrupt-disarmament-efforts India has called on the UN committee dealing with disarmament to condemn Pakistan for its "nefarious and vicious" attempts to disrupt its work. https://opinionexpress.in/ayushmann-khurrana-im-a-total-directors-actor Ayushmann Khurrana says he naturally gravitates towards edgy content and that he is a complete director's actor. https://opinionexpress.in/gdp-contribution-of-domestic-electronics-component-manufacturing-to-double-soon With the increasing focus of the government on domestic manufacturing of electronics components in the country, the electronics sector will see its contribution to GDP almost double in the next few years, industry experts estimate. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-prices-rise-again The prices of petrol and diesel rose simultaneously again on Tuesday amidst volatility in the global oil prices with benchmark crude increasing to above $80 a barrel. https://opinionexpress.in/markets-open-on-a-negative-note The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Tuesday opened on a negative note during the morning session of the trade. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-claims-drones-monitoring-priyanka-in-ups-sitapur The Congress has alleged that drones were being used to monitor the movement of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been detained for more than 30 hours in Sitapur while trying to enter Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri. https://opinionexpress.in/report-on-drugs-to-see-light-of-day-after-over-2-yrs-delay-sidhu With a new special bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to start hearing in the multi-crore drug racket case concerning Punjab on Tuesday, Congress leader Navjot Sidhu said a report by the Special Task Force (STF) on drugs will finally see light of day after two and a half years of delay. https://opinionexpress.in/not-just-dhoni-everyone-struggled-on-this-wicket-csk-coach-fleming Chennai Super Kings chief coach Stephen Fleming attributed the three-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals in a contest between table-toppers to "difficult conditions" where stroke-play was tough and hitting big shots required lots of effort. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-still-in-custody-after-28-hours-tweets-to-modi Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who remains in police custody without being formally arrested even after 28 hours, has tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about her detention. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-shares-video-clip-of-vehicle-running-over-people-in-lakhimpur-kheri The Congress has posted a video of the incident which sparked violence in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-dhawan-and-hetmyer-guide-delhi-to-a-tense-three-wicket-win-over-chennai Shikhar Dhawan and Shimron Hetymer played critical knocks to guide Delhi Capitals to a tense three-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in Match 50 of IPL 2021 at Dubai International Stadium here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-unitech-founder-ramesh-chandra-daughter-in-law-for-financial-frauds The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested Unitech founder Ramesh Chandra, his daughter-in-law Preeti Chandra and real estate promoter Rajesh Malik in connection with a money laundering case. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-delhi-win-toss-elect-to-bowl-first-against-chennai Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings in Match 50 of IPL 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-court-extends-ncb-custody-of-aryan-khan-2-others-till-oct-7 A local court on Monday extended the NCB custody of Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and two others till October 7 in connection with the seizure of banned drugs onboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-administration-reach-agreement-in-lakhimpur-kheri An agreement was reached between the farmers and administration in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday, a day after violence at a protest left nine people dead. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-police-divert-traffic-to-ghaziabad-as-nh-24-9-barricaded The Ghaziabad Police have barricaded National Highway 24 and National Highway 9 following which the Delhi Traffic Police were forced to divert traffic on several roads, most likely due to the ongoing farmers' agitation. https://opinionexpress.in/situation-at-lakhimpur-kheri-to-be-normalised-by-afternoon-up-top-cop A day after nine, including four farmers, were allegedly killed in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, the state police said on Monday that the situation would be normalised by afternoon. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-battle-at-lake-changjin-claims-global-box-office-crown China's 'The Battle at Lake Changjin' was the highest grossing film anywhere in the world over the past weekend, with $203 million, according to Variety.com. https://opinionexpress.in/china-manipulating-uyghur-population-data-to-counter-genocide-allegations China has rejected the genocide allegations of Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang province by launching an all-out propaganda drive to counter the reports of oppression. On September 26, the Information Office of the State Council of China published the white paper "Population Development in Xinjiang", which introduced the population development of Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) with a large number of facts and detailed data. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-nishant-says-if-salman-shouts-at-me-i-might-run-away Well known choreographer and 'Bigg Boss OTT' contestant Nishant Bhat is now a participant in 'Bigg Boss 15'. He calls himself the biggest fan of host Salman Khan and at the same time he is also "scared" of him. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-green-energy-closes-indias-largest-renewables-ma-deal Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) has completed the acquisition of SB Energy Holdings Ltd (SB Energy India) in an all-cash deal for which definitive agreements were signed on May 18, 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/flat-purchasers-cant-be-left-at-mercy-of-builders-sc-notice-to-centre The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice on a plea seeking direction to the Centre to frame a "model builder agreement" and agent-buyer agreement in the real estate sector to infuse transparency and fairness, restraining builders and agents from indulging into unfair and restrictive trade practices. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-20799-fresh-covid-cases-180-deaths In the past 24 hours, India reported a total of 20,799 fresh Covid-19 cases, as well as 180 deaths, according to the latest report issued by the Union Health Ministry on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/cant-deny-rs-50k-ex-gratia-if-death-certificate-doesnt-mention-covid-sc The Supreme Court on Monday directed state governments to follow the Centre's guidelines for paying Rs 50,000 to family members of those who succumbed to Covid-19, and disburse the payment within 30 days of applying for ex-gratia, while asking the Centre and states to give wide publicity to the scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/blast-outside-kabul-mosque-kills-number-of-civilians An explosion occurred near the gate of Eid Gah Mosque in Kabul on Sunday afternoon, said Zabihullah Mujahid, the deputy minister for culture and information ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/tony-blair-king-of-jordan-czech-pm-figure-in-pandora-papers Millions of leaked documents have uncovered financial secrets of 35 current and former world leaders, more than 330 politicians and public officials in 91 countries and territories, and a global lineup of fugitives, con artists and murderers, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) said. https://opinionexpress.in/ministers-son-booked-for-murder-in-lakhimpur-kheri-violence The Tikunia police in Lakhimpur Kheri lodged an FIR against Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra's son Ashish Mishra and 15 others for murder and inciting violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, even as the death toll reached nine on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/bjd-wins-pipili-bypoll-by-over-20000-votes Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday won the bypoll to the Pipili Assembly constituency by 20,916 votes. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-secures-cms-post-wins-by-a-record-margin West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the by-election in Bhabanipur assembly constituency in South Kolkata defeated her nearest rival Priyanka Tibrewal of BJP by a record margin of 58,832 votes. Previously Banerjee had the record of winning from this constituency by a margin of 54,213 votes in 2011. With this win, Banerjee secured her position as the chief minister of West Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/terrorists-attack-pak-security-forces-5-dead Five security personnel were killed when terrorists attacked their vehicle in North Waziristan district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an army statement said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/ncb-arrest-8-including-srks-son-aryan-in-drug-case Eight people, including Aryan Khan -- the son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan and producer Gauri Khan, who were detained from a rave party aboard a luxury cruise liner in Mumbai on Saturday, are likely to be arrested in a drug case, a top official said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/mehbooba-welcomes-decision-to-start-beat-the-retreat-in-jammu Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday welcomed the decision to start 'Beat the Retreat' on the Suchetgarh Octroi post at the International Border (IB) in Jammu. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-sues-to-reinstate-his-twitter-account Former US President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit in Florida seeking to force Twitter to reinstate his account, arguing the platform's ban violates the First Amendment and the state's new social media law. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-tries-to-mediate-amidst-tensions-between-tajikistan-taliban With tensions mounting between the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has stepped in to defuse tensions, Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/danger-of-pakistan-nuclear-assets-landing-with-rogue-elements Highlighting the multiple dangers of Pakistani nuclear power, the international community should watch Islamabads nuclear program cautiously at least till such time some form of stability returns to Afghanistan in order to prevent the countrys nuclear assets from landing in the hands of rogue elements, French journalist Roland Jacquard writes in the in Global Watch Analaysis. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-umar-riaz-remembers-sidharth-shukla-as-strong-personality-character Model-rapper Azim Riaz's brother Umar Riaz is currently seen as a contestant in the 15th season of 'Bigg Boss'. Before entering the house, he remembered late TV star Sidharth Shukla, whom Umar called a astrong personality and character. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-carries-out-multiple-raids-involving-cross-loc-trade The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday carried out raids at nine places in Jammu and Kashmir involving the cross Line of Control (LoC) trade. https://opinionexpress.in/three-tier-gst-rate-structure-likely-by-next-fiscal The next few meetings of the GST Council would take the country's new indirect tax regime closer to the goal of providing a transparent tax system with minimal exemptions and fewer rates. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-sales-continue-to-surge-in-face-of-chip-shortages Electric vehicle company Tesla has managed to deliver 2,41,300 electric vehicles during the third quarter, the company has announced. https://opinionexpress.in/continuation-of-the-young-mans-journey-fleming-on-ruturajs-century Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming has said that whenever Ruturaj Gaikwad goes out to bat for the IPL side, the expectations are always very high and the "others are realising why we have such high regard for him". https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-15-miesha-iyer-says-its-her-biggest-opportunity Reality show actress and model Miesha Iyer entered the 'Bigg Boss 15' house on Saturday after appearing in reality shows such as 'Splitsvilla 12' and 'Ace of Space Season 1'. And she considers her entry into the biggest reality show on Indian television as "one of the biggest opportunities" to come her way. https://opinionexpress.in/clouds-to-partly-hover-delhi-today-no-rain-likely The national capital is likely to witness a partly cloudy sky on Sunday, according to an update by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-leads-in-bhabanipur-trinamool-ahead-in-other-2-seats-also Early trends coming in showed that the Trinamool Congress was leading in all the three constituencies, including Bhabanipur where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had lost the Assembly polls from Nandigram earlier this year, is up against BJP's Priyanka Tibrewal and CPI(M)'s Srijib Biswas. https://opinionexpress.in/cruise-ship-rave-party-bust-ncb-probes-mega-star-srks-son In a sensational weekend development, Aryan Khan - the son of Bollywood mega-star Shah Rukh Khan and producer Gauri Khan - is among at least 8 youngsters being probed by the Narcotics Control Bureau on Sunday, a day afer it bust a rave party aboard an Indian luxury cruise liner, Cordelia, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/pk-out-to-damage-congress After making his presence felt in Mamata Banerjee's territory, political strategist Prashant Kishor seems to be out to poach leaders from the Congress outside West Bengal. In fact, he has successfully poached two prominent leaders of the grand old party. https://opinionexpress.in/cruise-ship-rave-party-bust-ncb-probes-megastar-srks-son In a shocking development, Aryan Khan -- the son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan and producer Gauri Khan -- is among the youngsters being probed by the Narcotics Control Bureau, which bust a rave party aboard a luxury cruise liner on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/rr-beat-csk-by-7-wickets Ruturaj Gaikwad's magnificent unbeaten century went in vain as Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets in their Indian Premier League match here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/muslim-brotherhood-launches-campaign-against-india The Qatar-Turkey-Pakistan (QTPi) nexus with the blessings of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is becoming the new hub for radical Islamists. A new report by Disinfolab says the MB, laced with fake news and and two media weapons, Al Jazeera and TRT World, launched a campaign against India �- targeting New Delhi's economic interests. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-to-fast-track-hc-judges-appointments-cji The Chief Justice of India (CJI), N.V. Ramana, said on Saturday that the top court collegium, which is headed by him, is targeting to fill the vacancies in various high courts at the earliest, and it does not want to cut down the pace of the process, rather it seeks Centre's support to enable access to justice and to strengthen the democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/hrithik-says-he-wasnt-excited-when-he-read-war-script-at-first Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan says he was not "excited" when he first read the script of 'War' as he thought it was too "frivolous and superficial". https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-signs-35-year-bot-deal-to-develop-colombo-port India's trade giant Adani Group on Thursday signed a joint agreement with Sri Lanka's leading business conglomerate, John Keells Holdings PLC, and the state-run Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) to develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) of Colombo Port. https://opinionexpress.in/living-by-chance-or-by-choice The cancer survivor rate in children is over 80 per cent in developed countries; however, in lower-middle income countries, it’s only about 20 per cent https://opinionexpress.in/the-quotient-of-credibility When practised systematically and regularly, audit becomes a tool of exuding confidence https://opinionexpress.in/the-world-bank-is-under-suspicion An investigation conducted by the World Bank revealed data irregularities and cited the role of several IMF chiefs in tweaking data in China’s favour https://opinionexpress.in/fools-paradise Wearing many hats, a Kerala conman’s brazen antique scam is keeping the State hooked https://opinionexpress.in/not-childs-play A ban on online gaming will help neither the child nor the parents https://opinionexpress.in/gen-rawat-austin-discuss-expanding-cooperation-with-regional-partners India's Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat has met with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and discussed expanding multilateral cooperation with regional partners, according to Defence Department Spokesperson John Kirby. https://opinionexpress.in/baradar-urges-countries-to-reopen-afghan-embassies Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban caretaker government's Acting First Deputy Prime Minister, has urged nations to reopen Afghan embassies, adding that the Islamic Emirate "does not have any policy to harm any country", the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/co-ordination-with-opening-partner-kl-rahul-was-the-key-to-won-over-kkr-mayank Punjab Kings batsman Mayank Agarwal has said that it was important for the openers to have good coordination among themselves, whereas one could take calculated risks, while the other could play with caution in order to guide the team to a competitive total. https://opinionexpress.in/impressed-with-the-way-bravo-has-responded-to-challenge-csks-fleming Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming says that he was proud of the way his team finished the IPL 2020 season, adding that the side is carrying forward the performance of the last season into the current season. https://opinionexpress.in/google-halts-plans-for-google-pay-based-banking-service Tech giant Google has stopped working on its Plex service, which aimed to let users do their banking through the Google Pay app, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported. https://opinionexpress.in/daniel-craig-to-get-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame Ahead of the US release of 'No Time to Die', actor Daniel Craig will be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-agitation-getting-violent-says-haryana-minister Amidst the anger for postponing the procurement of paddy in Punjab and Haryana by the Central government, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Saturday said the agitation of farmers is getting violent day by day. https://opinionexpress.in/nadda-shah-hold-meeting-over-manipur-polls-discuss-strategy BJP president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi to discuss strategy for Manipur Assembly elections. https://opinionexpress.in/allu-arjuns-pushpa-to-release-in-theatres-on-dec-17 Actors Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna's upcoming multi-lingual film 'Pushpa: The Rise' will release in theatres on December 17. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-in-pathetic-situation-now-says-ex-punjab-cm Taking strong exception to Harish Rawat's no-holds barred attack on him, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday rejected the Congress Punjab in-charge's claims and allegations, which he said were clearly prompted by the pathetic situation the party now found itself in the state after being on a winning spree for four and a half years. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-in-talks-with-banned-ttp-for-reconciliation Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government is in talks with some groups of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), seeking a reconciliation, the Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/has-mumbai-ex-top-cop-param-bir-singh-fled-the-country Five days before he is scheduled to appear before the government-appointed Justice (retired) K.U. Chandiwal Commission of enquiry, state political circles are rife with speculation that former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, now Commandant-General of Home Guards, may have fled the country. https://opinionexpress.in/path-to-recovery-gst-collection-for-sep-at-over-rs-117-lakh-cr The GST collection of the government had maintained its momentum this fiscal year despite Covid disruption as a pick up in the economic recovery is shoring up corporate earnings. https://opinionexpress.in/zydus-zycov-d-vax-soon-to-be-part-of-indias-inoculation-drive-centre Zydus Cadila's ZyCoV-D vaccine against Covid-19 will soon be a part of under India's mass inoculation drive, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan announced, adding that talks were underway with the manufacturer on pricing issues. https://opinionexpress.in/let-militant-arrested-in-jks-pulwama A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant armed with a pistol was arrested on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-extends-suspension-of-intl-flights Myanmar's Ministry of Transport and Communications has further extended the suspension of international flights until the end of October. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-envoy-again-seeks-un-acceptance Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's appointed envoy to the UN, has again urged the world body to allow him to represent Afghanistan, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/2-doses-of-pfizer-vax-may-protect-kids-from-long-covid-study Two doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine can potentially protect children from thousands of cases of long Covid, suggests a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/religious-places-open-in-delhi-till-oct-15 Just a week ahead of the Navratri festival, the Delhi government has allowed the reopening of religious places from Friday until October 15 with strict compliance to Covid-19 guidelines. https://opinionexpress.in/clubhouse-announces-audio-recording-features Popular audio chat app Clubhouse has is adding a bunch of new features, including one many people have wanted in-app recording. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-reportedly-suing-former-customers-for-defamation-in-china Electric vehicle company Tesla is reportedly suing two former customers for defamation over comments they have made about the automotive brand in China. https://opinionexpress.in/chip-shortage-worsens-smartphone-vendors-2021-sales-goals The smartphone industry was set for a strong rebound this year after Covid-19 had hit the market hard in 2020. But semiconductor (or chip) shortage has left some smartphone vendors crippled as components that were once fully stored in the warehouse are bottoming and new components are not coming as requested. https://opinionexpress.in/players-sticking-to-their-responsibilities-was-vital-dhoni-after-csks-qualification Every player sticking to his responsibility after the debacle during the last IPL season played a vital role in the team qualifying for the playoffs on Thursday evening, said Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni following the side's six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-trade-in-red-sensex-down-over-500-points India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - traded in the red during Friday's early morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/divya-agarwal-posts-her-cleaning-woman-look-takes-fans-by-surprise 'Bigg Boss OTT' winner Divya Agarwal surprised her fans on social media by posting a picture of her transformed into a 'cleaning lady' in a hospital with large teeth, dusky complexion and dark circles around her eyes. The picture, based on her character in the web series 'Cartel', at once went viral and Divya got a number of comments on her look. https://opinionexpress.in/john-abraham-starrer-attack-to-be-released-on-r-day-2022 Even as the memories of the Akshay Kumar-starrer hostage drama 'Bell Bottom' are still fresh in the minds of film-going audiences, John Abraham's upcoming film 'Attack', it was announced on Thursday, will release on Republic Day 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/strangulated-the-city-now-you-want-to-protest-inside-sc-on-farmers-group-plea The Supreme Court on Friday pulled the farmers' organisation, Kisan Mahapanchayat, for seeking permission to stage a Satyagraha at Jantar Mantar against the farm laws. The top court said after blocking highways and strangulating the city, the demonstrators now want to come inside to protest. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-prices-rise-again-amid-volatility-in-oil-market Petrol and diesel prices rose simultaneously for the second straight day on Friday amidst volatility in global oil prices with benchmark crude remaining at a high level of over $78 a barrel. https://opinionexpress.in/cwc-meeting-to-be-summoned-soon-surjewala A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body, will be summoned soon as demanded by the 'G-23' leaders, party General Secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/opium-trade-thriving-in-afghan-drug-bazaars Opium being freely bought and sold in the drug bazaars of southern Afghanistan will soon make its way as heroin into the neighbouring countries and then into the world beyond, The Telegraph, UK, reported. https://opinionexpress.in/byjus-raveendran-bharatpes-nakrani-youngest-in-indian-rich-list The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have accelerated the wealth accretion of IT-enabled start-up founders including Byju Raveendran's firm "Think & Learn" which runs the BYJU's Classes. https://opinionexpress.in/alarm-bells-in-islamabad-over-anti-pak-bill-in-us-senate A bill moved in the US Senate seeking to assess Pakistans alleged role in Afghanistan before and after the fall of Kabul to Afghan Taliban set alarm bells ringing in the upper house of Pakistan parliament, Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-punjab-cm-amarinder-singh-likely-to-quit-congress Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is likely to quit Congress, sources say adding that he is not likely to join the BJP amid talks of change of camp. https://opinionexpress.in/cant-be-blocked-perpetually-sc-asks-centre-for-steps-taken-to-clear-roads-blocked-by-farmers The Supreme Court on Thursday emphasised that roads cannot remain blocked perpetually and asked the Centre what steps has it taken to remove the road blockade by farmers, protesting against three agriculture laws at Delhi borders. https://opinionexpress.in/amarinder-calls-on-nsa-doval-a-day-after-meeting-amit-shah A day after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday called on National Security Advisor Ajit Doval amid talks of switching to BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/record-breaker-ronaldo-scores-late-winner-for-united-in-cl Cristiano Ronaldo removed his Manchester United jersey, flexed his muscular physique and soaked in the acclaim of the fans after his winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. https://opinionexpress.in/what-are-ideal-bp-levels-to-prevent-repeat-strokes-heart-attacks People with diabetes who have a stroke, there may be an ideal target blood sugar range to lower the risk of different types of vascular diseases like a stroke or heart attack later on, finds a new study. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-kohli-credits-bowlers-for-comeback-win-against-rajasthan Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli praised his bowlers for their fine comeback to restrict Rajasthan Royals, after their good start, to a manageable total as they coasted to a seven-wicket win in IPL 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-iphone-13-series-reportedly-facing-production-issues Apple iPhone 13 series is reportedly facing production issues because of a Covid-19 wave in Vietnam which has limited manufacturing capacity for the devices' camera systems. https://opinionexpress.in/actor-ranveer-singh-named-nba-brand-ambassador-for-india Ranveer Singh on Thursday was named as the National Basketball Association (NBA) brand ambassador for India. The Bollywood star says he has loved basketball and the NBA since childhood. https://opinionexpress.in/setting-a-benchmark-to-promote-indian-journals If our scientists publish their contributions in our journals, the scientific community will naturally cite our journals and this will increase their visibility https://opinionexpress.in/how-would-scholz-form-a-coalition After Merkel stepping down as the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz looks like a shoo-in https://opinionexpress.in/khela-hobe-for-whom-in-punjab A general idea in the Punjab Congress is that it was Channi’s masterstroke to get rid of Sidhu by making certain appointments unpalatable to him https://opinionexpress.in/bang-bang As the festive season draws closer, it’s time to remind ourselves to keep off firecrackers https://opinionexpress.in/flip-flop Repeatedly putting self before party, Sidhu has single-handedly hurt the Punjab Congress https://opinionexpress.in/agriculture-a-better-bet-for-eastern-india The Northeast is a zone of immense potential, which is yet to be fully tapped and would lead to India's economic development https://opinionexpress.in/bdesh-four-killed-as-boat-capsizes-in-padma-river At least four persons were killed and 11 others went missing when a boat carrying around 50 passengers capsized in the middle of Padma river in Bangladesh. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-erdogan-discuss-intl-cooperation-bilateral-ties-in-sochi Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed cooperation on international issues and bilateral ties with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/australia-ask-india-to-bat-first-in-day-night-womens-test Australia Women skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and decided to bowl first in the one-off day-night Test against India Women at the Carrara Oval here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/google-to-launch-new-wired-nest-doorbell-in-2022 Google has announced that it will launch a second-generation Nest Doorbell (wired) in 2022 with 24/7 recording support and Google Home app. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-green-energy-to-acquire-40-mw-solar-project-in-odisha The Adani Renewable Energy (MH) Limited (AREMHL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), will acquire a 40MW operating solar project in Odisha. https://opinionexpress.in/shocked-and-disgusted-to-hear-of-attack-at-sibals-house-anand-sharma Congress leader Anand Sharma on Thursday condemned the attack and protests at Kapil Sibal's residence by the party workers. Sharma urged Sonia Gandhi to take action against the hooligans. https://opinionexpress.in/look-whos-in-tejasswi-akasa-appear-in-latest-bigg-boss-15-promo Two days before the launch of the reality show Bigg Boss 15 hosted by superstar Salman Khan, it unveiled a promo featuring its contestants on Voot Select. The identities of the contestants, according to Colors, the channel airing the show, will be revealed only on Saturday, October 2. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-kaif-lookalike-alina-rai-storms-the-internet Katrina Kaif has a doppleganger and her name is Alina Rai, who has taken over the Internet courtesy her uncanny resemblance to the Bollywood star. https://opinionexpress.in/auto-fuel-prices-rise-simultaneously-after-a-days-break Auto fuel petrol and diesel prices rose simultaneously after a day's break on Thursday amidst volatility in global oil prices with benchmark crude remaining at a high level of $78 a barrel. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-trade-flat-global-cues-dent-sentiments India's key equity indices -- S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 -- trade on a flat note during Thursday's early morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-over-20k-new-covid-cases-again-after-3-days India witnessed yet another surge in daily Covid cases on Thursday, pushing the daily tally over 20,000 cases after three days. According to Union Health Ministry's report on Thursday Morning, as many as 23,529 new Covid-19 cases were registered in the last 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/akhara-parishad-mulls-panel-of-retired-hc-judges-to-probe-mahants-death The Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) general secretary, Mahant Hari Giri, has said that the Akhara Parishad may appoint a separate probe panel comprising five retired judges of the high court to investigate the death of Mahant Narendra Giri. https://opinionexpress.in/aukus-quad-china-in-sri-lanka-and-indias-security-concerns Alliance gives new meaning to political boundaries on physical maps empowering coalitions with political preferences to work together. President Biden does "not seek a new Cold War", clearly expressing at the UNGA and many other leaders are with Biden, including Indian Prime Minister Modi, where the world divided into two rigid blocks will only limit progress and prosperity to many nations. In reality, Cold War structures will resurrect when the rules-based order is threatened, and robust partnerships are required to maintain the security balance. https://opinionexpress.in/who-is-taking-decisions-in-congress-asks-angry-sibal Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal launched an attack on Rahul Gandhi and wondered who is taking decisions for the party. He said that the party leaders' demand for organisational elections has not been met even a year after the letter was written by G-23. https://opinionexpress.in/if-sidhu-does-not-relent-hunt-on-for-new-chief-of-punjab-congress While the Congress leadership is reaching out to Navjot Singh Sidhu who resigned from the Punjab chief's post and is trying to pacify him to take back his resignation, sources have said that the Congress is also looking for likely replacement in case he does not relent. https://opinionexpress.in/youtube-music-app-rolling-out-to-older-wear-os-watches-this-week YouTube Music app is finally arriving for older smartwatches that run on the Wear OS 2 software. https://opinionexpress.in/ali-fazal-nominated-for-ray-at-asia-content-awards-by-busan-film-fest Bollywood actor Ali Fazal has bagged the nomination in the Best Actor category at the Asia Content Awards by the Busan International Film Festival. https://opinionexpress.in/mehbooba-mufti-prevented-from-visiting-jks-tral-town Authorities on Wednesday prevented former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti from visiting J&K's Tral town where she alleged security forces had ransacked homes of civilians. https://opinionexpress.in/will-fight-for-truth-until-last-breath-sidhu A day after his resignation as the Punjab Congress chief, Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said he will fight for truth till his last breath as the fight is for principles that he won't compromise with. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-slams-biden-as-not-the-friendliest-after-wh-ev-summit-snub Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has criticised US President Joe Biden as "not the friendliest administration" after the White House snubbed his company last month. https://opinionexpress.in/amazon-announces-echo-show-15-smart-display Amazon has launched its newest smart display called Amazon Echo Show 15. With a 15.6-inch, 1080p Full HD display, Echo Show 15 can be mounted on a wall or placed on a counter-either in portrait or landscape orientation. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-ashwin-gets-into-heated-argument-with-southee-and-morgan Delhi Capitals' spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Tim Southee were involved in a heated argument during their IPL 2021 game at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-is-irrelevant-for-now-were-playing-the-ipl-pollard Mumbai Indians all-rounder Kieron Pollard categorically denied that the ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to commence immediately after the Indian Premier League, had a role to play in the five-time champions' below-par performance this season. https://opinionexpress.in/still-awaiting-a-permanent-seat-in-the-unsc Though the United States and other countries talk of reforms in the United Nations, the world body’s reform movement has been at a snail’s pace  https://opinionexpress.in/no-coercion-to-reduce-population Promote education among girls and awareness about family planning https://opinionexpress.in/maintaining-the-ecological-balance The objective of environmental laws is to conserve, sustain and manage the environment without which the ‘right to life’ remains inconceivable https://opinionexpress.in/combined-effort The agitation has grown manifold; the Govt and farmers must resume talks to end the stalemate https://opinionexpress.in/phew The scare of the third wave may not be pressing but the need for precautions does not wane https://opinionexpress.in/the-third-way-could-be-the-way-forward Unlike the banking giants, the cooperative movement has been a success in India. They have been sturdily playing a seminal role https://opinionexpress.in/apple-updates-iwork-suite-with-a-slew-of-new-features Apple has announced a slate of updates to its iWork suite of productivity apps with new features within Keynote, Pages and Numbers. https://opinionexpress.in/no-change-in-petrol-diesel-prices-on-wednesday Auto fuel petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged on Wednesday, a day after pump prices of both fuels rose simultaneously, after a three week break amid volatility in global oil prices. https://opinionexpress.in/need-to-save-countrys-democracy-kanhaiya-says-after-joining-cong CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar who has joined the Congress said that he has joined the party to save the country's democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-considering-lowering-exchange-rates-given-by-banks-to-small-exporters In yet another measure to facilitate small and medium exporters, government is looking to get them competitive exchange rates from banks. https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-always-want-films-that-portray-women-correctly Actress Bhumi Pednekar says she wants to do films that portray women correctly and she is thankful to the directors she has collaborated with because they shared the same vision for societal change. https://opinionexpress.in/extremely-unfortunate-manish-tewari-on-punjab-political-mess Congress MP from Anandpur Sahib Manish Tewari on Wednesday said that the kind of politics that was going on in his home state was unfortunate, and since it is a sensitive border state, Pakistan may try to fish in the troubled waters. https://opinionexpress.in/balbir-giri-to-head-akhil-bharatiya-akhara-parishad At 35, Mahant Balbir Giri is set to become one of the youngest head of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad. https://opinionexpress.in/us-general-mark-milley-calls-afghan-war-strategic-failure General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said during a Senate hearing that it is a "strategic failure" with the Taliban back in power and US withdrawal from Afghanistan. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-chairs-meeting-of-council-of-ministers New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) A meeting of the Council of Ministers was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this crucial meeting, Modi reviewed the progress report of many projects. https://opinionexpress.in/nclt-clears-decks-for-transfer-of-future-group-retail-assets-to-reliance-retail NCLT Mumbai on Tuesday cleared decks for conducting shareholders and creditors meeting to consider the Scheme of Arrangement filed by Future Group for transfer of its retail assets to Reliance Retail. https://opinionexpress.in/no-bail-for-wife-daughters-of-yes-bank-founder-rana-kapoor-in-dhfl-case The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed a bail plea filed by Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor's wife Bindu, and their daughters Roshini Kapoor and Radha Kapoor-Khanna, and former bank senior executive Rajiv Anand, in the financial irregularities pertaining to the Dewan Housing Financials Ltd (DHFL) cases. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-goes-deeper-into-massive-crisis-courtesy-taliban The overall political, security and economic situation appear to be deteriorating in Pakistan day by day. Pakistani vernacular media gives a clear perspective on the prevailing trend and also brings out the pathetic state of affairs in various provinces as far as callousness on the part of the government is concerned. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-looks-to-announce-winning-bid-for-air-india-next-month The Central government proposes to wrap up the divestment of Air India by the middle of next month with the announcement of winning bid for the national carrier. https://opinionexpress.in/upset-amarinder-likely-to-meet-shah-nadda Fortnight, after he was 'unceremoniously' asked to quit as the Punjab Chief Minister in the run-up to the Assembly polls, Congress veteran Amarinder Singh, is likely to meet Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in Delhi late Tuesday evening. The former Chief Minister is also likely to meet Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J.P. Nadda, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/un-members-ask-china-to-respect-human-rights-in-tibet Dharamsala, Sep 28 (IANS) At the ongoing 48th UN Human Rights Council session, a group of member states of the world body has called on China to respect human rights in Tibet, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/top-officers-should-not-be-held-vicariously-liable-for-criminal-acts-of-company-sc The Supreme Court has ruled that senior company officials -- chairman, managing director, executive director, deputy general manager, planner and executor -- automatically cannot be held liable under criminal law for offences committed by the company in the absence of specific allegations against them. https://opinionexpress.in/monday-will-prove-milestone-in-history-of-farmers-agitation-yogendra-yadav Jai Kisan Andolan founder Yogendra Yadav on Monday said that today's Bharat Bandh evoked unprecedented response across the nation. Speaking to IANS, Yadav said that the day will prove a milestone in the history of the farmers movement. "Those demeaning the farmers agitation by calling it a movement of a few farmers have got a befitting reply today", added Yadav. https://opinionexpress.in/us-deputy-secretary-of-state-to-visit-india US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will be visiting India next month for bilateral meetings with Indian officials and to attend the India Ideas Summit, according to the State Department. https://opinionexpress.in/italy-says-impossible-to-recognize-taliban-govt Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio in a strong reaction to the Taliban's caretaker cabinet said that it is impossible for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to be recognized by them. https://opinionexpress.in/rss-supports-panchjanya-on-amazon-revelations Describing the allegations made by Panchjanya, a journal with RSS leanings, against the American multinational company Amazon as serious, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has demanded that the government investigate the whole matter. https://opinionexpress.in/harrowing-time-in-punjab-haryana-as-buses-rails-remain-stranded Hundreds of people across Punjab and Haryana on Monday faced a harrowing time as buses, taxis and rails did not ply due to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)-called Bharat Bandh. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-shares-permanent-stretch-marks-after-thalaivii Actress Kangana Ranaut has talked about how her weight adjustments for her latest 'Thalaivii' that "messed up many things" in her body and left her with "permanent stretch marks". https://opinionexpress.in/prabhas-starrer-adipurush-to-clash-with-akshay-kumars-raksha-bandhan Actor Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' and Prabhas-starrer 'Adipurush' will face-off at the box-office as they are set to release on August 11, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-will-allow-hosts-to-add-topics-to-spaces Micro-blogging site Twitter is adding topics to Spaces for hosts to tag their Spaces with up to three relevant topics. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-bandh-road-rail-traffic-disruption-in-bihar The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)-called Bharat Bandh on Monday witnessed traffic disruptions at several places in Bihar as the opposition parties actively lent their support. Rail traffic was also stopped in Darbhanga by the protesters. https://opinionexpress.in/dhonis-cool-temperament-kept-team-in-good-spirits-despite-the-pressures-gaikwad Chennai Super Kings opening batsman, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has emerged as Mr Dependable for the three-time IPL champions, said that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's cool demeanour was the reason the side, despite playing under tremendous pressure against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, won the thrilling contest by two wickets. https://opinionexpress.in/transitioning-from-tests-to-t20s-was-a-huge-challenge-says-jadeja-after-thrilling-win Chennai Super Kings' star performer against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, Ravindra Jadeja, said that blasting runs at the crucial stage when he came in to bat was more important that saving his wicket, given that all eyes were on him to guide his team to victory at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. https://opinionexpress.in/moeen-might-not-be-a-part-of-englands-ashes-touring-party-reports Top England batting all-rounder Moeen Ali could become a casualty of the gruelling season ahead, and the 34-year-old veteran of 64 Tests is understood to be not interested at the "prospect of an extended time away from home" for the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE and the subsequent Ashes series Down Under. https://opinionexpress.in/ayushmann-starrer-chandigarh-kare-aashiqui-to-release-on-dec-10 Actor Ayushmann Khurrana's upcoming film 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' is all set to hit the big screens on December 10. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rains-lash-coastal-andhra-gulab-weakens-into-deep-depression Heavy rains lashed north coastal Andhra Pradesh under the impact of cyclonic storm 'Gulab' which has weakened into a deep depression after crossing Andhra-Odisha coast, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/gulab-effect-heavy-rainfall-expected-in-chhattisgarh The deep depression, which is a remnant of the Cyclonic Storm 'Gulab' is likely to cause heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh as well apart from coastal Andhra Pradesh, IMD said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-bandh-evokes-contrasting-response-in-telugu-states The day-long Bharat Bandh called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha evoked contrasting response in the two Telugu states on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/asian-cues-lift-indices-realty-stocks-rise Positive Asian cues lifted the key indices of the Indian equity market during Monday's morning trade session. https://opinionexpress.in/arjun-bijlani-wins-khatron-ke-khiladi-11-despite-dislocated-shoulder 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 11' winner Arjun Bijlani is on "top of the world", for it has been arduous journey to the winner's trophy and Rs 20 lakh in the reality show presented by Bollywood's hit director Rohit Shetty. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-bandh-traffic-congestion-at-delhi-gurugram-border Amid the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)-called Bharat Bandh on Monday, commuters on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway had to face a huge traffic congestion as the Delhi Police had put barriers at the border to keep a vigil on the farmers entering the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclonic-storm-gulab-to-cross-coast-on-sunday-midnight The Cyclonic Storm 'Gulab' lay centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 270 km east-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha and 330 km east of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as of early Sunday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. https://opinionexpress.in/neha-kakkar-farhan-sabri-create-new-fusion-song-bol-kaffara-kya-hoga Singer Neha Kakkar collaborated with DJ Chetas and Farhan Sabri for the song 'Bol Kaffara Kya Hoga' that releases on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/sukriti-prakriti-kakar-all-set-to-drop-latest-track-majnu Singers Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar are coming up with their new track titled 'Majnu'. https://opinionexpress.in/palash-sen-on-first-euphoria-album-in-nine-years Indie pop band Euphoria band of 'Dhoom Pichak Dhoom' fame recently released a music album after a long gap of nine years. The album is uniquely titled 'Sale'. https://opinionexpress.in/saba-karim-seeks-clarity-on-hardik-pandyas-fitness Former India cricketer Saba Karim has questioned the inclusion of all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to commence in the UAE and Oman next month when there is a question mark on his fitness. https://opinionexpress.in/india-claim-two-silver-medals-in-archery-world-championships  India suffered another setback as its archers had to settle for silver medals in Women's Compound Team and Compound Mixed Team competitions at the World Archery Championships here in South Dakota. https://opinionexpress.in/india-could-play-one-test-in-england-next-year-reports  India could play one Test match in England next year, says a report by ESPNCricinfo. The one Test match could replace the fifth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester which was cancelled due to Indian team unable to field an eleven after assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar tested positive for COVID-19. https://opinionexpress.in/6-reet-candidates-die-in-raj-road-accident Six candidates of the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teacher (REET) test were killed in a road accident when the van they were travelling in collided with a truck on NH-12 on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-grimes-break-up-after-three-years-together-report SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Grimes have broken up after three years together, Page Six reported. https://opinionexpress.in/imd-issues-pre-cyclone-watch-for-odisha-ap-coasts The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a pre-cyclone watch for north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts. https://opinionexpress.in/cousin-biden-president-reminiscences-about-possible-indian-relative Vice President Kamala Harris is an Indian American, but could President Joe Biden also claim an Indian link and be a cousin of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi? https://opinionexpress.in/quad-leaders-demand-end-to-support-for-terrorism-unveil-new-areas-of-cooperation The leaders of the Quad nations -- the US, Australia, Japan and India -- have denounced the use of terrorist proxies and demanded an end to support for terrorism, while introducing new areas of cooperation, especially in technology. https://opinionexpress.in/5ts-to-guide-india-us-relations Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set forth a policy of "5Ts" -- Tradition, Technology, Trade, Trusteeship, Talent -- during his meeting with US President Joe Biden for a decade of transformational partnership between New Delhi and Washington, according to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. https://opinionexpress.in/wasnt-sure-about-cracking-exams-this-time-upsc-topper UPSC topper Shubham Kumar has said that he was not sure about cracking the examination this year, which was his third attempt. https://opinionexpress.in/gogis-killing-a-planned-attack-top-cop In an incident that seemed ripped from a Bollywood potboiler, top Delhi gangster Jitender Singh Mann, alias Gogi, was shot dead in a courtroom on Friday by two assailants from the rival 'Tilu' gang, dressed in lawyers' garb. https://opinionexpress.in/india-responds-to-imran-pak-a-supporter-of-terrorists-suppressor-of-minorities India has denounced Pakistan as a patron of terrorism and a suppressor of minorities in reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's tirade against the country. https://opinionexpress.in/quad-will-bring-peace-and-prosperity-to-indo-pacific-world New York, Sep 25 (IANS) Quad will bring peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific region and the world with its positive approach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said at the start of the summit of its four leaders in Washington. https://opinionexpress.in/mr-prime-minister-were-going-to-continue-to-build-on-our-strong-partnership US President Joe Biden said: "Mr Prime Minister, we're going to continue to build on our strong partnership", as he sat down with India's leader Narendra Modi in the Oval Office for their bilateral meeting on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/shefali-jariwala-enrolls-in-class-of-2020-season-2 Actress Shefali Jariwala has joined the cast of the upcoming second season of web series 'Class of 2020'. https://opinionexpress.in/the-misuse-of-law-a-challenge-to-indian-judiciary Public Interest Litigations have ensured against derailment of the rule of law and benefited the socially vulnerable sections https://opinionexpress.in/quad-summit-and-modi-biden-talks India has a range of bilateral discussions lined up on current issues of interest https://opinionexpress.in/role-of-cooperatives-in-indian-economy The NCAER recently undertook a study on cooperative agro-processing and identification of institutional financial lacunae in the cooperative movement https://opinionexpress.in/marching-on The SC insists that females be given the chance in Nov itself to take the NDA entrance exam https://opinionexpress.in/breathing-death WHO’s revised air quality levels are in tune with the times. India must implement these quickly https://opinionexpress.in/us-probing-paks-role-in-afghanistan Ever since it became a sovereign nation, Pakistan has been ostensibly ‘helping’ the US to actually further its own interests in the region https://opinionexpress.in/firing-at-delhi-court-undertrial-among-3-dead Three people were killed, including an undertrial gangster in a firing incident inside the Rohini Court here on Friday in a major security breach. https://opinionexpress.in/radhika-madan-when-we-see-a-love-story-it-just-feels-like-home Radhika Madan is gearing up for the release of her upcoming romantic film 'Shiddat'. The actress has talked about what makes a love story a popular genre universally. https://opinionexpress.in/shamita-nishant-donal-umar-set-to-enter-bigg-boss-15-house The controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss 15' hosted by Salman Khan is going to start from October 2. Recently the launch of the show took place at Pench resort, Nagpur. https://opinionexpress.in/kkr-skipper-morgan-fined-rs-24-lakh-others-fined-rs-6-lakh-each Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders have been fined after they maintained a slow over rate during their match against Mumbai Indians at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi on September 23 (Thursday). https://opinionexpress.in/apple-releases-ios-1255-for-older-iphones-ipads The Cupertino-based tech giant Apple has started rolling out iOS 12.5.5 to older models of the iPhone and iPad. https://opinionexpress.in/pankaj-tripathi-shuffles-between-mumbai-ladakh-to-shoot-for-two-projects Actor Pankaj Tripathi has a packed schedule as he has been shuffling between Ladakh and Mumbai to shoot for two projects - a yet untitled series with Raj and DK and the second instalment of the film 'OMG: Oh My God!'. https://opinionexpress.in/amid-row-with-france-blinken-says-us-strongly-supports-paris-new-delhi-ties The US strongly supports France strengthening ties with India, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said amid a diplomatic row between Washington and Paris over their roles in the Indo-Pacific region. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cm-gets-rahuls-nod-for-cabinet-expansion-list In a late night meeting which ended after 2 a.m. on Friday, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi gave his nod to a list with proposed names for the Punjab cabinet expansion, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-cares-fund-is-not-a-government-fund-govt-tells-delhi-hc The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that the PM Cares Fund is not a government fund as the amount collected by it does not go to the Consolidated Fund of India, India Legal Live has reported. https://opinionexpress.in/harris-asking-pakistan-to-act-against-terrorism US Vice President Kamala Harris has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that she was asking Pakistan to act on terrorism and ensure that terror groups do not target New Delhi or Washington, according to India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. https://opinionexpress.in/bse-sensex-breaches-60k-nifty-just-short-of-18k-mark India's benchmark equity index S&P BSE Sensex crossed the 60,000-mark milestone during Friday's early morning trade session. The Nifty too touched a record intra-day high of 17,927.20 points. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-meets-kamala-ahead-of-first-ever-in-person-quad-summit Black on white, white on black. At 3:19 p.m. Thursday, when America's first ever Indian American Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave for the first time after taking power in the 2020 elections, it was a striking visual for a historic moment, blending austere monochrome with the all-white backdrop of the White House pillars. https://opinionexpress.in/war-games-erupt-across-asia-to-counter-taliban-threat Rattled by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, several neighbouring countries have joined hands to kickstart joint anti-terrorism military exercises to maintain regional stability and also check the readiness of their forces. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-kamala-harris-to-have-first-meeting-in-person-soon Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US Vice President Kamala Harris for their first direct personal encounter on Thursday afternoon (US time), according to the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-team-reaches-prayagraj-to-probe-mahants-death A five-member CBI team has reached Prayagraj to take over the investigation into the suspicious death of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad chief, Mahant Narendra Giri. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-agrees-for-ex-gratia-to-family-of-covid-patients-who-died-by-suicide After Supreme Court's push, the Centre has agreed to consider financial assistance for family members of people who died by suicide within 30 days from being diagnosed as Covid positive. https://opinionexpress.in/pragya-jaiswal-opens-up-on-her-new-look-in-telugu-film-akhanda Actress Pragya Jaiswal dons a look that audiences haven't seen before in her upcoming Telugu film 'Akhanda', where superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna is in the lead role. She says director Boyapati Srinu meticulously designed her character and look. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-recommends-cbi-probe-into-narendra-giris-death The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Akhara Parishad head Mahant Narendra Giri. https://opinionexpress.in/pratik-gandhis-bhavai-has-a-scam-1992-connect Actor Pratik Gandhi, who became an overnight sensation with his portrayal of Harshad Mehta in the series 'Scam 1992', has revealed that while shooting for his upcoming film 'Bhavai', he got two calls that changed his life forever. https://opinionexpress.in/major-reshuffle-in-bengal-bjp-likely-after-durga-puja There are strong indications that a major reshuffle is likely to take place in the West Bengal BJP hierarchy just after the Durga puja where new and young leaders will be roped in and more representation from North Bengal will get a preference. https://opinionexpress.in/global-cues-lift-equity-indices-realty-stocks-rally Positive global cues emanating from the US buoyed India's key stock indices during the afternoon trade session on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/soldier-commits-suicide-at-loc-in-jks-kupwara A soldier posted along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district has committed suicide, police sources said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-row-sc-likely-to-set-up-panel-to-probe-snooping-allegations The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it may set up a technical committee to probe the allegations of snooping by using the Pegasus spyware on journalists, activists etc. https://opinionexpress.in/recovery-by-2030-needs-public-sector-revival Even high growth is insufficient to remove ‘the widened income and wealth inequalities and rising social unrest' in the country https://opinionexpress.in/norways-dilemma-of-oil-exploration Whether Norway should stop pumping has become an issue in national politics https://opinionexpress.in/role-of-community-radios-in-india The Government must realise the importance of community radios and  sustain them by providing financial support and professional facilities https://opinionexpress.in/alarm-bells As COVID-19 takes first wicket in the IPL's second spell, organisers sweat more than fans https://opinionexpress.in/the-doldrums To rid UP of economic woes, the Govt must revisit and redraw its strategy https://opinionexpress.in/sonu-is-an-altruist-not-a-swindler The law will certainly take its course but it beats logic and experience to see a righteous person like Sonu Sood be charged with tax evasion https://opinionexpress.in/big-b-shares-throwback-cricket-pic-from-mr-natwarlal-shoot Amitabh Bachchan has shared a throwback photograph from behind-the-scenes of his film 'Mr. Natwarlal' that released in 1971. The megastar is seen playing cricket with a bat "too small for him". https://opinionexpress.in/at-31923-covid-cases-india-sees-slight-surge-in-infections With 31,923 new Covid cases registered in the last 24 hours, India's daily new cases on Thursday crossed the 30,000 mark yet again. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-arrives-in-us-for-quad-summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the US to attend the Quad summit convened by President Joe Biden, hold bilateral talks with leaders and address the United Nations General Assembly. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-to-attend-quad-summit-hold-bilateral-meetings During his visit to Washington starting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Quad summit convened by President Joe Biden and hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-plays-down-chances-of-uk-us-trade-pact US President Joe Biden has played down the chances of a post-Brexit free trade deal between his government and the UK, as he held talks with Boris Johnson at the White House. https://opinionexpress.in/joyita-chatterjee-set-to-enter-class-of-2020-season-2 Actress Joyita Chatterjee, who featured in the first season of the ALTBalaji web series 'Class of 2020', is all geared up for season 2. https://opinionexpress.in/suniel-shetty-jackie-shroff-flex-muscles-on-kbc-13-big-b-impressed Bollywood actors Jackie Shroff and Suniel Shetty will be seen as special guests on the 'Shaandaar Shukravaar' special episode of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 13'. They will be on the hotseat and play the game with host Amitabh Bachchan. https://opinionexpress.in/fb-paid-billions-extra-to-spare-zuck-in-cambridge-analytica-probe Facebook conditioned its $5 billion payment to the US Federal Trade Commission to resolve the Cambridge Analytica data leak probe on the agency dropping plans to sue Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, shareholders allege in a lawsuit, Politico reported. https://opinionexpress.in/easy-to-understand-the-anger-at-englands-refusal-to-tour-pak-paul-newman Former England cricketer Paul Newman was scathing in his criticism of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for cancelling the men's and women's tours of Pakistan due to "increasing concerns about travelling to the region." https://opinionexpress.in/rajasthan-royals-captain-sanju-samson-fined-rs-12-lakh-for-slow-over-rate Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has been fined after his team maintained a slow over rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match against Punjab Kings at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday (September 21). https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-sets-up-sit-to-re-investigate-murder-of-kho-kho-player UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered the setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case of rape and murder of a national level Kho-Kho player. https://opinionexpress.in/decomposed-body-recovered-in-jk-suspected-to-be-of-abducted-soldier A decomposed body was recovered on Wednesday by police in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, which is suspected to belong to the Territorial Army (TA) soldier reportedly killed by terrorists in August 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/mahant-narendra-giris-mortal-remains-given-samadhi The mortal remains of Mahant Narendra Giri were placed in a 'samadhi' in the premises of the Baghambari Mutt on Wednesday, amidst chanting of mantras in the presence of scores of saints and seers. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-covid-variant-now-spread-to-185-countries-who The Delta Covid variant is the current dominant strain of the infectious virus, with its presence reported in 185 countries, as of September 21, the World Health organisation has said. https://opinionexpress.in/us-visit-an-occasion-to-strengthen-strategic-partnership-modi Before leaving for the United State of America on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the visit would be an occasion to strengthen the comprehensive global strategic partnership with the US. https://opinionexpress.in/up-ats-arrests-known-islamic-scholar-in-conversion-racket The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Wednesday arrested Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui from Meerut on charges of religious conversation. https://opinionexpress.in/dozens-of-choppers-hundreds-of-humvees-transferred-out-of-afghanistan Officials from the Taliban Cultural Commission of the Ministry of Information and Culture said military equipment of the former government had been transferred out of Afghanistan. https://opinionexpress.in/tejasvi-on-playing-a-strong-female-character-in-hasal Actress Tejasvi Singh Ahlawat who hails from Dehradun has all the reasons to be happy as she is cast along with Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey and Raghav Juyal in 'Hasal'. https://opinionexpress.in/vaccine-must-not-be-entry-barrier-for-nations-bharat-biotech-co-founder The Co-founder and Joint Managing Director of Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, Suchitra Ella has said that vaccines should not be a barrier to enter into any nation. https://opinionexpress.in/mahant-narendra-giri-autopsy-done-report-sealed The autopsy of Mahant Narendra Giri who was found dead in suspicious circumstances on Monday evening was conducted on Wednesday morning by a panel of five doctors whose names have been kept a closely guarded secret. https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-will-be-modis-host-in-washington As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not the head of state like President Joe Biden, but the head of government, his equivalent in protocol is Vice President Kamala Harris, who is part of Indian origin, and she will be the formal host. He will meet with her on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-wb-bjp-chief-accuses-mamata-of-running-taliban-govt Sukanta Majumdar launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday, just a day after his appointment as the state BJP president. He not only raised questions on corruption and 'autocracy' rampant in the administration but also accused Banerjee of "running a Taliban government". https://opinionexpress.in/17-indo-canadians-elected-mps-in-canada-polls-trudeau-fails-to-win-majority Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus gamble to seek a majority by calling a snap election has not paid off even as 17 Indo-Canadians were elected as MPs. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-dc-take-on-srh-in-teams-first-match-on-resumption Delhi Capitals (DC), who are placed second in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 points table and are behind only Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to inferior net run rate, will resume their season against bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-raids-multiple-places-in-kashmir The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids at multiple locations on Tuesday in the Kashmir Valley. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-urges-uk-foreign-secy-to-resolve-quarantine-curbs-on-vaccinated-indians India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has raised with the UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss her country's rules that require vaccinated Indian travellers to be quarantined and urged an early resolution of the issue. https://opinionexpress.in/buying-support-pushes-equities-higher-oil-stocks-rise India's key stock indices rose during the morning trade session on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-to-speak-at-climate-week-in-ny Actress and climate activist Bhumi Pednekar has been invited to speak at the Climate Week in New York. https://opinionexpress.in/a-greater-india-is-visibly-an-india-for-indians-gautam-adani Gautam Adani, the Chairman of the Adani Group, on Monday coined the slogan "A greater India is visibly an India for Indians" as the country embarks on a journey of growth. https://opinionexpress.in/gaza-reconstruction-process-needs-3-bn-official A senior Palestinian government official said that the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip has kicked off and it needs $3 billion to be completed. https://opinionexpress.in/humiliating-loss-has-got-nothing-to-do-with-virats-statement-rcb-coach-hesson Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) coach Mike Hesson categorically said that the humiliating loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the team's opening match in the IPL second leg here had anything to do with skipper Virat Kohli's statement about quitting captaincy at the end of the season. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-hits-record-pre-orders-in-india-with-iphone-13 The newly-launched Apple iPhone 13 series for which pre-orders were thrown open in India on September 17 have received a similar record response like last year from fans across the country, reliable retail trade sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/randeep-hooda-likes-tapping-into-uncharted-territories Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda says he likes tapping into uncharted territories and talks about how antagonists these days have their own unique style and swag. https://opinionexpress.in/jk-ied-detected-defused-on-srinagar-airport-road An improvised explosive device (IED) was detected and successfully defused by the security forces on the Srinagar-Airport road in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district. https://opinionexpress.in/possibility-of-rain-in-delhi Showers are likely to return to the national capital after a few days break. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light showers on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-under-putin-quietly-expands-its-network-in-africa Why should a coup in Africas Guinea that toppled its elected President Apha Conde, rattle Russia? The answer is simple. Russia has been influencing its political contours until Conde was there. https://opinionexpress.in/at-first-meeting-punjab-cabinet-announces-pro-poor-initiatives Eyeing to woo the people in Punjab just ahead of going to the polls in early 2022, the new Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, in its maiden meeting discussed pro-poor initiatives like construction of 32,000 houses and provision of free electricity units up to 300 units. https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-discuss-prevailing-crisis-in-afghanistan India and the US on Monday held discussions over the prevailing situation in Afghanistan and appreciated the mutual cooperation in the recent evacuation operations from Kabul. https://opinionexpress.in/chineses-pla-carries-out-night-battle-drill-near-indian-border Chinese People's Liberation Army carried out a night battle exercise at over 16,000 feet on the heights of Xinjian, near the Indian border amid the two countries' border dispute in eastern Ladakh and ongoing military and diplomatic talks to resolve it. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-to-make-partial-payments-to-agitated-chinese-companies-for-cpec-projects The Pakistan government is expected to make partial payments out of about $1.4 billion payables in a few days to assuage the concerns of the worried Chinese firms which have invested in independent power producers (IPPs) and other projects, the Dawn reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ranbir-celebrates-mahesh-bhatts-73rd-birthday-with-alia-pooja Actor Ranbir Kapoor was seen celebrating filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's 73rd birthday along with his rumoured girlfriend Alia Bhatt and her sister Pooja Bhatt. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-greets-new-punjab-chief-minister-channi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted new Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi, the first Dalit who is at the helm in Punjab now. https://opinionexpress.in/rohit-sharma-should-be-back-for-next-match-mis-jayawardene Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene is confident that regular skipper Rohit Sharma will return for the next Indian Premier League (IPL) game after missing out on the opener against CSK in Dubai on Sunday evening. https://opinionexpress.in/is-says-bomb-attacks-killed-35-taliban-militia The Islamic State (IS) has clamimed responsibility for a series of bomb attacks in Afghanistan which targeted the Taliban, the terror groups Amaaq News Agency said on its Telegram channel. https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-japan-australia-to-sign-pact-for-stepping-up-chip-production-move-to-cut-china-to-size The United States, Japan, India and Australia are likely to sign an agreement to take steps to build secure semiconductor chip supply chains when they meet in Washington for the Indo-Pacific Quad summit next week, according to a report Japans Nikkei newspaper. https://opinionexpress.in/let-govt-take-decision-sc-on-plea-seeking-reopening-of-schools The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea by a Class 12 student from Delhi seeking directions to Centre and States to take a time-bound decision in connection with the physical re-opening of schools and conduct of offline teaching. https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-collaborates-with-boddesscom For Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar, time spent in front of the mirror is nothing short of therapeutic. An advocate of holistic beauty, Bhumi says she is a huge beauty enthusiast and is big on taking care of herself. https://opinionexpress.in/dalit-sikh-channi-takes-oath-as-punjab-cm-with-2-other-deputy Newly-appointed Dalit-Sikh Chief Minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi took oath of office along with his two deputies -- one a Jat Sikh and another belonging to the Hindu community -- at a simple ceremony here in the Punjab capital that was delayed for 20 minutes owing to late arrival of party leader Rahul Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/johnson-unveils-mission-to-tackle-uks-north-south-divide UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to tackle the country's long-standing "North-South" divide, appointing former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane as chief of a Levelling Up Taskforce. https://opinionexpress.in/women-stage-protest-in-kabul-against-taliban-policies A number of Afghan women staged a protest in Kabul against Taliban policies, demanding equal rights to education and work, according to a media report. https://opinionexpress.in/we-did-not-finish-well-with-ball-and-bat-kieron-pollard Mumbai India's stand-in skipper Kieron Pollard said his team failed to grab its chances both with the bat and ball after putting Chennai Super Kings under pressure during their 20-run defeat in the first match of the UAE leg of the IPL 2021 here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-airpods-pro-redesigned-ipad-pro-to-launch-in-2022-report Apple recently launched the iPhone 13 series along with the iPad mini and now a new report has claimed that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning to launch the new MacBook Pros as well as AirPods next year. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-katrina-kaif-shoot-action-sequences-in-austria-for-tiger-3 Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are currently in Austria, filming action sequences for their upcoming spy thriller 'Tiger 3'. https://opinionexpress.in/partially-cloudy-sky-but-no-rainfall-in-delhi-imd The sky will remain partially cloudy in Delhi on Monday but without the possibility of rain, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). https://opinionexpress.in/metoo-shadow-over-punjab-cm-designate The #MeToo controversy looms over Punjab Chief Minister-designate Charanjit Singh Channi, who was accused of sending indecent messages to a senior woman IAS officer. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-open-low-on-global-cues-metal-and-banks-top-drag The Indian stock market opened sharply lower on Monday on global cues with markets all across showing weak trends. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-seeks-centres-reply-on-pil-seeking-door-to-door-vax-for-disabled-persons The Supreme Court on Monday sought Centre's response on a PIL seeking door-to-door vaccination of persons with disability. https://opinionexpress.in/after-settling-tussle-in-punjab-sonia-heads-to-shimla Just hours after settling the political tussle in its ruled state Punjab, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi is in a holiday mood. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-leaning-left-to-recruit-young-talent-a-report Speculation is rife in the Congress over the induction of CPI leader and former JNU President Kanhaiya Kumar into the party. Another leader who is expected to join is Jignesh Mevani, MLA in Gujarat, as Congress leaders indicate that this is not the first time that Left leaders will be joining the party. https://opinionexpress.in/virat-kohli-to-step-down-as-rcb-captain-post-ipl-2021 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) announced on Sunday that Virat Kohli will step down as the captain of the team after the end of IPL 2021 season. The announcement was made through a video posted by the franchise on social media, three days after Kohli said that he will be quitting as Indias T20I captain after the mens T20 World Cup in the UAE next month. Kohli will continue to be a part of the RCB squad. https://opinionexpress.in/i-want-to-stay-in-playing-11-babul-supriyo A day after joining Trinamool Congress, Babul Supriyo, without detailing out his 'New exciting opportunity' offered by Trinamool Congress, said that he preferred to stay in 'Playing 11' indicating that he will become one of the 'frontline face' of the party. https://opinionexpress.in/taxpayers-still-need-to-pay-interest-despite-extension-of-filing-dates The government may have extended the due date for filing Income Tax returns on account of the difficulties being reported by the taxpayers in the electronic filing of returns owing to the glitches in the Tax Portal, but taxpayers may still be required to pay additional interest at the rate of 1 per cent per month despite filing the return in the extended period in case the balance tax payable exceeds Rs 1 lakh. https://opinionexpress.in/charanjit-singh-channi-to-be-the-next-punjab-cm The suspense over the successor to Amarinder Singh ended on Sunday with Congress President Sonia Gandhi clearing the name of Dalit cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the next Punjab Chief Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/ttp-is-already-intensifying-attacks-against-pak-govt The leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistan Taliban has rejected the idea that the power-shift in Afghanistan would affect TTP strategies and added that TTP is already intensifying attacks against the government of Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/summoning-detaining-a-person-without-any-crime-violates-basic-principles-sc The Supreme Court has observed that summoning and detaining of a person without any crime registered against that person would violate basic principles. https://opinionexpress.in/us-official-privately-criticised-rbi-ban-on-mastercard A senior US trade official privately criticised India's July decision to ban Mastercard Inc from issuing new cards, calling it a "draconian" move that caused "panic", a global news wire reported. https://opinionexpress.in/rupee-to-be-under-tapering-fears Global anxieties along with rising imports and persistently high crude oil prices will weaken the Indian rupee in the coming week. https://opinionexpress.in/china-cautious-on-afghanistan-pakistan-clueless-on-grim-situation Pakistan has been reeling under international pressure on their handling of the Afghan situation and it is conscious of the fact that its role in Afghanistan will increasingly come under scrutiny in the coming days. https://opinionexpress.in/post-punjab-rajasthan-and-chhattisgarh-offer-similar-challenge-for-congress After the Punjab operation, all eyes are now on Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh which have also been facing similar problem and issues. In Rajasthan, the Congress leader Sachin Pilot wants his position to be restored and given top post in the state and in Chhattisgarh T.S. Singhdeo wants the formula of rotational Chief Minister be honoured. https://opinionexpress.in/sidhu-anti-national-says-amarinder Dubbing Navjot Sidhu as anti-national, dangerous, unstable, incompetent and a security threat to the state and the country, Amarinder Singh on Friday said he will fight any move to make the Punjab Congress president the chief minister "tooth and nail." https://opinionexpress.in/captain-quits-in-punjab Just minutes ahead of the crucial Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting on Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reached the Governor's house and submitted his and his council of ministers resignation to him. https://opinionexpress.in/gurugram-increases-screening-at-border-to-curb-dengue-malaria-cases After dengue and malaria cases increased in the national capital, the district health department of Gurugram has been put on alert. https://opinionexpress.in/shilpa-shetty-talks-about-new-endings Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra uploaded a page from a novel on her Instagram story, leaving followers wondering what it meant. It is the second such post by the actress after the arrest of her husband Raj Kundra in a porn-related case. https://opinionexpress.in/virat-kohli-should-have-consulted-bcci-selectors-kapil Former India cricketer Kapil Dev has said that Virat Kohli should have spoken to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selectors before taking the decision to step down as the T20 skipper after the ICC T20I World Cup, scheduled in the UAE and Oman later this year. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-google-remove-navalny-voting-app-in-russia Tech giant Apple and Google have removed an app meant to coordinate protest voting in the Russian elections. https://opinionexpress.in/karan-wahi-rithvik-dhanjani-to-be-special-guests-on-bigg-boss-ott Actors Karan Wahi and Rithvik Dhanjani will be the special guests for the 'Bigg Boss OTT' finale episode on Saturday. They will enter the house in the evening. https://opinionexpress.in/tharoor-asks-for-immediate-change-of-leadership-in-congress Three-time Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said there should be a new leadership of the Congress party. https://opinionexpress.in/cryptocurrency-hyper-fund-under-govt-scanner The government is keeping a close eye on cryptocurrency floating in the market based out of the country folowing alert that agencies responsible to check financial fraud are watching a company called Hyper Fund. https://opinionexpress.in/perry-campbell-shine-in-australias-warm-up-win-over-india Ellyse Perry and Stella Campbell came up with stellar performances with the ball as Australia clinched a 36-run win in the warm-up match of 50 overs against India at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane on Saturday. Australia made 278/9 in 50 overs with half-centuries from Rachael Haynes (65), Meg Lanning (59) and Beth Mooney (59). https://opinionexpress.in/it-sniffs-out-financial-irregularities-of-rs-250-cr-by-sonu-sood In a shocking revelation, the Income Tax Department has accused Bollywood actor Sonu Sood of alleged financial irregularities worth around Rs 250 crore by way of unutilized charitable funds, bogus contracts and circular transactions all over India, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-asked-to-accept-new-influx-of-refugees-from-afghanistan Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, has asked Pakistan to accept the new influx of refugees from Afghanistan, suggesting that if these refugees were sent back due to the lack of documentation, they may be at risk. https://opinionexpress.in/ravindra-narayan-ravi-sworn-in-as-new-tn-governor Ravindra Narayan Ravi on Saturday was sworn in as the new Governor of Tamil Nadu succeeding Banwarilal Purohit who has been shifted to Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/after-poaching-into-cong-is-kerala-cpi-m-now-focusing-on-bjp With the Kerala unit of the CPI-M successfully poaching into the Congress and getting two party general secretaries into their fold, the Left party is upbeat to the extent of hoping against hope to do the same with the BJP -- carry out a successful plunder. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-shares-bday-anecdote-with-goan-senior-citizen Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday displayed his customary wit while speaking to a Goan senior citizen during an online virtual interaction with health workers, ruling politicians, administrative officials and a cross section of people from the coastal state. https://opinionexpress.in/mandate-of-un-mission-in-afghanistan-extended-for-6-months AFGHANISTAN https://opinionexpress.in/sc-parties-in-commercial-litigation-should-avoid-filing-mindless-appeals The Supreme Court on Friday observed that parties engaged in commercial litigation must weigh the commercial interests and avoid filing mindless appeals. https://opinionexpress.in/amid-punjab-cong-rift-clp-to-meet-at-5-pm The Congress has called a quick meeting of its legislative party in Punjab on Saturday at 5 pm in response to MLAs asking for a discussion on issues within the party. https://opinionexpress.in/usa-to-review-ties-with-pakistan The hasty withdrawal of the US and NATO forces from Afghanistan has sparked a debate in the US Congress, with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken going through a tough session answering some serious questions raised by the Congressmen. https://opinionexpress.in/radicalisation-trust-deficit-biggest-challenges-to-peace-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for a shared template to fight against radicalisation and extremism while virtually addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-collegium-recommends-elevation-of-8-cjs-to-various-hcs In a major decision, the Supreme Court collegium has recommended elevation of eight judges as chief justices of various high courts. https://opinionexpress.in/anti-terror-squads-of-12-states-meet-at-delhi-police-hq A meeting of the anti-terror unit chiefs of 11 states and the Delhi Police officials is currently underway in the national capital, officials said here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ola-electric-scooter-sales-crossed-rs-1100-cr-in-2-days-sources Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal on Friday said sales of its S1 electric scooters crossed Rs 1,100 crore in two days. https://opinionexpress.in/jennifer-aniston-opens-up-on-rumours-that-shes-dating-david-schwimmer Actress Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel Green on the popular sitcom 'Friends', has debunked all rumours of dating her former co-star David Schwimmer, who essayed Ross Geller, and termed it 'bizarre'. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-maintain-stability-amidst-volatility-in-global-oil-market Auto fuel prices in the country have maintained stability amidst volatility in global oil prices with crude on the boil again rising sharply for past few days. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-council-meet-today-covid-relief-bringing-oil-and-gas-indirect-tax-regime-on-agenda The GST Council will meet in Lucknow on Friday to take decisions on issues related to duty revision that were put on the back burner in earlier meetings to focus on the Covid relief measures amid rising cases during the second wave of the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/light-rainfall-to-continue-in-delhi-ncr Light rainfall is likely to continue in Delhi-NCR on Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted. https://opinionexpress.in/tharoor-accepts-apology-from-tgana-cong-chief-over-donkey-remark After outrage over the 'donkey remark', Telangana Congress chief and MP Revanth Reddy has apologised to Shashi Tharoor. https://opinionexpress.in/china-russia-pakistan-iran-to-strengthen-coordination-on-afghan-issue Senior officials from China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran have agreed to step up communication and coordination on the Afghan issue. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-real-estate-crisis-reveals-dangers-of-shadow-banking As the Chinese real estate behemoth Evergrande Group landed in a serious crisis, revealing the real hidden problems of the countrys property market driven by shadow banking, business ommunity across world is carefully watching the developments. A tumbling real estate sector in China could affect the world economy. https://opinionexpress.in/khalistani-kashmiri-nexus-is-flourishing-in-usa As many as 55 interlinked Kashmiri and Khalistani groups, currently operating hand-in-hand within the US, could be detrimental for both India and America, a US-based think tank warned. https://opinionexpress.in/virat-kohli-to-quit-as-t20i-captain-after-t20-world-cup Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli announced on Thursday that he will be stepping down as the T20I captain after the completion of the men's T20 World Cup in Oman and the UAE in October. https://opinionexpress.in/pratik-gandhi-reveals-why-bhavai-is-a-special-film-for-him Actor Pratik Gandhi, who became an overnight sensation with his performance as Harshad Mehta in the web-series 'Scam 1992', is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film 'Bhavai'. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-rises-150-pts-to-hit-fresh-record-in-early-trade-nifty-above-17560 Equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 150 points in early trade to scale a fresh lifetime high of 58,875.78 on Thursday, tracking gains in index majors Bharti Airtel, Tata Steel and HCL Tech. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-will-allow-sign-in-sans-password Microsoft is further nudging users away from passwords by rolling out passwordless sign-in options to all consumer Microsoft accounts. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-is-a-good-lead-in-for-t20-world-cup-says-maxwell Australian Glenn Maxwell, who will represent Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, has said that the lucrative T20 league will be good preparation for the T20 World Cup that immediately follows it. https://opinionexpress.in/ab-is-a-freak-the-only-one-who-can-take-on-bumrah-gambhir Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes there is only one person who can take on someone like Jasprit Bumrah, and "it was AB de Villiers". The ex-Kolkata Knight Riders captain further said that Virat Kohlis Royal Challengers Bangalore has several good players who can dominate the opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-students-parents-upbeat-over-helpline-for-neet-aspirants Students, who have taken NEET examination, and their parents are upbeat at the latest initiative of the Tamil Nadu government of opening a helpline for stress relief for those who have taken NEET. https://opinionexpress.in/google-pixel-6-and-pixel-6-pro-specifications-revealed-ahead-of-launch Google is planning to launch its Pixel 6 as well as Pixel 6 Pro smartphones in October this year and now a new report has claimed that the device will offer a battery share (reverse wireless charging) and ultra-wideband support. https://opinionexpress.in/inspiration4-spacexs-all-civilian-mission-launches-to-orbit Inspiration4, run by tech billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX, has launched its first all-civilian mission to orbit on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/kim-kardashian-defends-her-2021-met-gala-look Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has defended her 2021 Met Gala look, which was one of the most-discussed topic ever since. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-council-meeting-in-lucknow-on-friday Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will preside over the 45th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council in Lucknow on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/fire-breaks-out-in-delhi-factory A fire broke out at a factory in Mayapuri Phase-2 area of the national capital on Thursday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/harish-rawat-meets-sonia-asked-to-settle-punjab-issue Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat has met Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and sources said he has been asked to settle the raging tussle within the party as MLAs have once again started raising voices and seeking the Legislative party meet. https://opinionexpress.in/tim-cook-elon-musk-among-times-100-most-influential-people-of-2021 Tech honchos like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk are among the list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2021 according to TIME's newly published rankings. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-sons-chairman-rules-out-structural-leadership-change Tata Sons Ltd's Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran on Wednesday clarified that "no leadership structural changes are on the anvil, as speculated in certain sections of media". https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-to-get-300-e-buses-in-january-2022-dtc-official Delhi will receive its first fleet of 300 e-buses in January 2022 since the tender for it has matured, said Ravinder Singh Minhas, Deputy Chief General Manager (Traffic and Public Relations), Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-cm-bans-firecrackers-on-diwali-to-fight-pollution  In a move to fight pollution, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced a complete ban on the storage, sale and usage of firecrackers for the third year in a row. https://opinionexpress.in/4-militants-still-active-in-srinagar-city-igp-kashmir Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Wednesday that four militants are still active in Srinagar city and the police are trying to arrest them or eliminate them. https://opinionexpress.in/gadkari-to-review-progress-of-delhi-mumbai-expressway Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will review the progress of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project on September 16 in Sohna block of Gurugram district. The foundation stone for the project was laid in March 2019. https://opinionexpress.in/telco-breather-4-year-moratorium-on-dues-change-in-agr-definition The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the much-anticipated relief and reform measures for the stressed telecom sector. https://opinionexpress.in/conflicting-views-in-bjp-over-ljp-chirag-paswan The Bhartiya Janata Party is not sure as to which faction of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) it needs to support as conflicting signals are emanating from various sections from its Bihar unit. https://opinionexpress.in/xiaomi-announces-100-new-exclusive-retail-stores-in-india Xiaomi on Wednesday announced the inauguration of its 100 plus retail stores across tier 5 and tier 6 markets with an aim to expand its footprint in India. https://opinionexpress.in/sepsis-will-kill-more-people-than-cancer-heart-attacks-by-2050-experts Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection, is likely to kill more people by 2050 than cancer and heart attacks due to irrational use of antibiotics, said doctors and health experts here. https://opinionexpress.in/anand-mahindra-tweets-ajay-devgns-phool-aur-kaante-stunt-for-ad Bollywood star Ajay Devgn recreated his iconic 'Phool Aur Kaante' split stunt for an ad but used trucks instead of bikes on which he originally performed the stunt. https://opinionexpress.in/top-us-general-had-opposed-a-full-withdrawal-from-afghanistan The former commander of US troops in Afghanistan told senators on Tuesday that he opposed a full withdrawal from the country and advised Pentagon leadership of his position, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee told reporters after a closed-door briefing with the general. https://opinionexpress.in/adidas-launches-first-flagship-store-in-india-the-home-of-possibilities Leading sportswear giant - adidas unveiled its first flagship store in India. Located in the heart of the national capital - Connaught Place, 'The Home of Possibilities' store is a blend of multiple digital touch points, sustainability zone and embodies the future of retail experience for consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-terror-module-busted-14-day-police-remand-for-6-suspects A Delhi Court has sent six suspects, accused of planning terrorist attacks in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh during the forthcoming festival season, to a fourteen-day police custody, an official said here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/shastri-kohli-great-promoters-of-test-cricket-in-recent-times-taylor Former Australia captain Mark Taylor has said that India captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri have been great supporters and promoters of Test cricket in recent times. He also said that Kohli has been excellent in his desire to play Test cricket."(India coach) Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli (have) been great supporters and promoters of Test cricket in recent times. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-critical-on-centres-cherry-picking-tribunals-appointments The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticised the government for "cherry picking" from its recommendations for tribunals across the country, and asked, what is sanctity of recommendations by the panel headed by sitting top court judges if the government has the last say on the matter? https://opinionexpress.in/ups-amangarh-reserve-to-be-renamed-as-new-corbett-park The Amangarh Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor will now be developed into a full-fledged tiger reserve, equipped with all infrastructure. It will also be renamed as New Corbett (Amangarh) Tiger Reserve to promote ecotourism. https://opinionexpress.in/nifty-hits-new-high-sensex-up-260-points   https://opinionexpress.in/hindi-not-competing-with-any-other-regional-languages-shah Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Hindi language is not competing with any other regional languages and it complements other regional languages. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-to-visit-us-on-sep-24-to-participate-in-quad-leaders-summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating in person in the Leaders' Summit of the Quadrilateral Framework in Washington DC on September 24, 2021, being organised by the US. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-suppressed-facts-in-her-affidavit-bjp-complains-to-ec Fresh controversy has erupted after BJP complained to the Election Commission of India objecting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's candidature from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency as she has suppressed facts in her affidavit along with her nomination papers. https://opinionexpress.in/aussie-olympic-gold-medallist-to-be-voice-of-brisbane-2032-athletes Three-time Olympian swimmer Bronte Barratt was elected as the athlete representative of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games Organising Committee on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/aim-is-to-keep-improving-to-be-world-no-1-hockey-forward-shamsher Indian men's hockey team forward Shamsher Singh said on Tuesday that the side was confident of becoming world No.1 "if we keep improving match by match" and "keep performing in big tournaments". https://opinionexpress.in/neeraj-chopra-and-pr-sreejesh-to-appear-next-on-kbc-13-hotseat This Friday, 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 13's 'Shaandaar Shukravaar' episode will have two sports stalwarts as special guests, including the first track and field athlete to win a gold medal for India at the Olympics, Neeraj Chopra, and the one nicknamed as 'Great Wall of India', P.R. Sreejesh, who was instrumental in India's bronze-medal winning hockey campaign at Tokyo 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-aug-wholesale-price-inflation-rises-to-1139 Higher prices of primary articles as well as manufactured goods pushed India's August 2021 wholesale inflation to 11.39 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/zomato-co-founder-gaurav-gupta-quits Online food delivery major Zomato's Co-founder Gaurav Gupta has resigned from the company after a six-year stint https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-25404-new-covid-cases In continuation of the decline in daily Covid-19 cases, India registered 25,404 new infections in the last 24 hours, a 6.8 per cent decrease from the previous day, according to the Union Health Ministry's data released on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/met-gala-2021-lil-nas-x-dons-three-versace-looks-in-one Lil Nas X was all glitters and gold at the 2021 Met Gala, as the rapper donned three looks in one on Monday evening. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-kill-20-civilians-in-panjshir-report At least 20 civilians have been killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley, which has seen fighting between the militants and opposition forces, the BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/netflix-docu-series-crime-stories-india-detectives-out-on-sep-22 A documentary series titled 'Crime Stories: India Detectives', featuring four stories, is all set to release on September 22 on Netflix. https://opinionexpress.in/spacex-finally-prepares-to-send-1st-all-civilian-crew-into-orbit SpaceX, run by tech billionaire Elon Musk-run, is all set to launch to orbit its first all-civilian mission 'Inspiration4' on Wednesday. It will be the first completely private mission to orbit. https://opinionexpress.in/light-rains-likely-in-city Light rains are likely on Tuesday in the national capital which recorded a minimum temperature of 26.4 degrees Celsius. https://opinionexpress.in/pratik-gandhi-starrer-raavan-leela-now-titled-bhavai The makers of Pratik Gandhi's upcoming film on Tuesday issued a statement announcing that 'Raavan Leela' will be titled 'Bhavai'. The move comes after receiving audience's requests and moreover to respect their sentiments. https://opinionexpress.in/india-moving-away-from-coal-slowly-considerable-progress-by-states-study India alone is home to 7 per cent (21GW) of the global coal project pipeline, which is 56 per cent of South Asia's total, a study showed on Tuesday, with the country moving slowly away from coal at a national level, however considerable progress is being made at the state level. https://opinionexpress.in/nifty-hits-record-high-sensex-up-200-points The Indian stock market opened on a positive note on Tuesday with the Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) touching a record high. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-revise-fdi-policy-for-space-sector-sivan India will soon come out with a new foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for the space sector, Indian Space research Organisation Chairman K. Sivan said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/irans-unease-over-pakistani-influence-in-afghanistan A former Iranian diplomat has said that the interference of foreigners in Afghanistan is doomed to be a failure. https://opinionexpress.in/ibc-must-not-fail-avoid-delay-in-resolution-processes-sc-tells-tribunals New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Raising concern over delays in corporate insolvency resolution processes (CIRP), the Supreme Court on Monday asked the National Company Law Tribunal and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal to strictly adhere to the mandated 330-day timeline. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-must-direct-states-to-use-pusa-bio-decomposer-for-stubble-management An audit by a central agency in Delhi has found the use of Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial solution for stubble management, highly effective, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday, and urged the Centre to ask neighbouring states to distribute it for free among farmers. https://opinionexpress.in/vidyut-jammwal-nandita-mahtani-are-engaged Actor Vidyut Jammwal on Monday announced his engagement with fashion designer Nandita Mahtani. https://opinionexpress.in/bill-seeking-exemption-for-tn-from-neet-tabled-in-assembly Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday tabled a Bill seeking the withdrawal of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for the state. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-wish-to-file-detailed-affidavit-on-pleas-seeking-probe-into-pegasus-snooping-row-centre-tells-sc The Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that it does not wish to file a detailed affidavit on a batch of petitions seeking independent probe into the alleged Pegasus snooping row. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-ben-dwarshuis-to-replace-chris-woakes-in-delhi-capitals-squad Delhi Capital on Monday named Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis as replacement for Chris Woakes in their squad for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 after the England all-rounder pulled out of the tournament. https://opinionexpress.in/virat-kohli-will-remain-captain-of-all-formats-bcci BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal on Monday rubbished reports suggesting that Team India captain Virat Kohli is likely to step down as skipper of the limited-overs format after the ICC T20 World Cup. https://opinionexpress.in/guj-cm-designate-bhupendra-patel-meets-nitin-patel Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Monday said he was not unhappy with the BJP's decision to select Bhupendra Patel as the state's next chief minister, soon after the CM-designate met him at his residence here in the morning. https://opinionexpress.in/ayushmann-khurrana-im-trying-to-tell-people-to-not-stereotype-themselves Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says that his aim as an artiste is to constantly tell people not to stereotype themselves or others. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-loses-350-points-ril-shares-down-2 The BSE Sensex declined around 350 points on Monday morning tracking weakness in the global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/bcci-offers-to-play-two-extra-t20is-in-england-next-year The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered to play two extra T20 internationals in England next year following the last-minute cancellation of the fifth Test in Manchester due to Covid concerns. https://opinionexpress.in/t-series-reliance-entertainment-join-hands-to-produce-films-investment-pegged-at-rs-1000cr In one of the Indian film industry's biggest collaborations, T-Series and Reliance Entertainment have joined hands to produce more than 10 films together across varied genres, including big-budget tentpoles as well as mid- and small-budget content-rich films. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-list-plea-for-hearing-against-gnctd-amendment-act The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to list for hearing the Delhi government's plea challenging the new law which allegedly gives more power to the Lieutenant Governor of the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/7-grenades-found-outside-crpf-bunker-in-srinagar Seven grenades were found outside the quick action team (QAT) bunker of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion headquarters on Monday in J&K's Srinagar district. https://opinionexpress.in/massive-rainfall-in-odisha-alert-for-chhattisgarh-mp-too Massive rainfall was recorded in several parts of Odisha as the depression over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha coast moved west-north-westwards to turn into Deep Depression in the early hours on Monday. Odisha, north Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are likely to get heavy rainfall during the next 48 hours, the IMD said. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-hosts-intel-chiefs-of-russia-china-iran-to-discuss-afghan-situation Pakistan hosted a meeting of spymasters of some countries in the region on the situation in Afghanis­tan, a security source said. https://opinionexpress.in/bhupendra-patel-is-new-gujarat-chief-minister Bhupendra Patel is new Gujarat Chief Minister https://opinionexpress.in/will-give-muslims-viable-option-in-delhi-like-hyderabad-aimim AIMIM headed by Asaduddin Owaisi is trying to expand its base in the national capital, and has started to strengthen its organisational structure here. https://opinionexpress.in/light-to-moderate-rain-in-delhi-on-sunday-imd Light to moderate rainfall is likely to be witnessed in the national capital on Sunday, a day after intense rainfall flooded large parts of Delhi, including the international airport. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistani-taliban-intensify-terror-attacks-after-afghanistan-takeover As the Afghan Taliban has claimed complete control of Afghanistan and are working towards forming a government in the country, Pakistan is witnessing a new surge of terror attacks in the country, which are being claimed by the Pakistani faction of the Afghan Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). https://opinionexpress.in/why-is-taliban-surefooted-in-its-geopolitical-responses-this-time Soon after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban the radical outfit announced that the regime in Afghanistan would be based on Shariat leaving no one in doubt about the return of the Emirate of 1996. https://opinionexpress.in/talibani-trap-for-pakistan The Pakistan government at the moment seems to be rejoicing Taliban victory in Afghanistan. The manner in which it wanted to exploit the Taliban victory in Afghanistan has rebounded threatening to reinforce religious fundamentalists inclinations in Pakistan itself.  https://opinionexpress.in/arshi-khan-upset-after-getting-trolled-for-ganesh-chaturthi-wishes Actress Arshi Khan says she is upset after cyber bullies trolled her for wishing everyone on the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. https://opinionexpress.in/pant-ashwin-and-five-other-dc-players-reach-dubai Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin and five other Delhi Capitals players have reached Dubai from Manchester to participate in the upcoming phase two of the Indian Premier League, starting from September 19. https://opinionexpress.in/batsmen-itching-to-do-well-in-second-half-of-ipl-2021 With the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) just eight days away, all eyes will be on how the teams and players adjust to the UAE conditions. We take a look at the batsmen who will be itching to do well in the second half of the IPL after enduring a lean run in the first half: https://opinionexpress.in/110971-tn-students-to-appear-for-neet-today Even after the stiff opposition from the DMK government and the slugfest with the AIADMK-BJP combine in Tamil Nadu against conducting NEET exams, a total of 1,10,971 students from the state will take the exam scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/qualcomm-working-on-new-chips-for-mid-range-devices-report Chipmaker Qualcomm is reportedly working on a number of new platforms for mid-range smartphones. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-skips-joining-biden-at-911-memorial-ceremonies Former US President Donald Trump was absent at the official 9/11 memorial ceremonies in New York City and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. https://opinionexpress.in/akali-dal-to-observe-sep-17-as-black-day The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will observe September 17 as the 'black day' on completion of one year of enactment of three Central farm laws, a party leader said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-appoints-narendra-tomar-pralhad-joshi-as-central-observers-to-elect-new-gujarat-cm The BJP has appointed Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Pralhad Joshi as the central observers for the BJP Gujarat legislative party meeting to elect a new chief minister of the state. Sources said that the BJP's Gujarat legislative party meeting will be held later in the day. https://opinionexpress.in/india-australia-junk-china-terming-quad-as-asian-nato India and Australia on Saturday jointly junked China's claims that the QUAD is akin to Asian NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). https://opinionexpress.in/allahabad-hc-decision-to-disqualify-indira-gandhi-shook-india-cji The Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramana, said on Saturday that Allahabad High Court judge Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha's judgment in 1975 disqualifying Indira Gandhi from holding the post of Prime Minister for electoral malpractices had shook the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/intl-forces-may-misuse-instability-in-afghanistan-warns-china Islamabad, Sep 11 (IANS) China is clearly one of the strongest and closest emerging allies of the newly-formed Taliban government in Afghanistan. With foreign aids and fundings to Afghanistan from western countries blocked, China seems to be given space to manage, demand and influence the future of the war-torn nation going forward. https://opinionexpress.in/gujarat-cm-rupani-resigns-ahead-of-the-end-of-term In a major political development, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday tendered his resignation to Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat at his residence, Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar. The BJP leader confirmed that he has resigned from the top post. https://opinionexpress.in/old-building-collapses-in-narela-no-one-injured-ndmc An old building in Delhi's Narela area, which was declared a dangerous structure by civic authorities, has collapsed, officials said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/chair-to-be-set-up-at-bhu-honouring-tamil-poet-subramaniam-bharti-pm Paying tributes to Tamil poet Subramaniam Bharti on his 100 birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that there will be a special chair set up at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to honour the "great scholar, visionary and freedom fighter". https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-rcb-to-fly-kohli-siraj-to-uae-on-charter-flight India skipper Virat Kohli and pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, who both represent Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will reach the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on a charter flight from London. https://opinionexpress.in/vaani-kapoor-eager-for-all-her-films-to-come-out Vaani Kapoor has two films lined up for release now "Shamshera" and "Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui", and the actress says she is looking forward eagerly for her films to come out. https://opinionexpress.in/richa-chadha-social-media-campaigns-great-way-to-reach-max-people Richa Chadha is doing her bit to create awareness about Covid-19 through her initiative on social media. She says social media campaigns are a great way to reach many people at one go. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rain-paralyzes-delhi-traffic Incessant heavy rainfall on Saturday morning caused waterlogging in several areas in the national capital and its nearby regions, affecting daily commuters and causing traffic disruptions. https://opinionexpress.in/sakinaka-rape-victim-succumbs The 30-year-old woman, who was raped and brutalized with rod, succumbed to her injuries following excessive bleeding at a civic hospital a short while ago, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-airports-forecourt-waterlogged-briefly-following-heavy-rains The forecourt of the Delhi airport was waterlogged for a "short period" Saturday morning due to sudden heavy rains, its operator DIAL said. https://opinionexpress.in/47-magnitude-earthquake-hits-uttarakhands-chamoli A 4.7 magnitude earthquake shook Uttarakhand's Chamoli district early Saturday, the National Center for Seismology said. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-promoting-regional-cinema-a-step-towards-atmanirbhar-bharat Drawing a parallel with how the global footprint of Hollywood had impacted the French, German and Italian film industries, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut said at a recent media conference here that it must not be allowed to grow in India at the expense of regional cinema. https://opinionexpress.in/un-chief-marks-20th-anniversary-of-911-attacks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday issued a statement to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US which claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people. https://opinionexpress.in/karnal-farmers-agitation-ends-with-compromised-formula Bharatiya Kisan Union President Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Devender Singh on Saturday announced to conclude the week-long agitation in Karnal. https://opinionexpress.in/ncw-takes-cognizance-of-sakinaka-rape-case A 30-year-old woman, who was raped and brutalized with rods, remain unconscious and critical in a civic hospital. As the incident sparked outrage all over the state, the National Commission for Women took note of it here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/at-least-1-dead-10-missing-in-landslide-near-mexico-city A section of mountain on the outskirts of Mexico City gave way Friday, plunging rocks the size of small homes onto a densely populated neighbourhood and leaving at least one person dead and 10 others missing. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rains-lash-delhi-ncr-record-breached Delhi and its adjoining areas received heavy rainfall on Saturday morning with Safdarjung observatory recording over 1,000-mm rainfall for the season in some areas. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-pm-2-dy-pms-foreign-minister-on-un-sanctions-list-un-envoy Many members of the new Taliban cabinet are on the United Nations sanctions list, including the Prime Minister, two Deputy Prime Ministers and the Foreign Minister, according to the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons. https://opinionexpress.in/landmark-breach-in-apple-walled-garden-on-payments A US court on Friday tore down some of Apple's key restrictions on how its developers can collect payments within the apps. https://opinionexpress.in/john-kerry-to-visit-india-to-launch-climate-change-funding-initiative US President Joe Biden's Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry is slated to visit India next week to launch an initiative for mobilising funds for battling climate change ahead of the UN climate change conference in October, according to the State Department. https://opinionexpress.in/amrapali-homebuyers-asked-to-clear-outstanding-dues-within-15-days Over 1,800 home buyers of Amrapali housing projects in Noida, including former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, have been asked by the Supreme Court-appointed receiver to fill their data on his website and begin clearing their respective dues within 15 days. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-torture-journos-we-could-hear-their-screams-and-cries-through-the-walls "We could hear their screams and cries through the walls," the cellmates of the journalists tortured by the Taliban in Kabul said. The cellmates had even heard the sounds of women crying from pain. https://opinionexpress.in/devoleena-rashami-to-enter-bigg-boss-ott-house-as-special-guests Former 'Bigg Boss 13' contestants and well known TV faces Devoleena Bhattacharjee and Rashami Desai will feature on 'Bigg Boss OTT's 'Sunday Ka Vaar' episode. Both will be going inside the house and interacting with the contestants. https://opinionexpress.in/suspend-campaigning-in-punjab-farmers-leaders-tell-political-parties Fearing losing momentum in the agitation against the three contentious Central farm laws, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a group of 32 farm unions, on Friday asked the political parties in Punjab to suspend their campaigning till the assembly elections, slated in early next year, were announced. https://opinionexpress.in/rajinikanths-annaatthe-poster-out-diwali-release-planned South Indian mega star Rajinikanth's 'Annaatthe' will be released in theatres across the world on November 4. The first look of the movie is out. This will be a Deepavali release for Rajinikanth. https://opinionexpress.in/bcci-asks-england-board-to-reschedule-the-final-test New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) The Indian cricket board has asked England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to reschedule the fifth and final Test of the ongoing series after it was canceled due to the Indian players' reluctance to play it following the emergence of a fresh Covid-19 positive case. https://opinionexpress.in/controversy-again-over-jinnah-portrait-in-amu The portrait of Jinnah has returned to haunt Aligarh Muslim University once again. https://opinionexpress.in/suryakumar-in-a-different-class-as-compared-to-shreyas-iyer-gambhir Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir feels that Suryakumar Yadav has the variety to play for India in the T20 World Cup which Shreyas Iyer may not have. https://opinionexpress.in/candid-camera-tejashwi-caught-distributing-money-to-villagers-ahead-of-polls Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav is courting controversy for purportedly distributing money among villagers ahead of the panchayat polls. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-closes-bank-accounts-of-ex-afghan-govt-officials The Taliban have closed the bank accounts of some officials from the former Ashraf Ghani government, most of them who fled Afghanistan after the August 15 fall of Kabul, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/sidnaaz-chemistry-in-unreleased-song-habit-leaves-fans-emotional Sidharth Shukla and Shehnaaz Gill, who touched millions of hearts with their emotional bond and became popular as SidNaaz among fans, have once again left their fans emotional as pictures of the couple from an yet to be released video has gone viral on social media after Sidharth's sudden demise. https://opinionexpress.in/messi-hat-trick-keeps-argentina-on-track-for-qatar Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 home win over Bolivia in their 2022 World Cup qualifier here on Friday (IST). https://opinionexpress.in/rashid-khan-steps-down-as-afghanistan-skipper-for-t20-world-cup Leg-spinner Rashid Khan stepped down as Afghanistan T20 captain shortly after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named their team for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to be held in the UAE and Oman in October-November this year. https://opinionexpress.in/day-4-of-agitation-internet-restored-in-karnal With the ongoing farmers agitation at the mini-Secretariat in Haryana's Karnal entering its fourth day on Friday, the local administration has restored the Internet facilities. https://opinionexpress.in/india-demands-taliban-keep-commitment-to-not-harbour-terrorists Warning that terrorism continues to threaten Afghanistan, India has demanded the Taliban to keep its commitment to not allow the country to be used by terrorists. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-orders-companies-to-require-vaccination-for-employees Declaring that "our patience is wearing thin" with the resistance to vaccination against Covid-19, US President Joe Biden has ordered companies with at least 100 workers to get them all inoculated or test the hold-outs weekly. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-welcomes-early-morning-showers There were early morning showers on Friday in the national capital that lowered the minimum temperature to 22.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal. https://opinionexpress.in/owaisi-booked-in-up-for-vitiating-communal-harmony-violating-covid-norms The Uttar Pradesh Police has booked AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi for allegedly vitiating communal harmony, violating Covid norms and making "indecent" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, police said Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ford-indias-staff-dealers-left-in-lurch-as-company-to-shut-plants Automobile manufacturer Ford India's decision to stop manufacturing at its two domestic plants has left employees and dealers in lurch. https://opinionexpress.in/mayawati-finally-disowns-mukhtar-ansari Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati on Friday announced that her party would not give tickets to criminals and mafia. https://opinionexpress.in/world-need-to-allow-money-to-flow-into-afghanistan-un-envoy United Nations, Sep 10 (IANS) The top UN envoy for Afghanistan has called for a modus vivendi for money to flow into the country and for efforts to address the dire humanitarian situation. https://opinionexpress.in/why-is-communist-china-suddenly-so-inclusive Beijing wants everyone to believe that Tibet has been part of China since antiquity — but Tibetans cannot accept this because ‘China did not even exist then, contrary to what the new Emperors would like us to believe. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-complex-role-in-myanmar-draws-anxiety-from-yangon New Delhi Sep 10 (IANS) China has been pursuing a duplicitous policy towards Myanmar which hinges on border security, relations between Beijing and Naypyitaw and Chinas ambitious BRI projects in Myanmar. https://opinionexpress.in/spicejet-flies-ex-mauritius-pm-to-india-for-urgent-medical-treatment Former Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam was flown to the national capital in a special medical evacuation flight operated by SpiceJet. https://opinionexpress.in/lookout-notices-for-narayan-ranes-wife-son-for-loan-default Mumbai, Sep 9 (IANS) In another embarrassment for Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane, the Pune police's Crime Branch has issued a 'Lookout Circular' against his wife and legislator son in alleged loan default cases of over Rs 65 croreConfirming to IANS that the lookout notices have been taken out on September 3, Deputy Commissioner of Police Shrinivas Ghadge, however, flatly declined further comment in the matter.The lookout notices mention Rane's wife Nilam Narayan Rane as a co-borrower of a loan account of Rs 25 crore in the name of Artline Properties Pvt Ltd and son Nitesh Narayan Rane as a co-borrower in a loan account of Rs 40 crore in the name of Neelam Hotels Pvt Ltd.Both these loans accounts with the Dewan Housing Finance Ltd DHFL) Mumbai, were subsequently classified as 'non performing assets' (NPAs), as per the norms of the National Housing Bank and the Reserve Bank of India, say the police notices. https://opinionexpress.in/hibatullah-akhundzada-to-lead-taliban-govt-in-afghanistan Kabul, Sep 9 (IANS) The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada will lead the new Taliban government in the war-torn country, the group has announced. https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-im-a-little-shy-about-calling-myself-a-star New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) On her debut in 2015, Bhumi Pednekar took critics by surprise, and won awards, by playing an overweight bride who speaks up for her rights in the romantic comedy 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha'. Since then, Bhumi Pednekar has given a string of hits with meaningful cinema. https://opinionexpress.in/lekhi-un-deputy-secretary-general-discuss-regional-issues India's Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi met UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed to discuss regional issues and reforms. https://opinionexpress.in/market-tad-lower-amid-choppy-trade-banking-stocks-fall The key Indian equity indices traded on a subdued note on Thursday morning amid a largely choppy trade. https://opinionexpress.in/light-shower-likely-in-delhi-on-thursday It will be a cloudy day in Delhi with light rain expected on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. https://opinionexpress.in/2-msp-hike-of-wheat-is-a-cruel-joke-says-congress A day after the central government hiked MSP of wheat and other agricultural produce, the Congress has said it is nothing but a cruel joke. https://opinionexpress.in/owaisi-denied-permission-for-meeting-in-ups-barabanki The Barabanki district administration has denied permission for a meeting of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi due to security reasons. https://opinionexpress.in/panjshir-resistance-to-declare-parallel-govt-in-afghanistan Kabul/New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) In response to the new cabinet announced by the Taliban for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the resistance front in Panjshir province led by Ahmad Massoud has said that they will declare a parallel government in the country after consultations. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-to-fuel-nefarious-designs-in-jk-with-taliban New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) With the recent takeover by Taliban in Afghanistan, the situation has become dynamic and recent reports indicate a surge in Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) activities, including a series of meetings of JeM top leaders with Taliban Leadership in both Pakistan (Quetta) and Afghanistan (Kandahar). JeM is reportedly pursuing Taliban for a responsible role in Afghanistan and simultaneously seeking help in its operations in Kashmir. https://opinionexpress.in/new-govt-to-uphold-islamic-rules-and-sharia-law-akhundzada The Taliban's religious leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, hours after the announcement of the new Afghanistan cabinet, issued a statement saying the new cabinet will start its work immediately. https://opinionexpress.in/looking-stunning-in-floral-dress-katrina-shares-her-love-for-turkey Actress Katrina Kaif shared a stunning picture dressed in purple as she confessed her love for the country of Turkey, where she is shooting for the film 'Tiger 3'. https://opinionexpress.in/long-live-test-cricket-while-weve-virat-kohli-shane-warne Following Team India's stunning win at the Oval, legendary spinner Shane Warne lavished praise on Virat Kohli, saying the captain has gained the respect of his teammates with his leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-sit-in-protest-at-karnal-dc-office-enters-2nd-day Farmers protest that began from kisan mahapanchayat at Anaj Mandi on Tuesday morning in Haryana's Karnal has entered its second day in front of the mini-secretariat as more and more people from the surrounding areas continue to join the sit-in demonstration. https://opinionexpress.in/sachin-vaze-tried-to-terrorise-extort-ambani-and-other-richies-nia Sacked Mumbai cop Sachin H. Vaze had allegedly ploughed back extortion incomes to execute a terror threat to top businessman Mukesh Ambani and his family, besides terrorising other rich corporate honchos to extort money out of them through threats of dire consequences. https://opinionexpress.in/kerala-breathes-easy-as-more-samples-of-nipah-test-negative Three days after the first Nipah case surfaced at Kozhikode, Kerala, when a 12-year-old boy succumbed to the deadly virus, on Wednesday 20 more samples that were sent for testing at the NIV laboratory, Pune turned negative. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-upholds-centres-decision-to-extend-ed-directors-tenure The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Centre's decision to extend the tenure of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director S.K. Mishra till November 2021, despite having reached the retirement age in May last year. However, the top court made it clear that no further extension can be granted to him. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tad-down-amid-choppy-trade-telecom-stocks-rise The key Indian equity indices traded on a subdued note on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/kylie-jenner-confirms-expecting-second-child-with-travis-scott Reality TV star and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner has confirmed that she is expecting her second child with partner Travis Scott. https://opinionexpress.in/shikhar-dhawan-separates-with-wife-aesha Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan and his wife Aesha Mukerji have separated after eight years of marriage, according to an Instagram post made by Dhawan's wife. They have a son named Zoravar. https://opinionexpress.in/akshays-mother-passes-away-he-says-she-was-my-core Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar's mother Aruna Bhatia passed away on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/strong-quake-hits-near-acapulco-buildings-sway-in-capital A powerful earthquake struck near the Pacific resort city of Acapulco on Tuesday night, causing buildings to rock and sway in Mexico City nearly 200 miles away. https://opinionexpress.in/writing-judgments-an-art-involves-skillful-application-of-law-logic-sc New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) The Supreme Court, while setting aside a high court order granting bail to murder accused, on Tuesday held that writing judgments is "an art", and quality can never be sacrificed for quantity.A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah said: "Writing judgments is an art, though it involves skillful application of law and logic. We are conscious of the fact that the judges may be overburdened with pending cases and the arrears, but at the same time, quality can never be sacrificed for quantity."It noted that a judgment should be coherent, systematic, and logically organised, and enable the reader to trace the fact to a logical conclusion on the basis of legal principles. "The judicial opinion is to be written in such a way that it elucidates in a convincing manner and proves the fact that the verdict is righteous and judicious. What the court says, and how it says it, is equally important as what the court decides."The bench pointed out that it has across many judgments which lack clarity on facts, reasoning, and the findings. "Many times, it is very difficult to appreciate what the learned judge wants to convey through the judgment and because of that, matters are required to be remanded for fresh consideration," it noted.The top court added that the term "judgment" is loosely used as judicial opinion or decision, and added it is pertinent to examine the important elements in a judgment in order to fully understand the art of reading a judgment.The top court made these observations while delivering a judgment on an appeal filed by UP resident Shakuntala Shukla, a widow of the deceased, against the Allahabad High Court order granting bail to four accused in a murder case.The bench noted that "unless judgment is not in a precise manner, it would not have a sweeping impact. There are some judgments that eventually get overruled because of lack of clarity".It said there must be a clarity on the final relief granted and a party to the litigation must know what actually he or she got by way of final relief. "It is desirable that the judgment should have a clarity, both on facts and law and on submissions, findings, reasonings and the ultimate relief granted," added the bench.It said the high court did not consider the seriousness of the offence and the gravity of the accusation against the accused and their antecedents and conduct by giving threats to the witnesses during trial and even thereafter. "The High Court has committed a grave error in releasing the accused on bail pending appeals against the judgment and order of conviction for the offences under Sections 302/149, 201 r/w 120B IPC," it said. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-leader-mullah-hasan-akhund-to-lead-new-afghan-govt New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) The Taliban announced on Tuesday that Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund will be the leader of the new Afghanistan government. https://opinionexpress.in/cbdt-allows-taxpayers-another-opportunity-to-file-application-for-tax-settlement New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) In order to provide relief to the taxpayers, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has permitted filing of tax settlement applications for period upto January 31, by September 30. https://opinionexpress.in/average-indian-diet-provides-only-70-nutrition-survey New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) Nearly nine out of 10 doctors and nutritionists believe that the average daily Indian diet fulfills only 70 per cent or even lower nutritional needs of a person, according to a survey released on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-name-caretaker-cabinet-that-pays-homage-to-old-guard The Taliban on Tuesday announced a caretaker Cabinet that paid homage to the old guard of the group, giving top posts to Taliban personalities who dominated the 20-year battle against the US-led coalition and its Afghan government allies. https://opinionexpress.in/now-it-is-isis-k-vs-afghan-taliban-in-afghanistan Kabul, Sep 7 (IANS) The Afghanistan conflict, which has wrecked the country for decades, for many has been a conflict between the Taliban, the US and NATO forces and the Kabul government as part of the Washington-led "war on terror". But the reality is that Afghanistan has always been a country with representation of different factions and ethnicity, who have rejected or opposed a any legitimate system of any given government. https://opinionexpress.in/clever-use-of-jadeja-one-of-the-reasons-for-indias-scintillating-win-hussain Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has said that one of the reasons for India's scintillating win against England in the fourth Test at The Oval on Monday was the clever use of spinner Ravindra Jadeja by captain Virat Kohli on the fifth and final day, while his England counterpart Joe Root failed to do so with Moeen Ali on the fourth day. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovic-secures-qf-berth-on-course-for-calendar-year-grand-slam World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia overcame a first-set disappointment to deny world No. 99 Jenson Brooksby a place in the US Open quarterfinal with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over the American in two hours and 58 minutes at Flushing Meadows here. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-start-gathering-in-karnal-for-mahapanchayat Farmers have started gathering in Haryana's Karnal for the kisan mahapanchayat scheduled for Tuesday noon. https://opinionexpress.in/yami-on-choosing-projects-the-script-needs-to-speak-to-me Yami Gautam has a slew of films lined up such as 'Bhoot Police', 'Lost', 'Dasvi' and 'A Thursday'. The actress says she never wants to let go of the importance of judging a project based on its writing and that she always makes sure to remain true to herself while choosing a project. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-appeals-to-maha-govt-to-open-theatres Ahead of the release of her forthcoming film "Thalaivii", actress Kangana Ranaut has urged the Maharashtra government to allow theatres to open up and "save" the film industry from "dying". https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-not-setting-up-camps-for-afghan-refugees-official Pakistan is not setting up any camp to accommodate a new wave of Afghan refugees on its territory after the Taliban takeover of the war-torn nation, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said. https://opinionexpress.in/kerala-heaves-sigh-of-relief-as-all-high-risk-contacts-of-nipah-deceased-negative All the eight samples of those who were the primary contacts of the 12-year-old boy, who died due to Nipah virus, have turned out negative, said Kerala Health Minister Veena George. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-fear-work-for-indias-progress-bhagwat-to-muslims Wooing the minority community, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has reiterated that Muslims have nothing to fear in India, and they must work unitedly with the majority community for the common goal of the country's progress. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-bommai-to-visit-delhi-to-discuss-cabinet-expansion Bengaluru, Sep 7 (IANS) Buoyed by the results of three local body elections, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be travelling to New Delhi on Tuesday for a two-day visit and is likely to discuss cabinet expansion with the party President J.P. Nadda.Bommai is landing in New Delhi at 2.10 p.m. and will return to Bengaluru on Wednesday night. Though his official release tentatively mentioned meeting with Union ministers as the primary agenda, party sources confirmed that Bommai is going to discuss cabinet expansion with the top brass.Bommai was not able to meet Nadda during his last visit to New Delhi, this time party sources confirmed that appointment has been fixed. Bommai is going to discuss expanding the cabinet to four vacant berths and also get consent for appointment of corporations and boards.The party is also likely to take a call on inclusion of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's son B.Y. Vijayendra into the cabinet in the meeting. The party is worried that, if Vijayendra is given cabinet berth, it may lead to creation of a power centre within the party as all Yediyurappa loyalists rally behind him, explain party sources.Party sources also said, Bommai will discuss party organisation in the state and future strategies to strengthen the party. Party sources further said, so far Bommai has managed to keep party leaders, RSS and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa happy.The high command is happy with Bommai's administration, even as the Union Minister Amit Shah's statement of fighting next Assembly elections under his leadership seemed to upset senior party leaders of the state BJP, Bommai seems to have managed the situation. Ministers Govind Karajol, Bhyrathi Basavaraj and S.T. Somashekar have openly supported Amit Shah's statement and claimed that he has made an appropriate statement. https://opinionexpress.in/the-pakistan-game-in-kabul Kabul/New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) Pakistan is campaigning passionately for an "inclusive" government in Afghanistan. From Prime Minister Imran Khan to the garrulous Foreign Minister Shah Muhammad Qureshi and the ever-reticent Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, every Pakistani leader of some consequence is making the pitch for a broad-based government under the aegis of Taliban, which has taken over the war-ravaged country in what was no more than a bloodless fight. https://opinionexpress.in/bumrah-jadeja-fashion-indias-victory-in-4th-test-against-england Pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja blew away the England middle order to fashion India's emphatic 157-run victory in the fourth Test, here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/mukesh-ambanis-jio-shares-journey-from-evolution-to-revolution If the history of 'how India connects' can be divided into two parts, it would be pre-Jio & post-Jio era. https://opinionexpress.in/badri-313-the-talibans-special-operations-unit The question is how was the Taliban able to raise such a sophisticated force and who trained and armed its members? https://opinionexpress.in/monetisation-wrong-choice Blind privatisation, temporary or permanent, is not a solution https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-dictatorship-diplomacy-in-myanmar The policy of promoting pariah regimes and dictators increases China's strategic depth as such regimes are globally isolated and not accountable to their people https://opinionexpress.in/trouble-signs India needs to be utmost cautious of the unfolding developments in Afghanistan https://opinionexpress.in/stress-on-learning-in-learning-schools COVID-19 hastened the spread of digital education but the biggest challenge is to ensure learning in schools, and transform each one of these into a learning school https://opinionexpress.in/jos-buttler-to-return-to-england-squad-ahead-of-final-test Wicketkeeper batsman Jos Buttler is all set to return to the England squad for the fifth and final Test against India, starting Friday in Manchester, following the birth of his second child, Margot. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-confident-thalaivii-will-woo-audiences-back-to-theatres Actress Kangana Ranaut says 'Thalaivii' is the best film of her career so far and is confident that it will bring audiences back to the theatres. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-claims-to-fully-capture-panjshir Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Monday that the group has "fully captured" Panjshir province, the last remaining region in Afghanistan. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-to-moderate-rain-in-tn-on-monday-imd The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted heavy to moderate rains in Chennai and some other parts of Tamil Nadu. The Regional Meteorological Centre in its report said that the rains are likely due to a cyclonic circulation system that has built up in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/now-ed-on-lookout-for-anil-deshmukh The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is understood to have issued a 'lookout' circular against former Maharashtra Home Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Anil Deshmukh, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-vs-england-4th-test-day-5-will-be-a-belter London, Sep 6 (IANS) Host England lived to fight another day as openers Haseeb Hameed (batting 43 off 85 balls) and Rory Burns (batting 31 off 109 balls) saw off the early threat from Indian bowlers to end Day 4 at 77 without loss while chasing 368 that India had set for them to win. https://opinionexpress.in/new-highs-sensex-hits-58500-ril-shares-surge Mumbai, Sep 6 (IANS) The Indian stock market traded in the green on Monday morning with the BSE Sensex touching a new record high. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistanis-are-in-charge-in-afghanistan-amrullah-saleh New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) Former Afghanistan Vice President Amrullah Saleh has said the Taliban are being micro-managed by Pakistan's notorious intelligence agency, the ISI. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-announce-interim-govt-in-afghanistan The Taliban is set to announce an interim government in Afghanistan after technical issues are resolved, officials of the Islamic Emirate said. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-governor-booked-for-sedition-in-up Rampur (Uttar Pradesh), Sep 6 (IANS) Former Governor Aziz Qureshi has been booked for sedition by the Uttar Pradesh Police for his alleged derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. https://opinionexpress.in/4th-test-india-extend-lead-to-230-despite-losing-kohli-and-rahane India extended their lead to 230 runs despite losing captain Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the first session of day four at The Oval Test on Sunday. At lunch, India were 329/6 with Rishabh Pant (16 not out) and Shardul Thakur (11 not out) at the crease with four wickets in hand. https://opinionexpress.in/feel-very-fortunate-getting-a-medal-at-the-paralympics-krishna-nagar Badminton player Krishna Nagar, who won the gold medal in men's singles SL6 category at the Tokyo Paralympics on Sunday, said that getting a medal in the mega event is a very big thing. He felt fortunate in grabbing the medal at the Paralympics. https://opinionexpress.in/arshi-khan-many-are-behaving-like-wannabes-over-sidharths-death Actress Arshi Khan is appalled at how many people are trying to hog the limelight over actor Sidharth Shukla's death. She calls this behaviour "disgusting". https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-using-us-weaponry-in-panjshir-valley The Taliban is using advanced weaponry left behind by American troops to crush the last pockets of resistance to its takeover of Afghanistan, Daily Mail reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ravi-shastri-india-support-staff-put-under-isolation BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Sunday said that four members of Team India support staff will remain in isolation after Ravi Shastri's lateral flow test returned positive. https://opinionexpress.in/everyone-has-democratic-right-to-express-his-views-bjp-on-panchjanya-article After the RSS distanced itself from Panchjanya's article attacking software company Infosys for hurting the country's economic interest, the BJP on Sunday said that everyone is entitled to express their point of view in a democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/bbc-under-fire-after-shutting-down-scholar-for-saying-pak-supports-taliban The BBC has come under fire after the network shot down C. Christine Fair, a scholar on South Asia, for speaking about Pakistan's jihad policy in Afghanistan during a programme. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-nayanthara-in-pune-for-tamil-director-atlees-next-film Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanathara were reportedly spotted in Pune, shooting for their much-talked about film together. The two prolific actors have come together for Tamil director Atlee's next project. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-slams-panchjanya-for-linking-infosys-with-maoists-isi-china The Congress' Maharashtra unit on Sunday slammed right-wing publication, Panchjanya, for suggesting that global IT giant, Infosys was allegedly funding Maoists, Leftists and the "tukde-tukde" gangs in the country, and must be "blacklisted". https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-42766-covid-cases-kerala-continues-upward-trend India reported 42,766 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the total infection to 3,29,88,673, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/missing-crew-of-crashed-us-chopper-declared-dead The five missing crew members of an MH-60S helicopter which crashed off the coast of California last week, have been declared dead, the US Navy said. https://opinionexpress.in/protest-in-kabul-demanding-womens-rights-turns-violent A protest in Kabul demanding for women's rights under the new Taliban government in Afghanistan turned violent after the participants tried to move towards the Presidential Palace were forcefully stopped by the insurgents, a media report said. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-happy-with-multiplexes-screening-tamil-and-telugu-versions-of-thalaivii Actress Kangana Ranaut has praised multiplex chains for screening the Telugu and Tamil version of her upcoming film 'Thalaivii'. She calls it a ray of hope. https://opinionexpress.in/big-b-recalls-bansi-birju-his-first-film-with-wife-jaya Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his actress-politician wife Jaya Bachchan's first film together titled 'Bansi Birju' has clocked 49 years of its release in Hindi cinema. Amitabh treated his fans on social media with a black-and-white picture of the film. https://opinionexpress.in/12-year-old-boy-dies-of-nipah-central-team-to-reach-kerala A 12-year-old boy, who was detected with Nipah virus disease, died in the early hours of Sunday. The boy was from Kozhikode and he breathed his last at a private hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-remembers-her-teachers-on-teachers-day On the occasion of the Teachers' Day on Sunday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remembered her teachers and sent best wishes to them on this day. https://opinionexpress.in/paralympics-krishna-nagar-wins-indias-fifth-gold-in-tokyo Krishna Nagar won India's second gold medal from the badminton courts and fifth overall, beating Hong Kong China's Chu Man Kai in three hard-fought games in the final of the Men's Singles SH6 class at the Tokyo Paralympic Games on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/teachers-day-special-how-these-teachers-turned-politicians-charted-course-of-up-politics It is Teachers Day, but there are no celebrations for politicians, who started out as teachers. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-wakes-up-to-clear-sky-on-sunday-possibility-of-thunderstorms-says-imd Clear skies greeted Delhi on Sunday, but the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the possibility of thunderstorms later in the day with the sky to remain partially cloudy for most of the day. https://opinionexpress.in/ied-detected-defused-in-jks-srinagar An improvised explosive device (IED) was detected and defused on Sunday by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar district. https://opinionexpress.in/fourth-test-rohit-sharmas-gritty-ton-puts-india-ahead India opener Rohit Sharma (127 off 256 balls), riding his luck and supreme batting skills, scored his first overseas Test century to turn the tables on England and put the visitors in a commanding position after Day 3 of the fourth Test here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/rubina-nikki-to-enter-bigg-boss-ott-house-as-guests Actresses Nikki Tamboli and Rubina Dilaik are all set to enter the ‘Bigg Boss OTT house as guests for the ‘Sunday Ka Vaar episode. https://opinionexpress.in/ec-announces-crucial-bypoll-for-mamata-on-sep-30 After much speculation, the Election Commission of India announced the date for the bye-elections in Bhabanipur and elections in two other assembly constituencies - Samsergunj and Jangipur in Murshidabad district on Saturday. The elections in these three constituencies will be held on September 30 and counting will be held on October 3. https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-women-demand-inclusion-in-new-taliban-govt A group of Afghan women staged a rally in Kabul demanding the inclusion of females in the country's new government headed by the Taliban, according to a media report. https://opinionexpress.in/performance-during-pandemic-basis-for-teachers-award-sisodia This year, teachers' performance during the pandemic will be a major criterion apart from academic excellence for teachers' award in Delhi to be presented on September 5, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a press conference here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/lets-support-not-bully-each-other-kangana Actress Kangana Ranaut is heartbroken that her forthcoming film 'Thalaivii' is facing a roadblock as three national multiplex chains have reportedly decided to not accommodate the film, which is set to release in theatres on September 10. https://opinionexpress.in/police-dont-want-to-nab-real-culprits-of-delhi-riots-atishi The Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi on Saturday said that police don't want to nab real culprits of Delhi riots. In a press conference on Saturday, she said that after one-and-a-half year, every court has questioned the police investigation which directly comes under BJP. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-kaif-as-a-fitness-enthusiast-i-value-discipline Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif urges people to opt for disciplined eating and control their intake of sugar as she believes we look what we eat. https://opinionexpress.in/enrique-iglesias-announces-final-could-be-his-last-album Singer Enrique Iglesias has announced his next album titled 'Final'. This could be the popular popstar's last musical album. https://opinionexpress.in/4th-test-india-move-into-lead-despite-losing-rahul India managed to move into lead despite losing KL Rahul in the first session of day three in The Oval Test against England. At lunch, India are 108/1 and lead by nine runs with Rohit Sharma (47 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (14 not out) at the crease with nine wickets in hand. https://opinionexpress.in/john-cenas-photo-tribute-to-sidharth-goes-viral Hollywood star and WWE champion John Cena paid tribute to late television star Sidharth Shukla on Saturday after the 40-year-old passed away suddenly on September 2. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-emerging-as-single-largest-party-in-punjab New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) Punjab is likely to witness a hung Assembly, with AAP emerging as the single largest party in the state in the 2022 state polls, as per the ABP-CVoter-IANS opinion poll. https://opinionexpress.in/maha-factory-blast-1-killed-1-missing-6-injured At least one factory worker was killed, another missing while six others were injured when an explosion ripped through a textile unit in the Boisar MIDC area followed by a huge blaze, police said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/paralympic-shooting-narwal-singhraj-claim-gold-silver-for-india India's Manish Narwal and Singhraj won gold and silver respectively as they finished 1-2 in the P4 - Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 at the Tokyo Paralympic Games at the Asaka Shooting Range here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/paralympics-bhagat-yathiraj-in-badminton-finals Shuttler Pramod Bhagat and Suhas Yathiraj stormed into the Men's Singles final in SL3 and SL4 class respectively to assure India of two medals in the Tokyo Paralympic Games badminton competition on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/the-mbs-impact-on-geopolitics The Crown Prince is aiming to spend over $7 billion within the next 10 years across the public and private sectors to diversify its economy away from oil https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-to-power-bjp-for-its-come-back-in-uttar-pradesh The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is likely to return to power in the electoral contest of 2022 in Uttar Pradesh, the state with significant influence on countrys political landscape, as per the ABP-CVoter-IANS opinion poll. https://opinionexpress.in/shringla-meets-top-us-officials-to-discusses-afghan-situation In the wake of the disastrous pullout of US troops from Afghanistan, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla met several senior officials in Washington to discuss the situation in the war-torn nation. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-examine-cbis-performance-as-prosecuting-agency In a first, the CBI will get an assessment of its performance as a prosecuting agency, after the Supreme Court decided to examine, within the ambit of investigation and prosecution, its success rate and performance in leading a case to its logical conclusion. https://opinionexpress.in/survey-predicts-bjp-to-sweep-polls-in-goa-manipur-and-ukhand   https://opinionexpress.in/future-retail-seeks-early-hearing-by-sc-on-appeal-against-hc-order The Supreme Court on Friday said it will give a date on Future Retail Ltd's (FRL) fresh appeal challenging the Delhi High Court order, which asked it to implement its earlier direction restraining the firm from going ahead with its Rs 24,731 crore merger with Reliance Retail. https://opinionexpress.in/expect-iran-vs-taliban-showdown-soon The Talibans takeover of Afghanistan has led some to draw comparisons with the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. This is not an accurate comparison. The 1979 Revolution was a popular revolt, while the 2021 Taliban victory was a military take over. The Taliban do not have popular support in Afghanistan. They managed to walk into Kabul because the Afghan armed forces and political establishment had lost the will to fight. And that was the outcome of a growing belief in Afghanistan that Kabul could not withstand the Taliban advance. So self-preservation meant that local leaders simply let the Taliban walk into their cities and settlements. https://opinionexpress.in/china-is-our-main-partner-taliban New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) Zabihullah Mujahid, the official spokesman for the Taliban regime, told an Italian newspaper that China was "our main partner and represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us as the Chinese government is ready to invest and rebuild our country", the Guardian reported. https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-will-be-impacted-of-developments-in-afghanistan Bangladesh has traditionally been impacted by developments in Afghanistan, which has influenced the radical Islamic matrix and the violent extremism narrative in Bangladesh over a period of time. https://opinionexpress.in/india-mourns-death-of-trailblazer-editor Tributes poured in for Dr Chandan Mitra, 66, who passed away late last night after being ill for some time, with the President, the Prime Minister, Union Ministers and senior party leaders recalling his robust contribution to journalism as his teary-eyed collegemate  and fellow journalists  remembered him as a good friend, mentor and for his “old-fashioned decency”. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-touches-58000-for-first-time-in-history  SENSEX https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-not-as-strong-as-many-believe-ahmad-massoud   https://opinionexpress.in/al-qaeda-joins-taliban-in-attack-on-panjshir-valley   https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-administered-over-12l-vax-jabs-in-single-day-dr-sudhakar   https://opinionexpress.in/no-control-over-fake-news-on-web-portals-will-get-bad-name-for-country  fake news https://opinionexpress.in/retreat-from-afghanistan-also-retreat-from-us-ambitions-to-remake-world   https://opinionexpress.in/jb-mohapatra-appointed-new-cbdt-chairman   https://opinionexpress.in/fake-vaccine-case-ed-raids-10-locations-in-kolkata   https://opinionexpress.in/india-on-course-for-9-gdp-growth-in-fy22   https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-declares-economic-emergency-as-food-items-go-out-of-reach  sri lanka https://opinionexpress.in/hindu-americans-condemn-hinduphobic-conference-in-us-universities  hinduphobia https://opinionexpress.in/defence-against-talibanisation-of-india   https://opinionexpress.in/shehnaaz-is-bold-and-beautiful-in-new-photo-op  bigg boss https://opinionexpress.in/science-and-tech-ministry-want-to-connect-diaspora-to-indian-researchers NRI https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-20-rhetoric-vs-reality   https://opinionexpress.in/is-india-clueless-on-afghanistan The Govt must consider its options in remaining engaged with Afghanistan and of ordinary people who boldly placed their faith in Indian leadership https://opinionexpress.in/us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-completed The US Central Command announced that the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan has been completed, ending 20 years of the Washington-led invasion of the war-torn nation. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tops-57000-for-the-first-time-nifty-nears-17000   https://opinionexpress.in/american-blunder-and-the-price-tags-of-the-us-military-gift-to-taliban   https://opinionexpress.in/kabuls-terror-challenge-in-kashmir-and-global-impact   https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-ott-connections-gets-candid-in-the-house-with-sunny-leone   https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-42909-new-covid-cases-380-deaths India on Monday reported 42,909 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/most-americans-killed-in-kabul-airport-attack-were-911-babies Twelve of the 13 US service members killed in the August 26 Kabul airport bombing were "9/11 babies", according to media reports. https://opinionexpress.in/paralympics-shooter-avani-becomes-first-indian-woman-to-win-gold   https://opinionexpress.in/massoud-resistance-denies-taliban-claim-of-entering-panjshir   https://opinionexpress.in/unicorns-flipping-to-avoid-indian-regulations   https://opinionexpress.in/af-pak-region-promises-to-stay-terror-haven   https://opinionexpress.in/sl-pms-son-welcomes-stalins-welfare-package-for-lankan-refugees   https://opinionexpress.in/rocket-attack-near-kabul-airport-kills-two-2nd-lead   https://opinionexpress.in/blast-reported-near-kabul-airport A blast has been reported from near Kabul airport on Sunday as the evacuation mission to fly out foreign citizens nears its end. https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-waiting-for-right-moment-to-take-control-of-aiadmk   https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-keeps-revival-of-ltte-at-bay-offering-sops-to-sri-lankan-tamil-refugees   https://opinionexpress.in/terror-attack-against-kabul-airport-highly-likely-in-36-hrs-biden US President Joe Biden has warned that another terror attack against the Kabul airport could be "highly likely in the next 24-36 hours". https://opinionexpress.in/kriti-sanon-not-satisfied-with-where-i-am-theres-a-lot-more-to-discover Kriti Sanon has found her feet in Hindi cinema in just seven years. She has worked on hits such as 'Heropanti', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' and 'Lukka Chuppi' among others. The actress does not want to stop as she says she is not satisfied with where she is and is sure that there is still a lot more inside of her to discover. https://opinionexpress.in/amazing-feeling-to-get-virat-kohlis-wicket-ollie-robinson England pace bowler Ollie Robinson, who took seven wickets during the third Test against India which the hosts won by an innings and 76 runs, has said that his dismissal of Virat Kohli on the morning of Day 4 was the most "amazing feeling", and the crowd applauding him an "unbelievable experience", which he would cherish for a long time to come. https://opinionexpress.in/hot-on-ott-coming-up-this-week Here's a look at highlight films, shows and series that are scheduled to drop in the digital space this week. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-asks-kabul-residents-to-hand-over-govt-vehicles-weapons The Taliban has called upon Kabul residents to hand over government vehicles, arms and ammunition if those assets have been left with them, according to the group's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-takes-over-3-gates-of-kabul-airport The US and coalition forces have handed over the control of three gates, including the entrance to the military section, of the Kabul airport, to the Taliban, an official of the group told local media on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-45083-new-covid-cases-460-deaths India reported 45,083 new Covid-19 cases and 460 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to health ministry's data on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/3rd-test-india-selection-of-playing-xi-has-resulted-in-innings-defeat  cricket https://opinionexpress.in/unbiased-press-is-required-to-determine-truth  press https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-proving-to-be-a-trouble-shooter-after-ahmed-patel   https://opinionexpress.in/curb-crowded-fests-to-avoid-covid-spike-centre-tells-maha The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has urged the Maharashtra government to impose and enforce 'restrictions' to prevent the spread of Covid-19, officials said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/this-innings-wasnt-about-survival-rohit-sharma In contrast to the mentality that the English team showed in the second Test at Lord's, where they went into their second innings trying to save the Test and succumbed, the Indian batting line-up took the 354-run deficit in the third Test head-on with grafter Cheteshwar Pujara playing in a much higher gear than he is used to. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-moves-resolution-in-tn-assembly-against-3-farm-laws   https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-files-11-cases-in-connection-with-post-poll-violence-in-bengal   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-sebi-no-coercive-steps-against-ndtv-promoters  ndtv https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-as-porn-hub-allowing-psy-war-targeting-communal-harmony-report   https://opinionexpress.in/india-must-avoid-import-dependence-to-win-future-wars-bipin-rawat   https://opinionexpress.in/new-malaysian-pm-unveils-cabinet   https://opinionexpress.in/rane-resumes-yatra-with-a-bang-slams-shiv-sena-for-his-arrest   https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-will-be-a-threat-to-central-asia-and-the-world   https://opinionexpress.in/tread-cautiously-on-afghanistan India should reach out to all friendly nations which share a boundary with Afghanistan https://opinionexpress.in/coronating-graft-in-the-times-of-pandemic The Govt or laws aren’t weak and unimaginative to bring down corruption. As people, we are too strong and imaginative to remain corrupt by all means https://opinionexpress.in/historic-move Karnataka is the first Indian State to launch the NEP but what about others? https://opinionexpress.in/safety-net India is insisting only on e-visas for Afghans who wish to travel abroad to flee the Taliban https://opinionexpress.in/empowering-women-in-indian-military With the Supreme Court allowing women to take the NDA exam, their induction gets closer to reality and will add value to the military https://opinionexpress.in/ashok-gehlot-to-undergo-angioplasty-at-sms-hospital Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday informed on his Twitter handle that he will be undergoing angioplasty at the SMS Hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/kabul-airport-terror-attacks-leaves-90-dead-alert-for-rockets-vehicle-borne-attacks At least 90 people, mostly Afghan civilians, and 13 US military personnel have been killed and more than 150 injured due to the devastating twin bomb attacks on the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, BBC reported. https://opinionexpress.in/srk-farah-khan-recreate-main-hoon-na-moment Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan have treated their fans by performing on the title track of their film "Main Hoon Na". https://opinionexpress.in/rashid-khan-and-mohammed-nabi-heartbroken-over-kabul-blasts Afghanistan cricketers Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi took to social media to express their sadness over the blasts in Kabul. On Thursday, at least 72 people were killed and over 140 injured in twin blasts outside the crowded Kabul airport. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-to-pay-100mn-to-settle-developer-lawsuit-in-us-report Tech giant Apple will pay $100 million and has agreed to multiple App Store changes to settle a class-action lawsuit that was brought against the company by developers in the US. https://opinionexpress.in/chhattisgarh-cm-leaves-for-delhi-to-meet-rahul-gandhi Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will meet Rahul Gandhi on Friday amid rift in the state over rotational Chief Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-44658-new-covid-cases-496-fatalities India on Friday reported a total of 44,658 new Covid cases and 496 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Union Health Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/canadas-airlift-mission-from-kabul-ends The Canadian mission in Afghanistan has ended and most military personnel have left the war-torn nation, Acting Chief of Defense Staff Wayne Eyre said. https://opinionexpress.in/7-us-capitol-police-officers-sue-trump-over-jan-6-riot Seven US Capitol police officers have filed a civil rights lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and his ally Roger Stone, as well as a number of members of right-wing extremist groups over the deadly January 6 riot. https://opinionexpress.in/with-vow-to-hunt-down-suicide-bombers-biden-risks-further-afghan-entanglement Trying to emerge from a 20-year quagmire in Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden risks tipping over into another with his vow to "hunt down" those behind the Kabul airport suicide bombings that killed at least 103 people, including 13 American service members. https://opinionexpress.in/conviction-of-telling-story-sells-film-to-actor   https://opinionexpress.in/sanjeev-sanyal-adds-ammunition-against-us-columnist-who-dissed-indian-food cuisine https://opinionexpress.in/us-covid-hospitalisations-top-100k-for-1st-time-since-jan   https://opinionexpress.in/biden-vows-retribution-as-death-toll-rises-in-kabul-bombings   https://opinionexpress.in/kabul-blasts-leave-many-dead-us-too-confirms-casualties A blast rocked the Kabul airport, which is thronged by crowds of desperate Afghans seeking to flee the country after the Taliban takeover, on Thursday, causing numerous casualties, including US personnel. https://opinionexpress.in/after-rahul-meet-reshuffle-on-the-cards-in-chhattisgarh   https://opinionexpress.in/evicted-contestant-karan-nath-wants-divya-agarwal-to-win-bigg-boss-ott   https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-to-witness-warm-weather-with-high-humidity With the maximum temperature likely to touch 36.4 degrees Celsius, Delhi is likely to witness warm weather with high humidity on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-overlooks-kjo-link-as-she-praises-patriotic-shershaah Actress Kangana Ranaut has heaped praises on the film 'Shershaah' which has been produced by Karan Johar, with whom she has been in a feud for a very long time. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-aircraft-with-35-evacuees-on-way-to-delhi-from-kabul An Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft has departed from Kabul with 24 Indian and 11 Nepalese evacuees, said the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/americans-warned-to-get-away-from-kabul-airport-over-is-threat Americans in Afghanistan are being warned to stay away from the Kabul airport due tothreats tied to the Islamic State (IS) terror group. https://opinionexpress.in/the-need-for-gender-responsiveness-in-our-laws The bottom line is: If you are not gender responsive, you are definitely gender oppressive https://opinionexpress.in/climate-change-as-an-ally-of-terrorism The Taliban exploit Afghan farmers' distress to their end the quick rise to power of the Taliban, the most feared and https://opinionexpress.in/bjps-kalyan-through-obcs-and-hindutva Currently, Kalyan Singh's ‘Mandal-Kamandal’ image can come to the BJP’s rescue once again when the backwards are politically in demand in UP https://opinionexpress.in/dubious-claim How free would women be under Sharia? Are the Taliban speaking in a forked tongue? https://opinionexpress.in/no-childs-play The Govt and vaccine manufacturers are in limbo over inoculating pre-teens and infants https://opinionexpress.in/of-independence-and-partition Keenly convinced that Hindus and Muslims could not coexist in one country, Jinnah even unleashed ‘Direct Action' in Calcutta in 1946 https://opinionexpress.in/indias-fresh-covid-cases-near-to-50k-in-24-hrs India on Thursday reported 46,164 new Covid cases, around 22 per cent jump in the last 24 hours. A total of 607 deaths were also reported in the time span, pushing the total death count in India at 4,36,365, according to the data released by the Union Health Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/us-to-ensure-americans-partners-can-leave-afghanistan-beyond-aug-31 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington would work to ensure Americans and Afghan partners could leave Afghanistan beyond the planned August 31 deadline for the ongoing evacuation from Kabul. https://opinionexpress.in/tech-firms-promise-biden-billions-of-dollars-to-bolster-cybersecurity Tech giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon have promised US President Joe Biden to help him improve cybersecurity infrastructure in the wake of several high-profile hacking cases against government agencies and energy infrastructure. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-market-in-green-after-opening-flat The Indian stock market traded on a positive note on Thursday morning with the BSE Sensex gaining over 100 points. https://opinionexpress.in/dmk-govt-will-follow-zero-tolerance-on-corruption-mk-stalin   https://opinionexpress.in/centre-clears-all-9-judges-recommended-by-supreme-court-collegium   https://opinionexpress.in/vaani-says-upcoming-films-will-firm-up-her-position-in-films   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-hc-to-decide-plea-against-asthana-being-made-dp-chief-in-two-weeks   https://opinionexpress.in/no-reason-sc-concerned-over-delay-in-prosecuting-cases-against-mpsmlas   https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-takeover-spells-trouble-for-chinas-belt-and-road-project   https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-to-give-20l-gas-connections-under-ujjwala-20 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will distribute about 20 lakh free gas connections under the Central government's Ujjwala 2.0 scheme on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-sharp-single-day-surge-with-37593-new-covid-cases India on Wednesday witnessed a surge in new Covid cases after 37,593 fresh infections and 648 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, as per the Covid bulletin released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. https://opinionexpress.in/narayan-rane-under-fire-for-slap-slur-against-cm-uddhav-thackeray At least three complaints have been filed against Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane for allegedly threatening to 'slap' Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, sparking fresh tensions between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cook-nadella-jassy-to-meet-biden-over-cybersecurity-report Top tech honchos like Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy are set to meet US President Joe Biden on August 25 to make him familiar with how they are addressing the growing cyber threats in the wake of recent data breaches. https://opinionexpress.in/angelina-slams-us-for-afghanistan-withdrawal-as-an-american-im-ashamed Actress-filmmaker Angelina Jolie has expressed anger over the decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, which has led to the Afghan government falling to the Taliban. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-in-green-metal-oil-gas-stocks-rise The Indian stock market traded on a positive note on Tuesday morning tracking a similar trend in the global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-cases-rise-by-25467-deaths-by-354-in-24-hrs India on Tuesday registered a total of 25,467 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours across the country. A total of 354 deaths were also reported in the same time span, pushing the death toll to 4,35,110, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. https://opinionexpress.in/man-responsible-for-destruction-raging-across-afghanistan-is-zalmay-khalilzad   https://opinionexpress.in/lenovo-launches-upgraded-ideapad-gaming-3i-laptop-in-india Lenovo on Monday launched an upgraded IdeaPad Gaming 3i laptop, powered by Intel 11th Gen Core processors and the latest NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, at a starting price of Rs 89,990. https://opinionexpress.in/new-govt-to-be-announced-soon-says-taliban Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced that talks on the formation of a new government with Afghan political leaders were underway and that a new government will be announced soon. https://opinionexpress.in/kartik-tabu-resume-bhool-bhulaiyaa-2-shooting Actors Kartik Aaryan and Tabu have resumed shooting for their upcoming film "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2", which was halted due to the second wave of Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-25072-new-covid-cases-lowest-in-160-days India on Monday reported a substantial decline in fresh Covid cases with a total of 25,072 detected across the nation in the 24 hours. In the same duration, 389 deaths were reported pushing the toll to 4,34,756, said the Covid bulletin released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. https://opinionexpress.in/flying-object-repulsed-by-bsf-at-indo-pak-border-in-jammu BSF troops fired and repulsed a flying object along the International Border in the Arnia sector of Jammu, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/chinas-mars-rover-accomplishes-planned-exploration-tasks   https://opinionexpress.in/pharma-companies-lead-topline-growth-in-q1fy22   https://opinionexpress.in/over-4k-anti-pak-ttp-militants-released-by-taliban-rattles-pakistan   https://opinionexpress.in/high-speed-train-to-run-between-ayodhya-delhi  train https://opinionexpress.in/tony-blair-slams-us-for-imbecilic-retreat-from-afghanistan   https://opinionexpress.in/sl-urges-indias-help-to-evacuate-lankans-in-afghanistan  srilanka https://opinionexpress.in/dmk-nominates-mm-abdulla-as-partys-rs-candidate https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-leader-la-ganesan-appointed-as-manipur-governor   https://opinionexpress.in/us-fears-is-attack-at-kabul-airport   https://opinionexpress.in/visuals-emerge-of-isi-chief-praying-with-taliban   https://opinionexpress.in/vaani-kapoor-acting-helps-you-witness-many-lives   https://opinionexpress.in/astro-zindagi-weekly-horoscope   https://opinionexpress.in/kalyan-singh-had-a-magical-connection-with-the-masses-president-pm-hm   https://opinionexpress.in/ganga-expressway-to-become-backbone-of-ups-economy-sitharaman   https://opinionexpress.in/dggi-busts-rs-118-cr-gst-refund-fraud-nabs-kingpin   https://opinionexpress.in/kamala-harris-tanking-in-polls-after-afghan-misadventure Kamla Harris https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-34457-new-covid-cases-marks-57cline With 34,457 new Covid-19 cases detected in the last 24 hrs, India on Saturday marked a 5.7 per cent marginal decline in the infection count since a day earlier, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-starts-shooting-for-tejas-josh-is-soaring-high Actress Kangana Ranaut has started shooting for her next "Tejas" and gave her own spin to the line "How's the josh? high sir" from the film "Uri: The Surgical Strike" by saying "Josh is soaring high". https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-kings-rope-in-australian-pace-sensation-nathan-ellis-for-ipl Indian Premier League (IPL) side Punjab Kings on Saturday roped in Australian pace bowling sensation Nathan Ellis for the remainder of the 2021 IPL season beginning in the UAE on September 19. https://opinionexpress.in/huma-qureshi-my-job-is-to-play-roles-convincingly-best-of-my-abilities Huma Qureshi took everyone by surprise with her powerful performance in the web-series "Maharani" and wowed everyone with her role in "Bell Bottom". The actress does not think much about the medium as she strongly believes in doing her job convincingly. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-again-defends-handling-of-afghan-drawdown US President Joe Biden has once again defended his administration's handling of the troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, denying America's allies questioning the country's credibility over the ongoing chaotic evacuation. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-will-work-with-taliban-if-necessary-says-pm-johnson UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that his country will work with the Taliban "if necessary", as the group has regained control of Afghanistan. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rainfall-in-delhi-ncr-water-logging-in-several-places Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) on Saturday morning witnessed heavy rainfall, bringing the mercury down but also leading to water logging in several places, causing inconvenience to the people. https://opinionexpress.in/3-jem-terrorists-killed-in-kashmir-encounter Three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/situation-across-afghanistan-remains-extremely-fluid-un   https://opinionexpress.in/pv-narasimha-rao-father-of-economic-reforms-in-india-cji   https://opinionexpress.in/cji-emphasises-on-arbitration-to-resolve-disputes  cji https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-frantic-to-patch-up-with-thackeray-claims-shiv-sena   https://opinionexpress.in/always-keep-my-regional-accent-correct-yami   https://opinionexpress.in/flybig-launches-commercial-flight-services-between-guwahati-and-arunachal   https://opinionexpress.in/johnson-johnson-seeks-regulator-nod-for-vax-trials-in-12-17-age-group-in-india The American-based pharma major Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has applied to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for permission to conduct a vaccine trial of the Covid-19 single shot Janssen vaccine in India on children of 12-17 age group. https://opinionexpress.in/cricketer-chris-cairns-off-life-support-recovering-well Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns is off life support and recovering in hospital after a heart surgery in Sydney. https://opinionexpress.in/58-inch-tesla-humanoid-robot-coming-next-year-says-musk Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced that his company is working on a humanoid robot and the prototype will arrive sometime next year. https://opinionexpress.in/ranveer-alia-start-shooting-for-rocky-aur-rani-ki-prem-kahani Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt have commenced shooting for the first schedule of their upcoming film "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani", directed by Karan Johar. https://opinionexpress.in/for-what-joe-biden-stands-ground-on-afghanistan-exit US President Joe Biden believes history will judge the US experience in Afghanistan as one where it "overextended" its stay to deal with its national interest. https://opinionexpress.in/blinken-discusses-afghan-situation-with-jaishankar-2nd-time-this-week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed the situation in Afghanistan with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for a second time this week, according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price. https://opinionexpress.in/active-caseload-lowest-in-150-days-as-india-logs-36k-new-covid-cases India on Friday reported 36,571 new Covid cases and 540 deaths in the last 24 hours, while the active caseload has declined to the lowest in the past 150 days, said the Covid bulletin released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. https://opinionexpress.in/2-terrorists-killed-in-gunfight-in-jks-pulwama Two terrorists were killed in an ongoing encounter with the security forces at Khrew in Pampore area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/plan-to-put-ktaka-on-top-of-countrys-industry-map-bommai   https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-forms-4-teams-to-probe-post-poll-violence-in-bengal   https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-taliban-vows-to-crush-islamabad   https://opinionexpress.in/nepals-two-largest-parties-split-including-olis-uml   https://opinionexpress.in/nk-singh-replaces-former-pm-manmohan-singh-as-ieg-president   https://opinionexpress.in/resolution-professionals-can-now-verify-tax-returns-of-bankrupt-companies   https://opinionexpress.in/karvy-chairman-arrested-for-defaulting-bank-loan karvy https://opinionexpress.in/hc-orders-cbi-probe-in-post-poll-violence-in-bengal   https://opinionexpress.in/icc-announces-virtual-trophy-tour-to-mark-countdown-for-t20-world-cup To mark two months countdown to the Men's T20 World Cup in Oman and United Arab Emirates (UAE), the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a virtual trophy tour starting from Thursday. The virtual tour will be driven around by Nissan. https://opinionexpress.in/light-intensity-quake-hits-jk-no-casualty-reported A light intensity earthquake struck Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, though no casualty or damage to property was reported from anywhere. https://opinionexpress.in/chaos-from-us-afghan-drawdown-unavoidable-biden US President Joe Biden said that he did not see a way to withdraw from Afghanistan without "chaos ensuing". https://opinionexpress.in/kabul-remains-calm-while-residents-live-in-uncertainty Kabul has remained relatively peaceful since the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital four days ago, but the residents have been living in uncertainty as the new establishment is yet to formally replace the former administration. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-anticipating-mass-exodus-from-punjab-unit-ahead-of-polls   https://opinionexpress.in/arrested-punjab-ex-dgp-saini-to-be-produced-in-court   https://opinionexpress.in/anil-deshmukh-skips-ed-summon-for-5th-time-sends-lawyers-letter   https://opinionexpress.in/release-caged-parrot-madras-hc-says-cbi-needs-statutory-status-like-ec   https://opinionexpress.in/pm-chairs-security-meeting-amid-fast-changing-situation-in-afghanistan pm modi https://opinionexpress.in/extremely-upset-says-cji-on-media-reports-on-judges-appointment-process   https://opinionexpress.in/hdfc-bank-can-now-issue-new-credit-cards-shares-rise Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has relaxed the restrictions on HDFC Bank and allowed the lender to issue new credit cards. https://opinionexpress.in/pratik-gandhis-first-look-in-dedh-bigha-zameen-unveiled Pratik Gandhi's first look in the upcoming film 'Dedh Bigha Zameen' was unveiled on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-court-discharges-shashi-tharoor-in-sunanda-pushkar-death-case In a big relief for Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, a Delhi court on Wednesday discharged him in the Sunanda Pushkar death case. https://opinionexpress.in/johnson-biden-vow-to-work-together-on-afghan-situation British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden have spoken over telephone about the current situation in Afghanistan following Taliban takeover, the Downing Street said in a statement. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-35178-new-covid-cases-in-24-hours India on Wednesday again registered growth in the daily Covid-19 cases and reported a total of 35,178 fresh cases in the past 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/social-media-platforms-in-a-limbo-as-taliban-takes-over-afghanistan Amid the chaotic situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are facing intense scrutiny for their treatment of Taliban accounts, as they would soon be asked to grant access to the official accounts to the Taliban. https://opinionexpress.in/samajwadi-party-mp-booked-for-supporting-taliban   https://opinionexpress.in/market-climbs-new-high-sensex-hits-56000 The key Indian equity indices continued their bull on Wednesday with the BSE Sensex hitting the landmark 56,000 level. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-collegium-clears-nine-judges-for-elevation-to-the-top-court sc collegium https://opinionexpress.in/nearly-2-mn-terrorist-watchlist-records-leaked-online   https://opinionexpress.in/ed-again-summons-ex-maha-hm-anil-deshmukh-for-questioning   https://opinionexpress.in/prachi-desai-joins-radhika-apte-vikrant-massey-in-investigative-thriller-forensic   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-issues-notice-to-centre-on-pils-seeking-probe-into-pegasus-row   https://opinionexpress.in/icc-t20-world-cup-india-to-take-on-pakistan-on-october-24 India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a group stage encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai on October 24, the International Cricket Council confirmed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/the-conquest-of-mexico-some-history-is-inevitable The capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, fell to the invaders after a long siege, and became Mexico City instead https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-cooperation-is-now-stronger The commitment to democratic values reflects India's pluralistic society and history of harmony https://opinionexpress.in/sun-set-on-lpg-subsidy The overarching focus of the Government should be on giving relief to consumers sans subsidy as that will be in sync with fiscal consolidation https://opinionexpress.in/setbacks What happened to Messi shouldn’t have; but to Ross and Rachel, yes, definitely https://opinionexpress.in/the-afghan-mess The situation is precarious. The future under the Taliban is neither clear nor secure   https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-must-be-serious-about-its-role The non-ruling parties and members ought to respect the platform the parliamentary floor offers to discuss Bills and legislate responsibly https://opinionexpress.in/at-25166-india-sees-major-decline-in-daily-covid-cases India on Tuesday registered a major fall in the daily Covid-19 cases as fresh infections reported in the last 24 hours came down to 25,166. The last time there were cases close to this number was last year December 22, when around 24,000 cases were reported. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-turns-flat-after-scaling-new-high The Indian stock market continued its record run on Tuesday morning before it shed its initial gains to turn flat. https://opinionexpress.in/blinken-discusses-afghanistan-situation-with-jaishankar-qureshi   https://opinionexpress.in/india-safely-evacuates-diplomats-citizens-from-afghanistan India on Tuesday safely evacuated over 150 citizens, including diplomats from Afghanistan amid the chaos following Taliban takeover. https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-test-india-beat-england-by-151-runs-at-lords India defeated England by 151 runs in a fifth-day thriller in the second Test here on Monday registering their third-ever victory in 89 years at Lord's, the Mecca of cricket. https://opinionexpress.in/whether-govt-bought-pegasus-or-used-it-sc-seeks-centres-response pegasus https://opinionexpress.in/conditions-in-afghanistan-extremely-disturbing-says-congress A day after Taliban captured power in Afghanistan, the Congress on Monday described conditions there as "extremely alarming" saying India's strategic interests are at stake. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-wholesale-price-inflation-sequentially-eases-to-1116-in-july Easing prices of food products, primary articles sequentially decelerated India's July 2021 wholesale inflation. https://opinionexpress.in/mrunal-thakur-on-going-back-to-ahectic-schedule Mrunal Thakur says when the lockdown happened, she knew she would get back to the hectic schedule that actors live for. https://opinionexpress.in/kohlis-gesture-over-fading-light-on-day-4-at-lords-goes-viral India cricket team skipper Virat Kohli was clearly not amused with the umpires' call to continue play despite the fading light on the fourth day of the second Test against England at Lord's on Sunday, and the way he gestured to his two batters in the middle, asking for play to stop immediately, became a source of much hilarity among his millions of fans and cricket lovers. https://opinionexpress.in/us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-accelerated-things-johnson British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the US decision to pull out of Afghanistan has "accelerated things," noting "no one wants Afghanistan to become a breeding ground for terror" as the Taliban entered the Afghan capital. https://opinionexpress.in/to-dispel-wrong-narrative-will-form-expert-panel-centre-in-sc-on-pegasus-row The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Pegasus snooping allegations will be examined by a group of experts in the field. https://opinionexpress.in/show-us-debate-in-parliament-reasons-sc-on-tribunal-reforms-bill The Supreme Court on Monday expressed deep distress with the Centre for not making appointments to various tribunals despite recommendations made by the Selection Committee and also shot a volley of question at the Modi government on the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021, which was passed by Parliament last week, re-enacting provisions already struck down by the apex court. https://opinionexpress.in/chaos-as-people-running-around-in-kabul-airport-to-board-flights US troops were forced to fire warning shots at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to prevent crowds of desperate citizens running to board planes as the Taliban took over the Afghan capital city, an official told a global news wire. https://opinionexpress.in/federer-pulls-out-of-us-open-to-undergo-knee-surgery Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer has announced on Instagram that he will miss the US Open, beginning August 30, and "many months" after undergoing knee surgery. https://opinionexpress.in/end-of-afghan-republic-1st-night-under-islamic-emirate Hours after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani along with his close aides and the first lady left Kabul for Tajikistan, the Taliban entered the Presidential Palace, also known as the Arg. https://opinionexpress.in/india-continues-to-see-decline-in-new-covid-case-over-32k-in-24-hrs For the third consecutive day on Monday, India registered a decline in the daily Covid cases with 32,937 fresh cases and 417 deaths being reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/air-india-flight-expected-to-depart-for-kabul-post-noon National carrier Air India is expected to operate Delhi-Kabul-Delhi flight operations post-noon on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/death-toll-from-floods-in-turkey-reaches-62-dozens-still-missing The death toll from the severe floods and mudslides in the Black Sea region of Turkey has increased to 62, the country's emergency and disaster agency said. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-declares-war-in-afghanistan-is-over The Taliban has declared the war in Afghanistan over after its fighters swept the capital Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-hit-new-highs-amid-choppy-trade The Indian stock market traded on a flattish note on Monday morning in line with the subdued trade in the Asian markets. https://opinionexpress.in/mahila-congress-chief-sushmita-deb-resigns-from-party   https://opinionexpress.in/islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-is-under-taliban-regime   https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-test-rahanes-fifty-not-enough-as-india-struggling-at-1816 India had their backs to the wall in the second Test against England as they went to stumps on Day 4 at Lord's at 181/6 in their second innings, just 154 runs ahead. https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-prez-ashraf-ghani-flees-the-country-taliban-in-full-control-of-kabul Taliban in Kabul https://opinionexpress.in/society-must-liberate-its-mind-empower-women-with-education   https://opinionexpress.in/poor-parliamentary-debates-leads-to-litigations  litigations https://opinionexpress.in/shehnaaz-gill-bigg-boss-has-given-me-new-identity   https://opinionexpress.in/no-dearth-of-political-will-in-india-to-bring-big-changes-reforms-modi https://opinionexpress.in/scrapping-of-retro-tax-provisions-revived-interest-in-indias-privatisation-plan  PRIVATIZATION https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-unfolds-next-level-smartphone-experience-for-indians   https://opinionexpress.in/modi-unfurls-tricolour-at-red-fort-as-india-celebrates-75th-i-day  independence Day https://opinionexpress.in/ton-up-root-help-england-grab-a-slim-27-run-lead-against-india Skipper Joe Root produced another masterclass to help England take a slim 27-run lead against India on the third day of the second Test here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/ca-arrested-in-rs-3269-cr-shakti-bhog-bank-fraud-case   https://opinionexpress.in/indian-diaspora-to-unfurl-biggest-tricolour-at-times-square-in-nyc   https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-unlocks-account-of-congress-rahul-gandhi   https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-warns-india-against-military-moves-in-afghanistan   https://opinionexpress.in/it-is-time-to-sanction-pakistan-us-expert   https://opinionexpress.in/tallest-building-in-us-to-be-lit-in-indian-tricolour-on-aug-15 The iconic One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the US standing on the site of the 9/11 terror attacks, will be be lit up in the Indian flags tri colours to commemorate the 75th Independence Day on August 15. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-making-contrast-changes-as-users-report-eye-strain-migraines After several users reported eye strain, headaches and even migraines owing to the high visual contrast in new Twitter design with buttons, links and new font called Chirp, the micro-blogging platform on Saturday announced to change the contrast on all buttons. https://opinionexpress.in/google-infringed-on-5-sonos-patents-rules-us-judge A US judge has ruled that Google infringed upon the patents of high-tech speaker and audio technology company Sonos. https://opinionexpress.in/i-will-never-accept-taliban-domination-on-the-people-of-afghanistan Afghanistan's First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said the government will continue its fight against the Taliban by fully supporting the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and the public uprising forces. https://opinionexpress.in/kohli-forced-to-bowl-jadeja-in-unhelpful-conditions Despite having four quick bowlers in the side, the skies being gloomy and favourable to swing bowling, and the floodlights for night cricket being switched on, Indian captain Virat Kohli was forced to introduce left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja into the attack on the second day of the second Test against England here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/richa-chadha-was-hungry-to-get-back-on-set-after-lockdown Richa Chadha says an actor's motivation to sign a project can be different depending on the state they are in. The actress says she wants to work as she was hungry to be back on sets after the Covid-19 lockdown. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-likely-to-see-rise-in-temperature-till-aug-18 The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday indicated that the temperature in Delhi would rise to 37 degrees Celsius for the next few days until August 18 as the national capital continued to experience warmer weather. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-to-inaugurate-2-parks-for-differently-abled-in-chennai Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate two special parks for the differently-abled people in the capital city. Greater Chennai Corporation officials, however, said that the date of inauguration is yet to be finalised. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-38667-new-covid-cases-478-deaths The active caseload registered a growth of 2,446 on Saturday and the total caseload climbed to 3,87,673. The active caseloads constitute 1.21 per cent of total cases, as per the bulletin released. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-trying-to-isolate-kabul-situation-deeply-concerning-pentagon   https://opinionexpress.in/revive-family-doctor-system-raghu-ram   https://opinionexpress.in/boeing-supports-indias-focus-on-becoming-global-aerospace-leader   https://opinionexpress.in/siddharth-shukla-shehnaaz-gill-to-enter-bigg-boss-ott   https://opinionexpress.in/mpc-says-stagflation-looms-large-cut-taxes If the Government follows RBI's steps to check inflation, the economy may grow or, else, more difficult days await the nation https://opinionexpress.in/the-consensus-on-maritime-security India's efforts at the UNSC meeting to bring back the centrality of UNCLOS are being appreciated https://opinionexpress.in/commit-india-to-build-national-health-coverage If India had invested three per cent of GDP on health over the last 30 years, we would have been in a much better position to face the Covid-19 pandemic https://opinionexpress.in/washout The monsoon session has seen poor conduct and dismal performance from both the sides https://opinionexpress.in/shadow-of-peril The Himachal landslide is another reminder of the environmental dangers facing India https://opinionexpress.in/get-veto-power-or-bid-adieu-to-un The catalogue of the acts of omission of the United Nations, as well as its predecessor the League of Nations, continues to be a legend https://opinionexpress.in/terrorist-killed-in-kashmir-gunfight One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter between the terrorists and security forces in South Kashmir's Kulgam district, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/google-meet-users-can-add-25-co-hosts-limit-mute-participants Google Meet users can now add up to 25 co-hosts per meeting, limit who can share their screen, send chat messages, mute all users and end meetings. https://opinionexpress.in/new-up-companies-to-get-priority-listing-at-bse-nse New companies set up in the past four years in Uttar Pradesh, would be prioritised in listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange (NSE). https://opinionexpress.in/england-vs-india-lords-to-turn-red-for-ruth-on-friday On the second day of the second Test between England and India on Friday, Lord's will go red. On the Red for Ruth day, players from both teams will wear special commemorative shirts with the Ruth Strauss Foundation logo and red playing numbers. https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-govt-thinks-pak-has-some-magic-powers-to-persuade-taliban-imran Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the Afghan government was getting extremely critical about Islamabad, thinking that it had "some magic powers" to persuade the Taliban. https://opinionexpress.in/yami-gautam-isnt-easy-to-shift-from-one-character-to-another Yami Gautam has her diary full as she has several movies lined up such as 'A Thursday', 'Dasvi' and 'Lost'. The actress says it isn't easy to shift from one character to another and believes a character should not suffer because of tight schedules. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-pushes-new-model-3-standard-range-plus-orders Electric vehicle company Tesla has now pushed new Model 3 Standard Range Plus orders to 6 months out, all the way to January 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/clear-sky-and-windy-in-delhi It was a clear Friday morning in Delhi with the minimum temperature recorded at 27 degrees Celsius, the maximum is expected to hover around 36 degrees Celsius, the weather office said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-40120-new-covid-cases-585-deaths-in-24-hrs India on Friday registered a marginal decline in daily Covid caseload and recorded 40,120 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-claim-control-over-2-more-key-afghan-cities Taliban militants on Friday claimed to have taken control over the key southern Afghan cities of Lashkar Gah and Kandahar, after weeks of heavy clashes between the militant group and government forces. https://opinionexpress.in/blocking-my-twitter-account-is-interference-in-political-process-rahul-gandhi Rahul Gandhi on Friday released a video statement slamming Twitter for blocking his account and alleged that Twitter was taking sides in the politics of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-wont-recognise-govt-imposed-by-force-in-afghanistan   https://opinionexpress.in/quad-officials-discuss-cooperation-on-supply-chain-critical-technologies   https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-test-rahuls-century-takes-india-to-2763-on-day-1 Opener K.L. Rahul (batting 127) showed enormous amounts of patience and determination as he scored his sixth Test century to help India end Day One of the second Test at Lord's strongly placed at 276/3. The visitors were put in by England.Rahul, who buckled down, faced 248 deliveries and hit 12 fours and a six as he shared century stands with fellow opener Rohit Sharma (83) and skipper Virat Kohli (42) to frustrate the English bowling attack which is missing some of the top bowlers like Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.The English team though had the old warhorse and genius of swing and seam, James Anderson, who was the most successful bowler on the day, picking two wickets for 52. Rahul gave him due respect but when there were loose deliveries on offer, he unsheathed his square drives.In fact, the drives through square on the off and cover got the 29-year-old Indian plenty of runs and boundaries.Rahul shared 126 runs for the first wicket with Sharma before the latter was bowled by Anderson.After Cheteshwar Pujara's dismissal for nine, Rahul added 117 runs with Kohli for the third wicket.The Karnataka batsman played second fiddle to Sharma, who was the aggressor when the two were at the crease. When Sharma was dismissed for 83, Rahul was on 33 (off 118 balls). However, after two quick wickets, of Sharma and Pujara, he took on the lead role and allowed skipper Kohli to settle in.Reaching his 13th Test fifty with a glide past the cordon that fetched him three, Rahul opened up immediately after tea with a four through gully off Anderson.He followed it up with another four off the veteran Englishman through cover-point and then hit Sam Curran, England's weak link on the day, through cover to move into 70s. He reached his century with a cut for four through third man and became only the third Indian opener to get to a Test hundred at Lord's.He became also only the 10th Indian batsman to get a ton at the venue.England bowlers, who struggled throughout the day, managed to get a breakthrough towards the end when pacer Ollie Robinson forced Kohli to edge to slips for 42.Ajinkya Rahane, who himself had scored a century at Lord's, in 2014, was unbeaten on one (off 22 balls).Brief scoresIndia 276/3 in 90 overs (R Sharma 83, KL Rahul 127 batting, V Kohli 42, J Anderson 2/52) vs England. https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-test-sharma-rahul-take-india-to-1572-at-tea Powered by 83 from opener Rohit Sharma and an unbeaten half-century from K.L. Rahul (batting 55), India moved to 157 for two at tea on the first day of the second Test against England at Lord's on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/opposition-brought-disrespect-to-parliament-government   https://opinionexpress.in/cji-justice-nariman-always-guarded-judicial-institution-like-a-lion   https://opinionexpress.in/bommais-1st-litmus-test-on-sep-3 Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will face his first litmus test in roughly three weeks from now as the State Election Commission has announced the long-pending local body elections in the state on September 3. https://opinionexpress.in/locking-account-stifles-freedom-of-expression-says-tharoor Reacting to the ongoing tussle between Congress and social media platform Twitter, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is also the chairman of standing committee on Information Technology, said on Thursday that locking accounts stifles the freedom of expression. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-leads-oppn-march-against-govt-says-murder-of-democracy Members of Parliament and leaders of various opposition parties took out march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk on Thursday to protest against the curtailment of the monsoon session. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-rise-investors-eye-retail-inflation-iip-data The Indian stock market rose on Thursday with the BSE Sensex rising over 160 points. https://opinionexpress.in/kabul-could-fall-to-taliban-as-early-as-a-month-us-intelligence US intelligence officials believe that the Taliban can topple the Afghan capital Kabul, sooner than they expected previously. https://opinionexpress.in/several-hundred-crores-loss-as-cryogenic-engine-didnt-fire-isro Indian space programme suffered a serious setback on Thursday as its GSLV-F10 rocket failed midway in its mission of putting into orbit the Geo-Imaging Satellite-1 (GISAT-1). https://opinionexpress.in/kriti-sanon-on-pressures-of-having-several-films-lined-up Kriti Sanon is having a golden run in the Hindi film industry with several films lined up. The actress feels no pressure and instead is motivated and would not want it any other way. https://opinionexpress.in/after-raga-twitter-now-blocks-cong-its-leaders-accounts The Congress party on Thursday claimed that after blocking their former president Rahul Gandhi's social media account, Twitter has now "locked" the party's official handle @INCIndia. https://opinionexpress.in/india-adds-41195-fresh-covid-cases-490-deaths-in-a-day India on Thursday registered rise in daily Covid infections and recorded 41,195 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. For the first time in the past six days, daily cases again crossed the 40,000 mark. A total of 490 deaths were also reported in the same time span, pushing the death toll due to Covid to 4,29,669, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/magnitude-73-earthquake-rattles-philippines An offshore earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Davao Oriental province in the southern Philippines on Thursday, according to authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/bus-wreckage-found-20-still-missing-in-himachal-landslide The wreckage of the bus that fell into a 500-metre deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district following a massive landslide was recovered on Thursday morning, rescuers said. Fifteen people lost their lives so far, while 20 others were still missing. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-will-have-to-wait-to-put-an-eye-in-the-sky   https://opinionexpress.in/go-first-inducts-49th-airbus-a320neo-aircraft-into-its-fleet   https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cm-urges-pm-modi-to-repeal-farm-laws  FARM BILLS https://opinionexpress.in/ai-adoption-can-add-90-bn-to-indian-economy-by-2025  AI https://opinionexpress.in/bat-woman-covid-variants-will-emerge-world-must-learn-to-co-exist   https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-crisis-intensifies-india-pulls-out-50-citizens-from-mazar-e-sharif As the situation in Afghanistan continued to turn from bad to worse with intense fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban, a total of 50 Indian nationals, including diplomats, left the Mazar-e-Sharif and reached New Delhi on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/2-ktaka-ministers-set-to-resign-bommai-in-damage-control-mode Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is in the damage control mode as two cabinet ministers, Anand Singh and M.T.B. Nagaraj, have decided to tender their resignations from their posts, sources in the party said. https://opinionexpress.in/all-sacredness-destroyed-vp-gets-emotional-on-tuesdays-ruckus Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday broke down as he spoke about Tuesday's ruckus by Opposition members in the House when some MPs climbed the tables and some sat and disrupted the House proceedings. https://opinionexpress.in/former-new-zealand-cricketer-chris-cairns-stable-after-surgery Former New Zealand cricketer, Chris Cairns who was in a critical condition and on life support after suffering a major medical emergency, is reportedly stable. https://opinionexpress.in/countdown-begins-for-india-to-open-its-sky-eye-gisat-1 The Indian space agency early morning on Wednesday began the countdown for the launch of its GSLV-F10 rocket carrying the country's first https://opinionexpress.in/is-jennifer-aniston-dating-friends-co-star-david-schwimmer "Friends" co-stars Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer are rumoured to be dating. The actors had dropped a truth bomb when they talked about having feelings for each other during "Friends: The Reunion" a few months ago. https://opinionexpress.in/25-soldiers-7-residents-killed-in-algerias-wildfires At least 25 Algerian soldiers were killed on Tuesday as they attempted to extinguish the wildfires raging in the northeastern provinces of Tizi Ouzou and Bejaia, the Algerian Defense Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-forces-must-fight-for-themselves-biden US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the Afghan troops must fight for themselves as multiple cities have fallen to the Taliban in the past few days. https://opinionexpress.in/14-oppn-leaders-meet-to-devise-parliamentary-strategy A meeting of leaders of 14 opposition parties was held on Wednesday at the office of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present. https://opinionexpress.in/dcgi-okays-study-on-mixing-covaxin-covishield-trial-in-vellore The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given the approval to conduct a study on mixing of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines. The step has been taken to boost the mass vaccination drive against the coronavirus across the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/zomatos-losses-tripled-since-ipo-revenue-up-28 Food delivery platform Zomato, which witnessed a bumper IPO last month, has reported a significant loss in the first quarter (Q1) of the current financial year. The company reported a net loss of $48 million in the June quarter, up from nearly $13.5 million in the same period last year. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-shed-initial-gains-healthcare-auto-stocks-plunge The key Indian equity indices pared their initial gains on Wednesday morning with the BSE Sensex falling over 200 points. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-to-push-bill-on-assisted-reproductive-technology-clinic-in-ls The government is set to introduce Bill for the regulation and supervision of the assisted reproductive technology clinic and the assisted reproductive technology banks, prevention of misuse, safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-cases-rise-by-38353-and-497-deaths-in-24-hrs Recording a jump in fresh Covid cases, India on Wednesday logged 38,553 new infections and 497 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/with-monsoon-break-delhi-to-witness-rise-in-mercury-wind As monsoon entered break phase, which according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) will result into dry spell at least till next one week, Delhi saw clear sky with minimum temperature 26 degree Celsius on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/no-regret-over-us-forces-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-biden   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-pulls-up-centre-for-failing-to-give-details-of-cases-against-mps-mla   https://opinionexpress.in/rajasthan-congress-chief-calls-savarkar-a-freedom-fighter   https://opinionexpress.in/india-evacuates-citizens-from-mazar-e-sharif   https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-said-to-weigh-bid-for-t-mobile-netherlands-report   https://opinionexpress.in/india-leads-as-bali-singapore-quickly-grow-into-asias-new-movie-hubs   https://opinionexpress.in/steady-increase-in-lion-population-modi-on-world-lion-day   https://opinionexpress.in/arshi-khan-draws-inspiration-from-rani-kareena-for-her-next-role  bigg boss https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-mumbai-top-searched-domestic-destinations-ld   https://opinionexpress.in/aamir-khan-unspools-happy-memories-of-dil-chahta-hai-crew Superstar Aamir Khan goes nostalgic as his movie 'Dil Chahta Hai' is completing 20 years on August 10. For him it was one of the most memorable projects and a great working experience with director Farhan Akhtar and the entire cast. https://opinionexpress.in/feeling-yet-to-sink-in-says-neeraj-chopra-at-athletics-federation-function Tokyo Olympic Games gold medallist, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, said on Tuesday that the feeling had yet to fully sink in that he had achieved a huge career milestone. https://opinionexpress.in/criminal-cases-against-mpsmlas-cant-be-withdrawn-without-hc-approval-sc The Supreme Court on Tuesday said no criminal case can be withdrawn against MPs and MLAs without the approval of the concerned High Court. https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-saga-ncp-fears-foreign-powers-may-be-snooping-on-india Throwing a new dimension to the ongoing Pegasus spyware phone-tapping controversy, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed deep apprehensions that some 'foreign powers' may be snooping on the country, here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/instagram-testing-ads-in-its-shop-tab-report Facebook-owned Instagram is reportedly investing in its e-commerce business, Instagram Shops, with the launch of a new advertising product -- Ads in Instagram Shop. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-28204-new-covid-cases-lowest-in-147-days India on Tuesday recorded the lowest new daily Covid cases in the last 147 days. A total of 28,204 fresh cases were detected across the nation in the last 24 hrs. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-aims-to-sell-20-mn-evs-per-year-by-2030 Tesla aims to sell 20 million electric vehicles per year by 2030 -- from 0.5 million in 2020 -- and deploy 1,500 GWh of energy storage per year, compared to 3 GWh last year. https://opinionexpress.in/major-heatwave-expected-to-hit-italy-this-week A major heatwave is expected to hit Italy this week, which has been forecast to be the hottest so far, authorities and local media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-up-200-points-banking-stocks-rise The key Indian equity indices traded on a positive note on Tuesday morning with the BSE Sensex rising over 200 points. https://opinionexpress.in/mod-absolved-itself-what-about-others-chidambaram-on-pegasus-snooping-row A day after the Defence Ministry denied any transaction with the NSO group, Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday raised questions. https://opinionexpress.in/have-some-faith-in-system-why-parallel-debate-on-social-media-sc-on-pegasus-row The Supreme Court on Tuesday said there must be some discipline and proper debate during the proceedings in connection with petitions on the Pegasus snooping scandal. The top court emphasised those who filed PILs on the issue, are not expected to run a parallel debate on social media platforms or Twitter. https://opinionexpress.in/sibals-political-dinner-party Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Monday hosted a dinner attended by political bigwigs from the party and like-minded parties, creating a buzz in political circles given his recent role in party affairs. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-bommai-to-seek-bjp-high-commands-help-to-counter-dissident-voices As all efforts to assuage the disgruntled leaders upset over the cabinet portfolio allocation seems to be failing, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is preparing to visit New Delhi to find a solution to quell the dissidence in the party. https://opinionexpress.in/after-india-led-unsc-martime-session-pak-threatens-continued-militarisation Pakistan has threatened to continue militarising citing what it claimed was a "geo-strategic competition and the pursuit of military dominance by some states", while mentioning India. https://opinionexpress.in/india-well-on-the-path-to-have-1-doctor-per-1000-population-by-2024   https://opinionexpress.in/supreme-court-junks-flipkart-amazon-plea-against-cci-probe  flipkart, Amazon, https://opinionexpress.in/biopic-can-wait-want-to-focus-on-the-game-for-now-neeraj-chopra Neeraj Chopra, who made history on Saturday by winning India's first-ever gold medal in athletics at the Olympics, is now setting sight on next year's Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the World Championships. Excerpts from an interview with the star Indian athlete: https://opinionexpress.in/dealing-with-others Every individual is different. This is what makes dealing with others a craft https://opinionexpress.in/video-games-the-new-age-opium The games are designed by experts trained in neurosciences, psychology, and human behaviour in order to make them addictive https://opinionexpress.in/the-protectors The threat to human rights and bodily integrity is the highest in police stations, says the CJI https://opinionexpress.in/looking-up India has registered progress in the global sporting arena but there’s still a long way to go https://opinionexpress.in/india-at-the-olympics-over-the-decades Unlike in the ancient times, sport has not been regarded as integral to Indian society, except for a few privileged families https://opinionexpress.in/vehicle-retail-sales-rises-yoy-sequentially-in-july-fada Low base along with rising demand pushed India's overall vehicle retail sales on both sequential and year-on-year basis in July 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/digital-transactions-grow-80-in-last-250-days-report Digital transactions have grown by 80 per cent in the last 250 days in India and the home services industry (such as carpentry, plumbing and more) has started to embrace digital payments, making transactions grow by a mighty 138 per cent, a new report showed on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/volunteer-for-inquiry-sc-refuses-to-stop-cci-probe-against-amazon-flipkart The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea by e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart, saying they must face inquiry by Competition Commission of India (CCI) for anti-competitive practices. https://opinionexpress.in/performance-in-first-test-will-boost-indias-morale-karthik Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has said that the Indians have done enough to go in to the second Test with an upper hand. Though the first Test at the Trent Bridge ended in a draw, India had done enough to trouble the English. https://opinionexpress.in/jharkhand-hc-chief-justice-to-weekly-monitor-cbi-probe-into-mowing-down-of-judge-at-dhanbad The Supreme Court Monday said the Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice will monitor weekly the progress made in the CBI probe into the alleged mowing down of a judge by a vehicle on July 28 in Dhanbad, and observed that the sealed cover report of the central agency did not contain much details. https://opinionexpress.in/vivo-y53s-with-64mp-rear-camera-in-india-for-rs-19490 Smartphone brand Vivo on Monday announced the launch of Y53s with 64MP rear camera and a 5,000mAh battery for Rs 19,490 in India. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-hails-neeraj-chopra-medal-winners-in-tokyo-olympics The Rajya Sabha on Monday congratulated Neeraj Chopra for winning the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-feats-in-track-field-beyond-chopras-historic-gold While Neeraj Chopra's success in getting India their first-ever Olympic medal in athletics, and that too a gold, was the highlight of the Tokyo 2020 Games for Indian fans, there were other achievements that also made news. Here's a look at them: https://opinionexpress.in/hyundai-resumes-production-at-local-plant-for-upcoming-ev-sedan Hyundai Motor said on Monday it has resumed production at one of its seven domestic plants after a four-week suspension to prepare for the production of an electric vehicle. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-records-35499-new-cases-447-deaths With 35,499 more people testing positive for COVID-19, India's infection tally now stands at 3,19,69,954, while the death toll climbed to 4,28,309 with 447 fresh fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/veteran-actor-anupam-shyam-passes-away Veteran actor Anupam Shyam, who is known for his role in multiple television shows and films, passed away late on Sunday night. He was 63. https://opinionexpress.in/we-are-proud-of-you-kohli-ashwin-to-indian-olympic-athletes Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and ace off-spinner R Ashwin congratulated India's Olympic medallists as well as participants in the Tokyo 2020 Games. https://opinionexpress.in/neha-bhasin-says-non-film-music-is-taking-centre-stage-again Singer Neha Bhasin is happy that independent music is taking centre stage, but adds that she minces no words while talking about famous actors being a part of these numbers. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-gains-over-200-points-banking-stocks-rise The key Indian equity indices traded on a positive note on Monday morning with the BSE Sensex rising over 200 points. https://opinionexpress.in/oppn-to-support-amendment-to-obc-bill-in-ls The opposition parties on Monday decided to support the Constitution Amendment to the OBC Bill, which is scheduled to be introduced in the Lok Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-govt-in-conflict-johnson-threatens-to-demote-rishi-sunak-to-health-secretary   https://opinionexpress.in/the-changing-face-of-dalits-that-mayawati-cannot-see BSP & Mayawati https://opinionexpress.in/odisha-cm-remarkable-contribution-for-hockey-in-india   https://opinionexpress.in/rain-takes-away-from-india-a-shot-at-victory-in-series-opener-match-ends-in-draw Persistent rain proved to be anti-climactic as India, who had a realistic shot at victory in the series-opener, were forced to share points with England after entire fifth day's play was washed out, here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/no-mercy-for-militants-and-their-supporters-manoj-sinha   https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-leaders-seek-more-name-changing-in-up   https://opinionexpress.in/cji-threat-to-human-rights-highest-in-police-stations-even-privileged-not-spared   https://opinionexpress.in/north-indian-ex-cm-likely-to-be-congress-working-president   https://opinionexpress.in/israel-palestine-question-bidens-role The US has always been an ally of Israel, wherein, the idiom and the impact of the traditional friendship between Washington and Jerusalem gets an ample reflection in the au courant US foreign policy. President Trump unilaterally recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. President Biden can redefine the relations with Israel. Still, nothing out of the box emerged in Biden- speak for Israel https://opinionexpress.in/jobless-growth-to-employment-rich-growth According to the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, more than 54 per cent of India’s population is below 25 years of age and 62 per cent of India’s population is aged between 15 and 59 years. But the demographic advantage might turn into a demographic disaster if the skill sets of both new entrants and the existing workforce do not match industry requirements https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-given-cabinet-rank-status-by-cm-bommai   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-gives-one-year-extension-to-cabinet-secretary-rajiv-gauba  RAJIV gAUBA https://opinionexpress.in/starstruck-the-real-game-changers-of-ott   https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-searches-9-locations-in-up-in-rs-6833-cr-bank-fraud-case   https://opinionexpress.in/neerajs-village-erupts-into-celebrations-chants-chak-de-india  neeraj chopra https://opinionexpress.in/neeraj-brings-1st-gold-to-india-in-track-field Neeraj chopra is the golden boy of India, wins first gold in track & field sports for India.  https://opinionexpress.in/bommai-finally-allocates-cabinet-portfolios karnataka https://opinionexpress.in/india-offers-cairn-energy-1bn-refund   https://opinionexpress.in/bomb-hoax-at-mumbai-railway-stations-amitabh-bachchans-home-report Two people have been detained by Mumbai Police after a "hoax call" was made last evening claiming that bombs have been placed at 4 locations across Mumbai. https://opinionexpress.in/incentivising-domestic-telecom-gear-manufacturers India must follow an inclusive and strategic approach to protect its telecom ecosystem, without compromising on the growth of markets https://opinionexpress.in/the-academic-bank-of-credits ABC will promote quality, flexibility, access and equity to improve the higher education system https://opinionexpress.in/n-proliferation-and-regional-security As China seeks to find a ‘just’ world order based on its principles, its N-proliferation is to showcase its status as a supreme nuclear power https://opinionexpress.in/falling-apart The AIADMK today resembles a rudderless ship without an able captain to take on the DMK’s Stalin https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-turmoil India must stand with the world to ensure that peace returns to the violence-ravaged country https://opinionexpress.in/implications-of-the-emergency-extension Prolonging of Myanmar’s state of emergency until 2023, and it could be extended indefinitely, shows the junta’s miscalculations https://opinionexpress.in/biden-urges-unvaccinated-americans-to-get-a-jab US President Joe Biden has urged the unvaccinated Americans to get a jab sooner as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat to the country's economic recovery. https://opinionexpress.in/cambodia-lifts-travel-ban-on-travellers-from-india Cambodia has lifted a ban on travellers from India after the latter country has witnessed a decline in new Covid-19 cases, Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in a statement. https://opinionexpress.in/one-dead-over-40-injured-in-wildfires-near-athens A 38-year-old man assisting in dousing a raging wildfire in the north of Athens has died, while over 40 others have been injured as devastating fires have continued to spread across Greece. https://opinionexpress.in/samsungs-presence-in-middle-east-africa-phone-market-falls-in-q2 Samsung Electronics saw its market share decline in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) smartphone market in the second quarter of the year, a report has said, as Chinese brands expanded their presence. https://opinionexpress.in/battleground-mobile-india-coming-for-ios-users-soon-head After the successful launch of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) that surpassed 34 million registered users within a week after its release in the country, the game is all set to arrive on the Apple iOS platform soon, a top company executive said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympic-golf-narrow-miss-for-aditi-ashok-as-she-finishes-fourth There was heartbreak for Indian golfer Aditi Ashok as she narrowly missed the bronze medal in the women's individual strokeplay competition at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourth with an aggregate score of 15-under 269 on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/terrorist-killed-in-encounter-in-jks-budgam One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Mochwa area in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/light-rain-likely-in-delhi Delhi-NCR is likely to get some relief from sweltering heat and high humidity as the MeT has forecast possibility of rain and thundershowers in and around Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/mellow-d-roko-roko-is-about-the-struggle-of-a-broken-heart   https://opinionexpress.in/experimental-drug-to-prevent-covid-related-heart-damage-identified   https://opinionexpress.in/afghanistan-at-dangerous-turning-point-un-envoy   https://opinionexpress.in/us-may-see-deadly-variant-than-delta-as-cases-spike-fauci   https://opinionexpress.in/tokyo-olympics-bajrang-loses-semis-to-battle-for-bronze-now India's latest star wrestler Bajrang Punia https://opinionexpress.in/pm-names-khel-ratna-award-after-hockey-wizard-major-dhyan-chand   https://opinionexpress.in/threat-to-judges-chief-justice-says-cbi-ib-not-helping-judicial-officers   https://opinionexpress.in/encounter-breaks-out-in-jks-rajouri An encounter started on Friday between terrorists and security forces in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/1058-km-metro-network-under-construction-in-27-cities-union-minister-puri Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said 1,058 km of metro network is under construction in 27 cities to boost urban mobility across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-raises-retail-inflation-estimate-for-fy22-to-57 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the retail inflation projection for the ongoing financial year to 5.7 per cent from the previous estimate of 5.1 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-holds-singapores-emergency-arbitrator-award-against-frl-reliance-retail-deal-enforceable The Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favour of e-commerce giant Amazon by holding that Singapore's Emergency Arbitrator (EA) award, restraining the Rs 24,731 crore merger deal of Future Retail Ltd (FRL) with Reliance Retail, was valid and enforceable under Indian laws. https://opinionexpress.in/olympic-hockey-indian-women-go-down-4-3-to-great-britain-miss-bronze-medal There was no fairy-tale ending for the Indian women's hockey team as its dream of winning a bronze in their maiden entry into the medal round came crashing down in a 4-3 defeat to Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/wrestler-bajrang-punia-secures-semifinal-spot-with-stunning-win-over-iranian Top Indian grappler Bajrang Punia defeated Iran's Morteza Ghiasi by fall in the quarterfinal of the Tokyo Olympic Games men's 65kg event to secure a last-four berth at the Makuhari Messe Hall on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/growth-chasing-rbi-retains-rates-accommodative-stance To continue with its growth supporting stance, the Reserve Bank of India retained its key short-term lending rates during the third monetary policy review of FY22. https://opinionexpress.in/current-team-is-probably-best-ever-indian-team-gavaskar   https://opinionexpress.in/byjus-to-acquire-e-learning-platform-vedantu-for-600-700-mn   https://opinionexpress.in/brave-india-miss-bronze-medal-after-4-3-defeat-to-great-britain   https://opinionexpress.in/arbitral-tribunal-not-a-court-of-law-rules-sc   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-introduces-bill-to-nullify-contentious-retrospective-taxation   https://opinionexpress.in/a-year-on-whats-sushant-death-probe-status-maha-cong-to-cbi   https://opinionexpress.in/coach-graham-reid-mentality-fitness-played-key-role-in-indias-success   https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-row-sc-pulls-up-lawyer-says-no-notice-for-modi-shah The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up advocate M.L. Sharma for making Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as respondents in his petition seeking a court monitored SIT probe into the Pegasus snooping issue. https://opinionexpress.in/overwhelmed-by-bigg-boss-season-3-malayalam-win-manikuttan   https://opinionexpress.in/ed-searches-5-locations-in-3-states-in-pmla-probe The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out searches at several locations in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad and Rajasthan's Jaipur in connection with its probe into the money laundering charges for transmitting fake pop-ups to the victims' personal computers with warnings or bogus messages about serious technical problems including malware infections. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-deputy-chairman-says-suspended-trinamool-mp-broke-glass-door After the Rajya Sabha proceedings started on Thursday, Deputy Chairman Harivansh said that an unfortunate incident had happened in the House when a suspended Trinamool MP broke the glass of a door and had a scuffle with the Parliament staff, who has lodged a complaint. https://opinionexpress.in/nadda-to-meet-bjp-mps-from-rajasthan-today BJP chief J.P. Nadda on Thursday evening will review the functioning of party's Rajasthan unit with members of Parliament (MPs) from the state. All the BJP MPs from both the houses of parliament will attend the dinner meeting here. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-us-shot-putter-ryan-crouser-wins-mens-gold World record holder Ryan Crouser of the United States claimed the men's shot put title at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/bidens-approval-ratings-on-covid-19-economy-fall-survey US President Joe Biden's approval ratings on how he has handled the Covid-19 pandemic and the economy have plunged, according to a new survey. https://opinionexpress.in/pause-booster-dose-till-september-who-to-rich-countries The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked rich countries to pause the roll out of booster vaccines against Covid-19 till the end of September, to help poorer nations get doses. https://opinionexpress.in/fearless-neha-bhasin-on-why-she-wanted-to-do-bigg-boss-ott , Aug 5 (IANS) Known for belting out hits such as 'Jag ghoomeya', 'Swag se swagat' and 'Dhunki' among many others, singer Neha Bhasin, who is the first confirmed contestant of 'Bigg Boss OTT', has talked about why she has taken part in the 15th season of the controversial reality show. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-issues-notices-to-flipkart-its-founders-in-forex-violation-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued notices to Flipkart, its founders and nine others in connection with foreign exchange violation case, officials said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/over-42k-covid-cases-533-deaths-in-24-hrs-in-india India on Thursday reported 42,982 fresh cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. A total of 533 persons also succumbed to the corona infection in the same time span, said the bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-gives-up-gains-after-touching-new-high The key Indian equity indices gave up gains on Thursday after touching record highs during the initial trade. https://opinionexpress.in/prashant-kishor-resigns-as-punjab-cms-principal-advisor Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Thursday resigned as Principal Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, saying "he's resigning in view of his decision to take a temporary break from public life". https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-wrestler-vinesh-phogat-loses-in-quarterfinals Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat lost the quarterfinal bout of the women's freestyle 53kg category to Vanesa Kaladzinskay of Belarus by fall at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympic-hockey-india-overcome-germany-5-4-to-win-bronze-a-medal-after-41-years India fought back brilliantly from a two-goal deficit to beat Germany 5-4 in a high-intensity goal-fest to win bronze, the country's first medal in men's hockey at the Olympics after a gap of 41 years. https://opinionexpress.in/discordant-notes-a-definitive-work-on-supreme-courts-dissenting-judgments   https://opinionexpress.in/indian-researchers-work-on-producing-hydrogen-from-water-using-magnets   https://opinionexpress.in/from-sonipat-to-tokyo-wrestler-ravi-dahiyas-road-t-o-the-olympics-final ravi dhaiya https://opinionexpress.in/shefali-jariwala-on-scenario-of-event-industry-due-to-pandemic   https://opinionexpress.in/cvc-recommends-disciplinary-action-against-ex-cbi-boss-alok-verma-sources   https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-congratulates-lovlina-on-winning-bronze-medal Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday congratulated Boxer Lovlina Borgohain for winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. https://opinionexpress.in/vodafone-idea-shares-continue-to-tumble-plunge-17 Vodafone Idea shares continued to fall on Wednesday as Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla offered to hand over his stake in the debt-ridden company to government entities in a bid to keep the company operational. https://opinionexpress.in/29-cabinet-ministers-to-take-oath-in-ktaka-today Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that 29 cabinet ministers will take oath in the Glass House of Raj Bhavan on Wednesday afternoon. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-chairman-allows-discussion-on-farm-laws-but-stalemate-continues Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday allowed discussion on farm laws, but not under the rules as demanded by the opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/camila-cabellos-cinderella-is-a-feminist-re-telling-of-a-classic The trailer of actress Camila Cabello's upcoming film "Cinderella" was released on Tuesday. As opposed to the story in the fairytale told about a damsel in distress, this version has a contemporary twist with the protagonist aiming to be independent and ambitious. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-to-table-air-quality-management-in-ncr-bill-in-ls-today Despite continuous protests and disruptions by the Opposition members on various issues like inflation, snooping and farm laws, the Government is set to introduce the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR region Bill, 2021 on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-boxer-lovlina-borgohain-bags-bronze-medal-after-losing-in-semis Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has taken the bronze medal in women's welterweight category at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/yo-yo-honey-singhs-wife-accuses-him-of-domestic-violence-sex-with-multiple-women Shalini Talwar, the wife of rapper and music composer Hirdesh Singh, popularly known as Yo Yo Honey Singh, filed a case of domestic violence against him at the Tis Hazari courts here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-surges-400-points-hits-54000-for-first-time The key Indian equity indices surged on Wednesday morning with the BSE Sensex crossing the 54,000-mark for the first time ever. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-cabinet-approves-continuation-of-free-wi-fi-services The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved the continuation of the free Wi-Fi scheme in the national capital, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/high-command-taking-last-minute-call-on-cabinet-bommai Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that the BJP high command is taking decisions on a few issues regarding the cabinet formation. https://opinionexpress.in/olympic-swim-stars-enter-quarantine-on-return-to-australia Australia's star Olympic swimmers have returned home after winning nine gold medals in the pool in Tokyo. https://opinionexpress.in/india-sees-jump-in-covid-infections-logs-42625-cases-in-a-day India on Wednesday took a high jump in daily Covid infections and reported 42,625 new cases across the nation in 24 hours. A total of 562 deaths were reported in the same span of time, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/javelin-thrower-neeraj-chopra-tops-qualification-with-8665m-effort Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra raised India's hopes of a track and field medal when he qualified for the final at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday, sealing a top place from his group, and finishing ahead of Germany's Johannes Vetter, who is the favourite for gold at the quadrennial showpiece. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-wrestlers-ravi-dahiya-deepak-punia-secure-semifinal-berths Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya (57kg) and Deepak Punia (86kg) enjoyed fruitful outings at the Tokyo Olympic Games as they secured semifinal berths in their respective weight categories at the Makuhari Messe on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cabinet-expansion-cm-bommai-to-get-green-signal-from-bjp-high-command-today Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that the discussion on cabinet formation has reached the final stages and he will get a green signal from the BJP high command on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cbdt-extends-due-dates-for-electronic-filing-of-various-forms   https://opinionexpress.in/cm-bommai-to-get-green-signal-from-bjp-high-command-for-the-cabinet-formation   https://opinionexpress.in/hc-issues-notice-to-yediyurappa-in-corruption-case   https://opinionexpress.in/next-gen-controlling-family-business-of-kashmir-narrative-report   https://opinionexpress.in/pio-girls-in-johns-hopkins-worlds-brightest-list   https://opinionexpress.in/pak-clarifies-is-remarks-by-fm-qureshi   https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-records-no-death-51-new-covid-cases-in-24-hrs Delhi reported 51 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours and no death has been recorded in the same time span. This is the third time in the last 15 days that the city has registered zero death from coronavirus, health officials said here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/thirty-years-later-reform-yet-to-happen Liberalisation was not voluntary but was egged on by global lenders who would not lend without a firm Indian commitment on ‘reforms’ https://opinionexpress.in/education-is-next-calamity-in-making The current learning gap and reduced social skills can lead to a widening knowledge gap https://opinionexpress.in/power-reforms-a-distant-dream Unshackling of discoms will take away the leverage parties enjoy to serve their populist goal of giving cheap/free power to people at election time https://opinionexpress.in/the-kerala-crisis After the distinction of being the first COVID-free State, Kerala is now caught deep in the quagmire https://opinionexpress.in/power-play Ignoring Indian protests, Pakistan is trying to legitimise its occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan https://opinionexpress.in/politics-and-the-military-dont-gel It would be in the interest of the political establishment to desist from politicising the military, lest it creates an uncontrollable monster https://opinionexpress.in/oppn-insulting-parliament-constitution-by-disrupting-it-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that opposition parties are insulting parliament and the constitution by disrupting it. https://opinionexpress.in/army-helicopter-crashes-in-ranjit-sagar-dam-pathankot-ssp An Army helicopter crashed in Ranjit Sagar Dam on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent of Police of Pathankot in Punjab Surendra Lamba said. https://opinionexpress.in/cbse-class-10-results-declared The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced class 10 results on Tuesday, according to officials. https://opinionexpress.in/we-will-see-sc-on-plea-challenging-rakesh-asthanas-appointment A contempt petition has been moved in the Supreme Court making Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the Ministry of Home Affairs as respondents, while challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner. https://opinionexpress.in/show-of-unity-by-oppn-at-rahul-gandhis-breakfast-meet In a show of unity, 15 opposition parties attended the breakfast meeting hosted by Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday at Constitution Club. They discussed the current political situation after the Pegasus snooping project was revealed. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-intends-to-get-tribunals-reforms-bill-2021-passed-in-ls The government intends to get the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2021 passed in the lower house despite continuous disruptions by the opposition parties. https://opinionexpress.in/india-sees-dip-in-covid-infections-logs-30549-new-cases India on Tuesday reported decline in new daily Covid-19 cases. In the last 24 hours, a total of 30,548 fresh Covid-19 cases with 422 deaths were registered across the nation, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/cbse-class-10-results-to-be-declared-at-12-noon The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will announce class 10 results on Tuesday, according to officials. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-hit-new-record-highs The key Indian equity indices touched fresh all-time high levels on Tuesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-terrorist-killed-in-kashmir-encounter One Pakistani terrorist was killed in a gunfight between the terrorists and security forces in the Chandaji area of Bandipora district in Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-javelin-thrower-annu-rani-finishes-14th-in-her-group-fails-to-advance Indian women's javelin thrower Annu Rani finished a dismal 14th with a best of 54.04 metres in her group, which was not enough to secure her a place in the top-12 across two groups. https://opinionexpress.in/india-lose-to-belgium-2-5-in-mens-hockey-semis-in-olympics India's brilliant run in the Tokyo Olympics men's hockey tournament came to an end with a 2-5 defeat to world champions Belgium in the semifinals here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-airstrikes-hit-taliban-in-helmand-40-killed   https://opinionexpress.in/several-nris-foreign-firms-being-probed-in-fertiliser-scam-case-govt   https://opinionexpress.in/covaxin-effective-against-delta-plus-variant-icmr   https://opinionexpress.in/kumar-birla-ready-to-give-up-vodafone-idea-stake-to-govt-entity   https://opinionexpress.in/covid-shadow-auto-expo-2022-postponed The prevailing threat of a third Covid wave has led to postponement of Auto Expo 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/after-zomato-softbank-backed-policybazaar-to-keep-market-pulse-racing-with-its-ipo Online insurance marketplace Policybazaar has filed a draft red herring prospectus with the Securities Exchange Board of India for an initial public offering to raise Rs 6,017.50 crore from the market. https://opinionexpress.in/kia-launches-1st-all-electric-ev-sedan-starts-from-40k Kia, South Korea's second-biggest carmaker, on Monday launched an all-electric EV6 sedan in the domestic market ahead of its overseas launches later this year. https://opinionexpress.in/growth-rebound-indias-july-manufacturing-output-zooms-says-pmi India's manufacturing sector output accelerated to the strongest growth rate in three months during July. https://opinionexpress.in/rain-wipes-out-third-west-indies-pak-t20i-visitors-lead-series-1-0 Heavy rain played spoilsport in the third T20I between West Indies and Pakistan, leaving the hosts needing a victory in the final match of the series to draw the campaign. https://opinionexpress.in/vaani-kapoor-says-decision-to-work-with-akshay-kumar-was-a-no-brainer Vaani Kapoor is thrilled that she got the opportunity to work opposite Akshay Kumar in the upcoming film 'Bell Bottom', a film in which she has a small but impactful role. https://opinionexpress.in/4-suspected-drones-spotted-in-jks-samba-district Four flying objects suspected to be drones were spotted in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district, said police. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-issues-notice-to-statesuts-on-scrapped-section-66a-of-it-act The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to all state governments and union territories (UTs) on a plea complaining that people were being booked under Section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, which has been quashed by the top court. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-aishwary-sanjeev-fail-to-reach-50m-rifle-3-positions-final Indian rifle shooting duo of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sanjeev Rajput failed to reach the final of the mens 50m rifle 3 positions at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-uses-hit-and-run-policy-is-champion-of-commotion The party is trying to ‘hijack’ the positive thinking of those Opposition parties who are in favour of discussion and smooth functioning of Parliament https://opinionexpress.in/nauru-seabed-setback We may end up having to do deep-sea mining but still have to weigh the environmental costs https://opinionexpress.in/post-ipo-performance-amid-retail-investor-rush It is no exaggeration that most investment decisions were influenced by the recent rally in the stock market, not by the fundamentals of companies https://opinionexpress.in/adieu-babul-style The former Minister is upset after being ousted from the Modi Cabinet in the recent reshuffle https://opinionexpress.in/a-new-beginning The AICTE plans to do away with mandatory maths and physics for the engineering exam https://opinionexpress.in/india-the-country-of-all-seasons Predicting the timing and adequacy of monsoonal rain poses a challenge. The British had realised that the subcontinent must be seen as a living whole https://opinionexpress.in/41134-new-covid-cases-424-deaths-in-india-in-24-hrs India on Monday reported 41,134 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours with 424 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/positive-global-cues-hopes-of-healthy-q1-lift-indices Positive global cues from Asian indices along with domestic hopes of more healthy quarterly results lifted India's equity markets during the morning trade session on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-dutee-clocks-2385-sec-finishes-38th-out-of-41-athletes-in-200m India's top woman sprinter Dutee Chand failed to advance in 200 metres, finishing last in her heat at the Tokyo Olympics, clocking 23.85 seconds to ends seventh. Her personal best in 200m is 23.00 seconds, set at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-shuttler-chen-yufei-wins-olympic-womens-singles-gold China's top seed Chen Yufei defeated Chinese Taipei's world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying 2-1 in the badminton women's singles final at the Tokyo Olympics here. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cabinet-expansion-cm-bommai-to-meet-nadda-in-delhi Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is likely to get consent for cabinet expansion after meeting the party Chief J.P. Nadda on Monday. Bommai is scheduled to meet Nadda in the first half of the morning hours. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-hockey-indian-women-make-historic-entry-into-semifinals Taking inspiration from the men's team that got into the medal rounds after a gap of four decades, Indian women's hockey scripted a historic moment of their own by making their maiden entry into the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-entry-into-olympic-semifinals-after-49-years-makes-fans-fall-in-love-with-hockey-again Millions of Indians fell in love with hockey once again and social media went into a frenzy after the national team made its first Olympic semifinal in 49 years. https://opinionexpress.in/sindhu-beats-bingjao-to-win-bronze-in-womens-singles   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-crackdown-on-erring-insolvency-professionals  IBC https://opinionexpress.in/malaikas-dripping-gold Our answer to JLo... Malaika Arora, but don't take our word for it, check out her latest photoshoot which is proof enough! https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-will-return-to-power-in-up-with-massive-majority-shah Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the BJP would return to power with a massive majority in the next assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and asked the opposition leaders to prepare for their defeat. https://opinionexpress.in/poco-f3-gt-looks-like-an-all-rounder-in-crowded-mid-segment Aiming to offer top-notch devices for the users in the super-crowded mid-premium price segment in India, smartphone brand POCO has unveiled another device -- POCO F3 GT -- that features the latest 6nm Dimensity 1200 chipset for top-end performance. https://opinionexpress.in/wait-for-tesla-gets-longer-in-india-as-high-import-duty-hits-musk As the rich and famous brigade in India await the arrival of Tesla cars, the wait has just got longer owing to the import duty tussle between Elon Musk and the Indian government -- an issue that has kept away the most coveted electric car from entering the country for years. https://opinionexpress.in/rajpal-yadav-reveals-what-he-does-to-avoid-getting-typecast Rajpal Yadav, who has been in the film industry for 24 years, says he is happy with what he has achieved till date. However, the talented actor, who is mostly known for his comic roles, says he has broken stereotypes and tried to avoid getting typecast. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-to-grill-raj-singh-gehlot-on-how-jk-bank-settled-amount-of-rs-289-cr-at-rs-128-cr Raj Singh Gehlot, Chairman of the Ambience Group of Companies who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week and sent to ED custody for seven days, will be questioned about how money was routed to different companies and how he made the J&K Bank settle for Rs 128 crore in place of Rs 289.08 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/himachal-cm-deploys-his-chopper-for-evacuation Setting an example, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur deployed his newly acquired 16-seater chopper for ferrying at least 66 people stranded in the Himalayan heights. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-dressel-wins-fourth-personal-gold-in-mens-50m-freestyle Caeleb Dressel of the United States won his fourth gold at the Tokyo Olympics triumphing in the men's 50m freestyle here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/fans-divided-over-simone-biles-withdrawal-from-floor-exercise-final The withdrawal of Simone Biles from the floor exercise final in women's artistic gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics has caused some anger amongst the fans on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-satish-bows-out-in-quarterfinals-as-indias-challenge-in-mens-boxing-ends Indian boxer Satish Kumar lost to world No. 1 Bakhodir Jalolov of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals of the men's super-heavyweight boxing at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. Satish put up a brave front but lost the bout by a unanimous decision. https://opinionexpress.in/american-investors-rethink-china-after-crackdown-led-to-losses-of-400-bn   https://opinionexpress.in/tension-in-assam-mizoram-border-security-forces-on-alert   https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-sindhu-fails-to-tai-tzu-ying-in-semis   https://opinionexpress.in/babul-supriyo-announces-to-quit-politics   https://opinionexpress.in/top-pak-militant-killed-is-jaish-chiefs-kin-a-pulawama-conspirator A top Pakistani terrorist commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and a relative of JeM chief Masood Azhar was one of the terrorists killed in an early morning encounter between militants and security forces in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/singer-neha-bhasin-first-confirmed-bigg-boss-ott-contestant Singer Neha Bhasin has been named as the first confirmed contestant of the new season of the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss OTT'. https://opinionexpress.in/nina-christen-wins-gold-as-anjum-tejaswini-fail-to-reach-50m-rifle-3-positions-final Nina Christen of Switzerland won her maiden Olympic Games gold with a victory in women's 50m rifle 3 positions here on Saturday. Taking a 10m air rifle bronze a week ago, the 27-year-old set an Olympic record of 463.9 points for the gold, improving the previous mark held by German Barbara Engleder by 5.3 points. https://opinionexpress.in/pankaj-tripathi-on-being-called-uncrowned-king-of-ott The growing popularity of the OTT space has helped in bringing talented actors to the forefront and one such name is Pankaj Tripathi, who has amassed a big fan following with his portrayal of Kaleen Bhaiya from 'Mirzapur' and Guruji from 'Sacred Games'. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cabinet-expansion-uneasy-calm-prevails-among-bjp-leaders Uneasy calm prevails in the BJP Karnataka state unit leaders camp as they have got the news that the party is keen on replacing the elderly leaders with new faces, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-over-41k-covid-cases-593-deaths-in-a-day India recorded 41,649 fresh Covid-19 cases with 593 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-china-militaries-hold-talks-to-resolve-border-dispute The twelfth round of top commanders-level talks between India and China are underway at Moldo on the Chinese side in the Ladakh region on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-squashes-bezos-protest-against-nasa-spacex-29-bn-contract The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has squashed Jeff Bezos-run Blue Origin's challenge to space agency NASA for picking Elon Musk-owned SpaceX for its prestigious $2.9 billion Moon lander programme. https://opinionexpress.in/rohit-shetty-ready-to-defy-gravity-all-over-again He has redefined high-octane action entertainers with his death-defying stunts, power-packed performances and sprinkle of laughter with witty lines. Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who has given a new meaning to action cinema agrees that the genre in Hindi cinema has immensely evolved. https://opinionexpress.in/hina-khan-learnt-to-ride-a-bike-for-her-role-in-lines Actress Hina Khan, whose film "Lines" recently released on an OTT platform, had to shoot scenes involving bike rides for which she learnt how to ride a bike in order to ace the part. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-india-women-beat-south-africa-keep-qf-hopes-alive Forward Vandana Katariya scored a hat-trick as the Indian women's hockey team struggled to put it across South Africa 4-3 in their final Group A match in the Tokyo Olympics women's hockey competition, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. https://opinionexpress.in/himachal-landslides-2-bro-officers-lose-lives-in-rescue-ops Two Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officers lost their lives during rescue and relief operations in Himachal Pradesh, which is witnessing flash floods and landslides due to heavy rainfall. https://opinionexpress.in/spicejet-to-launch-16-new-flights-from-august Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet will launch 16 new flights from August. https://opinionexpress.in/2-terrorists-killed-in-kashmir Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday in the Nagberan-Tarsar forest area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/maoists-attack-bihar-railway-station-take-official-hostage A group of armed Maoists attacked a Bihar railway station on the Patna-Kolkata route on Saturday morning and held the station master captive for around half-an-hour. The insurgents also threatened to explode the station building. https://opinionexpress.in/simone-biles-pulls-out-of-vault-and-uneven-bars-finals-at-olympics Star American gymnast Simone Biles has opted out of the vault and uneven bars finals in artistic gymnastics to be held on Sunday at the Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old is still not ready to compete as she is dealing with 'the twisties', as per her Instagram stories on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-nigerian-sprinter-suspended-for-doping-before-womens-100m-semifinal Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare has been banned from the women's 100m semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics after an out-of-competition doping test returned a positive result. https://opinionexpress.in/britain-wins-mixed-4x100m-medley-relay-at-olympics-breaks-world-record Britain won their second swimming team gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay at the Tokyo Olympic Games in a world record time here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-atanu-das-crashes-out-as-archery-campaign-ends-on-disappointing-note Atanu Das failed to keep his nerve when it mattered most after making a good comeback against Japan's Takaharu Furukawa, losing the Men's Individual Round-of-16 Elimination duel 6-4 at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-kamalpreet-comes-up-with-scintillating-throw-qualifies-for-discus-final Patiala-born 25-year-old Indian discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur came up with a scintillating performance to secure her place in the final at the Tokyo Olympic Games even as the more experienced and Asian Games gold medallist Seema Punia bowed out with a 16th-place finish in the qualifying stages on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-boxer-amit-panghal-crashes-out-of-tokyo-olympics Boxer Amit Panghal, the world No. 1 in men's 52kg, crashed out of the Tokyo Olympics, losing to Yuberjen Herney Martinez Rivas of Colombia in a Round-of-16 bout on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-refutes-claim-that-he-tried-to-replace-cook-as-apple-ceo   https://opinionexpress.in/war-has-changed-5-highlights-from-leaked-cdc-docs-on-delta-variant   https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lanka-cricket-tour-a-waste-for-india   https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-sindhu-storms-into-womens-badminton-semi-finals   https://opinionexpress.in/raj-singh-gehlot-diverted-rs-469cr-of-loan-amount-to-entities-individuals   https://opinionexpress.in/cbse-12th-result-2021-declared CBSE Class 12 result 2021: CBSE class 12 Results 2021 are declared on the official website of the board. Students awaiting the declaration of the CBSE 12th Results 2021 can visit the official website of the board to check the results. As per the information provided, the CBSE 12th Results are announced.  https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-kumars-bell-bottom-to-release-on-aug-19 The Akshay Kumar-starrer spy thriller "Bell Bottom" will now have a theatrical release on August 19. https://opinionexpress.in/manu-bhaker-rahi-sarnobat-fail-to-make-it-to-25m-pistol-finals India's Manu Bhaker and experienced Rahi Sarnobat bowed out of the Tokyo Olympic Games 25m pistol final on Friday after finishing 15th and 32nd respectively following two days of qualification at the Asaka Shooting Range here. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-seeks-report-over-alleged-killing-of-jharkhand-judge-in-a-week The Supreme Court on Friday took suo motu cognisance of the alleged mowing down of Dhanbad Additional District Judge (ADJ) Uttam Anand, by an auto-rickshaw and sought a status report of investigation from the Jharkhand government through chief secretary and DGP within a week. https://opinionexpress.in/to-clear-debts-axis-bank-manager-loots-icici-branch-kills-officer In a shocking incident, an Axis Bank Branch Manager allegedly committed an unsuccessful heist on the ICICI Bank and stabbed a deputy branch head there to death, police said here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/water-level-in-yamuna-reaches-close-to-danger-mark-delhi-govt The Delhi government on Friday warned that the water level of the Yamuna river has reached closer to the 'danger mark'. https://opinionexpress.in/archery-deepika-kumari-loses-in-quarterfinals-out-of-tokyo-olympics India's Deepika Kumari lost her quarterfinal match in the women's individual event to top seed An San of South Korea at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/the-green-gold-to-enrich-sugarcane-value-chain Ethanol has a much shorter revenue cycle that can help the beleaguered sugar mills to pay farmers early and reduce the arrears burden https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-tie-up-use-quad-to-the-best Quad is moving towards technology, climate change and health partnerships https://opinionexpress.in/does-indias-population-need-controlling The fear of ‘population explosion’ in India is a matter of pure fantasy. The total fertility rate is about 2.24 and may slip to 1.93 by 2025 https://opinionexpress.in/khela-hobe Didi is trying to bring the Opposition together against the BJP Govt at the national level https://opinionexpress.in/nine-thirsty The minimum drinking age is an issue plaguing the State Governments for a long time now https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-get-a-taste-of-sour-pak-soup The US may also turn more cavalier in criticising Pakistan as it would no longer depend on Islamabad to sustain its presence in Afghanistan https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-new-44k-covid-cases-in-24-hours India recorded 44,230 fresh Covid-19 cases with 555 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/cases-of-covid-rising-in-kerala-worrying-rahul In view of the increasing numbers of Covid in Kerala, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the rising cases in the state are worrying and appealed to people to follow all safety measures. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-agrees-to-hear-pegasus-snooping-plea-next-week The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea by veteran journalists N. Ram and Sashi Kumar seeking a direction for an independent probe by its sitting or retired judge into the alleged Pegasus snooping scandal. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-in-advanced-talks-to-invest-in-oyo-report Satya Nadella-run Microsoft is in advanced talks to invest in Airbnb-backed Indian budget hotel chain OYO at a valuation of $9 billion, the media reported on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/radhe-shyam-to-release-on-january-14-2022 Prabhas starrer period romantic drama "Radhe Shyam" will hit the big screen on January 14, next year. https://opinionexpress.in/sable-sets-national-record-misses-final-in-3000m-steeplechase India's Avinash Sable set a new national record in men's 3000m steeplechase heats but could not manage to reach the final as the Tokyo Olympics athletics programme started on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-archery-deepika-kumari-through-to-quarterfinals Deepika Kumari, India's lone contender in women's archery, kept alive her hopes of a medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games by reaching the quarterfinals in women's individual event on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-boxer-lovlina-in-semis-assures-india-a-medal Boxer Lovlina Borgohain assured India a medal in women's welterweight (69 kg) by reaching the semifinals, beating Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei in a quarterfinal bout at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-in-delhi-to-meet-modi-bjp-leaders Newly appointed Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai arrived in the national capital on Friday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party central leadership to discuss cabinet expansion. https://opinionexpress.in/up-bjp-to-felicitate-panchayat-winners The Uttar Pradesh BJP will felicitate those who have won in the recent panchayat elections in the presence of BJP President J.P. Nadda, who is scheduled to visit Lucknow on August 7 and 8. https://opinionexpress.in/digital-currency-vs-crypto-currency Another great disruption in the monetary world. https://opinionexpress.in/cbse-to-announce-class-12-results-today The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will announce results for class 12 on Friday, according to officials. https://opinionexpress.in/sofia-hayat-says-many-bwood-aspirants-tricked-into-doing-porn   https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-lovlina-in-semis-assures-india-a-medal-in-boxing-at-tokyo   https://opinionexpress.in/india-us-sponsoring-forum-to-boost-indo-pacific-business-cooperation   https://opinionexpress.in/hockey-rankings-indian-men-rise-to-3rd-spot-women-slip-to-12th   https://opinionexpress.in/israel-inspects-nso-group-offices-after-pegasus-revelations   https://opinionexpress.in/pandemic-pushes-digital-payments-rbi-index-up-30 The Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions associated with it has pushed up digital transactions in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-manu-fifth-rahi-25th-after-1st-qualification-round-in-25m-pistol Manu Bhaker came up with a better performance as she was placed fifth while Rahi Sarnobat, who won gold medal in a World Cup event in Croatia just before the Olympics, was languishing at 25th spot after the precision round in the women's 25m pistol competition on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/aditya-roy-kapur-to-star-in-hindi-remake-of-tamil-hit-thadam Aditya Roy Kapur has been roped in to star in the Hindi remake of the Tamil hit film 'Thadam'. He says as an actor, getting a chance to do a double role is double the preparation and challenge. https://opinionexpress.in/cloudburst-in-j-k-village-search-on-for-survivors Rescue operations were underway on Thursday to trace 20 people missing after a cloudburst hit https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-43k-new-covid-cases-640-deaths India on Thursday recorded 43,509 fresh Covid-19 cases with 640 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-raj-singh-gehlot-owner-of-ambience-mall-in-bank-fraud-case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said that it has arrested Raj Singh Gehlot, owner of Ambience Mall in a bank fraud case. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-india-beat-argentina-3-1-in-mens-hockey-group-match-reach-quarters India scored twice in the last two minutes to beat Rio Olympics gold medallist Argentina 3-1 in a Group A preliminary league match at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. India have cemented their hold on the second spot with a match against hosts Japan to go. This win has assured India a place in the quarterfinals with the final Group match against Japan to go. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-atanu-das-stuns-korean-archer-to-reach-pre-quarters Dropped from the mixed team competition after a below-par performance in the ranking round, Indias Atanu Das came up with a brilliant performance, scoring well under pressure to stun South Koreas 2012 gold medallist Oh Jinhyek to reach the pre-quarterfinal stage in mens individual archery at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-pv-sindhu-storms-into-womens-singles-quarterfinals Midway through the first game against Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, coach Park Tae-sang told India's PV Sindhu that she was rushing with her defence and should be more patient. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-boxer-satish-kumar-reaches-quarterfinals-in-mens-super-heavyweight-category Indian boxer Satish Kumar advanced to the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics with a comprehensive win against Ricardo Brown of Jamaica in the mens super-heavyweight round of 16 bout on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/wont-discuss-cabinet-expansion-in-first-meet-says-bommai Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai on Thursday said that he won't discuss cabinet expansion with leaders in New Delhi in the first meeting. "I have sought appointments with central leaders and if it comes through I will leave for New Delhi on Friday," he said. https://opinionexpress.in/no-bail-for-raj-kundra-in-porn-case   https://opinionexpress.in/at-a-time-of-democratic-recession-us-india-must-stand-together-blinken   https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-banerjee-and-the-politics-of-commissions Before going to Delhi on Monday Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the setting up of a commission to inquire into phone hacking of various influential persons of the state. This is the 17th commission set up by Mamata Banerjee in her 10 years of reign as the Chief Minister of which only four commissions have submitted but none has been made public or tabled in the Assembly so far. https://opinionexpress.in/uma-bharti-visits-kalyan-singh-in-hospital Former Union minister and senior BJP leader, Uma Bharti, on Wednesday, called on former UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh who is in hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-adjourned-second-time-till-2-pm-over-snooping-scandal The opposition parties raised slogans in the Rajya Sabha on Pegasus row and forced two adjournments -- first till 12 noon and then till 2 p.m. on Wednesday. However the Deputy Chairman Harivansh continued with the question hour till 40 minutes when the House met at 12 noon and questions of Ministry of Housing, Civil Aviation and Social justice were taken. https://opinionexpress.in/simone-biles-withdraws-from-womens-all-around-final Simone Biles, the defending champion in all-around event of women's artistic gymnastics, has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympic Games competition to be held on Thursday "to focus on her mental health". https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-out-but-still-crucial-for-bjp-in-karnataka If the BJP high command handles him well, BSY, being a mass leader, could still mobilise the Lingayat vote for the party https://opinionexpress.in/the-global-minimum-tax Companies will have to pay a minimum tax regardless of the jurisdiction they operate from https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-conundrum-and-the-road-ahead The responses can range from total to moderate military support or maybe a combination of various strategies but India won’t certainly be indifferent https://opinionexpress.in/zapping-the-virus In what may be a breakthrough against Corona’s spread, a laser device will kill the virus in 50 msecs https://opinionexpress.in/upheaval India should wait and watch and resist global pressure to move into Afghanistan https://opinionexpress.in/when-politicos-pass-the-buck-to-military After decades-long wait, Modi 2.0 appointed Gen Rawat as the CDS in 2019 but the Defence Planning Committee fell short of groundwork https://opinionexpress.in/swara-on-her-next-mimamsa-its-a-thought-provoking-murder-mystery Actress Swara Bhaskar said that she will be next seen in a murder mystery titled "Mimamsa", which also features actor Bijendra Kala. https://opinionexpress.in/kathleen-ledecky-wins-gold-as-womens-1500m-freestyle-makes-olympic-debut After the ups and downs in the hours leading up to the event, Kathleen Ledecky of the United States became the first Olympic gold medallist in the women's 1500m freestyle after winning in a time of 15:37.34 here on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/rashami-desai-i-have-changed-as-a-person-after-bigg-boss Television actress Rashami Desai, who gained immense popularity after participating in the reality show "Bigg Boss 13" in 2019, says she has changed as a person after the show. https://opinionexpress.in/nadda-to-meet-up-party-mps-to-discuss-poll-preparedness BJP chief J.P. Nadda will meet party MPs from Uttar Pradesh to discuss preparedness for next year's assembly polls. BJP's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh will attend the meeting with the party chief. https://opinionexpress.in/assam-mizoram-border-clash-bandh-affects-normal-life-in-barak-valley Normal life in the three districts of Assam's Barak Valley was completely affected on Wednesday due to a 12-hour bandh called to protest the killing of seven people, including six policemen, in a recent inter-state border clash with Mizoram. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-closely-monitoring-situation-in-kishtwar-kargil-following-cloudbursts-pm-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the central government is closely monitoring the situation in Kishtwar and Kargil following cloudbursts. https://opinionexpress.in/smoking-gun-allegations-fly-as-coach-ronak-gets-trolled-over-manus-pistol-malfunction Manu Bhakar's gun malfunction during her 10m air pistol event at the Tokyo Olympics is fast becoming a big talking point on social media with allegations flying thick and fast and pistol coach Ronak Pandit getting trolled, even as the 15-member strong Indian contingent continues to fire blanks at the quadrennial showpiece. https://opinionexpress.in/ai-technologies-set-to-rewrite-the-future-of-real-estate-sector Technology-enabled real estate development is rewriting the future of the sector which has faced a huge downturn during the pandemic but is gradually showing slow but sure signs of recovery, leading industry experts said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/7-dead-27-missing-in-jks-kishtwar-cloudburst Seven people died, 12 were rescued while 27 went missing on Wednesday in flash floods triggered by cloudburst in Jammu and Kishtwar's Kishtwar district. https://opinionexpress.in/us-and-india-closely-coordinating-on-afghanistan The US and India are also closely coordinating on regional security issues, such as Afghanistan. https://opinionexpress.in/sindhu-makes-it-to-knockout-round-with-win-over-hong-kongs-cheung Rio Olympics silver-medallist in badminton, India's PV Sindhu entered the women's singles Round of 16 at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday, overcoming world No. 34 Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong 21-9, 21-16 in her final Group J tie. https://opinionexpress.in/over-43k-covid-cases-and-640-deaths-in-24-hrs-in-india India on Wednesday recorded 43,654 fresh cases of Covid-19 with 640 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/acts-of-vandalism-not-under-free-speech-sc-on-kerala-assembly-violence The Supreme Court on Wednesday said destruction of public property in the House cannot be equated with freedom of expression and immunity to legislators can't be extended as an immunity against criminal law. The top court dismissed Kerala government's plea seeking court's nod to withdraw cases against CPI(M) leaders, including education minister V. Sivankutty, for vandalism in the state Assembly in 2015, when the current ruling party was in opposition. https://opinionexpress.in/basavaraj-bommai-sworn-in-as-30th-chief-minister-of-karnataka Basavaraj Bommai, a senior BJP leader was sworn-in as the 30th Chief Minister of Karnataka by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at a function held in the Glass House of Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. Basavaraj Bommai took oath in the name of God. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-to-move-adjournment-motion-in-ls-over-snooping-scandal PEGASUS https://opinionexpress.in/rakesh-asthana-appointed-delhi-police-chief   https://opinionexpress.in/bommai-meets-governor-stakes-claim-to-form-government Basavaraj Bommai, who was unanimously elected the leader of the BJP legislature party, paving the way to become the new Karnataka Chief Minister, met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday night and claimed a stake to form the government. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-seeks-details-of-fir-banking-records-of-kundra-in-porn-case   https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-mulling-social-engineering-to-control-after-tremors-in-ktaka   https://opinionexpress.in/sidharth-shukla-shehnaaz-gill-approached-for-bigg-boss-ott Sidharth Shukla and Shehnaaz Gill won their fans' hearts with their performances on Bigg Boss 13. https://opinionexpress.in/rajnath-leaves-for-tajikistan-for-sco-meet-to-talk-on-defence-cooperation Defence Minister Rajnath Singh left for Tajikistan for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annul meet, where he is to appraise about measures needed to eradicate terrorism in the region. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-may-announce-ktaka-cm-candidate-in-2-days-sources After successfully unseating B.S. Yediyurappa from the post of the Karnataka Chief Minister, the high command is all set to take a call on appointing a successor. BJP party sources have said that a decision in this regard will be conveyed to the parliamentary board meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday in New Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/urvashi-rautela-i-have-learned-tamil-fluently Actress Urvashi Rautela is leaving no stones unturned for her Tamil debut film. She says she has even learned the language and shared that the yet-untitled movie will always hold a special place in her heart. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-has-failed-the-country-by-sowing-hatred-rahul A day after five Assam Police personnel were killed in violent clashes on the Assam and Mizoram border, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday condoled the deaths and took a swipe at Home Minister Amit Shah saying he has failed the country by sowing hatred and distrust into the lives of people. https://opinionexpress.in/aussie-swimmer-mckeown-breaks-olympic-record-to-win-womens-100m-backstroke Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown claimed the women's 100m backstroke gold in an Olympic record time of 57.47 seconds at the Tokyo Olympic Games here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/chunky-panday-im-proud-to-be-ananya-pandays-dad Actor Chunky Panday makes no bones about being known as actress Ananya Panday's father and says that he always wants to be known as that. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-court-declares-vijay-mallya-as-bankrupt A UK court on Monday declared fugitive Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, the chairman of now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, as "bankrupt". https://opinionexpress.in/india-outplay-spain-3-0-in-mens-hockey-match India recovered from their disastrous outing against world No. 1 Australia to defeat Spain 3-0 in a Group A league match at the Tokyo Olympics mens hockey tournament at the Oi Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/china-takes-mixed-air-pistol-gold-as-chaudhary-manu-pair-disappoints China withstood the challenge from ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) to win 10m air pistol mixed team gold 16-14 at the Tokyo Olympics here on Tuesday. Pang Wei and Jiang Ranxin shot 10.1 and 10.7 points respectively in the deciding round to clinch the second gold medal for the Chinese shooting team. https://opinionexpress.in/who-was-the-indian-client-in-pegasus-project-asks-chidambaram Amid controversy on the Pegasus snooping row, former Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday asked the government to reveal the name of the Indian client in NSO. https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-snooping-row-oppn-in-rs-to-stick-to-demand-for-probe The logjam over the Pegasus snooping row in the Rajya Sabha is likely to continue on Tuesday as the opposition is not relenting on the government offer. https://opinionexpress.in/at-29k-india-records-lowest-new-covid-cases-in-132-days India on Tuesday recorded 29,689 new Covid-19 cases, less than the 30,000-mark in 132 days, and 415 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappas-home-constituency-observes-shutdown-in-protest-over-resignation Residents of Shikaripura, outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa's home constituency, shut down all shops and commercial establishments on Monday as a mark of protest. https://opinionexpress.in/6-assam-policemen-killed-in-assam-mizoram-border-clashes At least six Assam police personnel were killed on Monday in the border troubles with Mizoram, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-nagal-goes-down-to-medvedev-in-straight-sets India's campaign in the Tokyo Olympics tennis competition came to an end when Sumit Nagal lost to world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in straight sets on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/tamannaah-bhatia-saw-a-lot-more-successful-films-in-south Actress Tamannaah Bhatia says she has seen a lot more successful films in the South. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-archery-india-lose-to-korea-in-straight-sets-crash-out-in-quarters South Korea thrashed India 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the men's archery event here at the Olympic Games. The defending champions won the first three sets to seal the match 6-0 at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field. https://opinionexpress.in/parliament-hails-olympic-silver-medallist-mirabai-chanu Both the Houses of Parliament on Monday congratulated Olympic silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. https://opinionexpress.in/moderate-tremors-felt-near-hyderabad A moderate earthquake with intensity of 4.0 on the Richter scale hit near Hyderabad early on Monday. There was no loss of life or property. https://opinionexpress.in/eijaz-khan-shares-key-to-successful-happy-relationship Actor Eijaz Khan, who found his ladylove Pavitra Punia in the 14th season of the controversial reality show "Bigg Boss", has shared the key to a successful relationship and it is hilarious. https://opinionexpress.in/bs-yediyurappa-says-will-resign-as-karnataka-chief-minister-ending-days-of-speculation BS Yediyurappa https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-restarts-model-s-deliveries-report After a weeklong hold, Tesla has restarted Model S deliveries, but the automaker never explained the reason behind the hold to customers buying the new electric vehicle. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-rankireddy-shetty-lose-to-indonesian-pair-in-mens-doubles India's Satwinsairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty went down after putting up a fight against world No.1 Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia in their second Group A match in the men's doubles badminton competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/tennis-naomi-barbora-breeze-into-third-round-at-olympics Home favourite Naomi Osaka and Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova were among the top seeds who won in straight sets on Monday as normalcy returned to the Olympic Games following the shock defeat of top seed Ashleigh Barty of Australia on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/swimming-australias-titmus-beats-wr-holder-ledecky-for-400m-freestyle-gold Australia's world champion Ariarne Titmus edged world record holder Kathleen Ledecky of the United States to claim gold in the women's 400m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympic Games here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-sharath-kamal-reaches-third-round-with-hard-fought-win India's Achanta Sharath Kamal reached the third round of the men's singles table tennis competition, fighting back from a game down to beat Tiago Apolonia of Portugal 4-2 in 49 minutes at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-bhavani-devis-campaign-ends-with-loss-in-second-round CA Bhavani Devi, the first Indian fencer to win a round at the Olympics, went out with her head held high as she fought well against France's Manon Brunet 7-15 in a Round of 32 match of the women's individual sabre competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-india-reach-quarterfinals-in-mens-team-archery The Indian men's archery team reached the quarterfinals beating Kazakhstan 6-2 at the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/will-neutralise-drones-uavs-near-installations-indian-navy The Indian Navy in Goa has warned against flying drones or unmanned UAVs near naval installations, stating that such devices would be "neutralised" and the operators would be prosecuted if they are flown within the three kms of the installations. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-clueless-on-how-to-handle-china-rahul Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the Narendra Modi government over reports of China's action in Demchok, saying the government is clueless on how to handle China and is ignoring their actions which will cause problems. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-not-seeking-information-on-snooping-as-it-was-aware-chidambaram Amid the Pegasus snooping row on politicians, journalists and others, former Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday alleged that the government was aware of the snooping https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-shooting-panwar-deepak-fail-to-qualify-for-air-rifle-final Indian rifle shooters Divyansh Singh Panwar and Deepak Kumar continued a disappointing run for shooters, failing to qualify for the final of the men's 10m air rifle event at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-cheers-for-india-olympic-team-in-mann-ki-baat A day after India won its first silver medal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the 'Victory Punch Campaign' has already begun on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/jlo-ben-affleck-make-relationship-official-seal-it-with-a-kiss Finally putting all rumours to rest, singer-actress Jennifer Lopez on her birthday has made her relationship with Hollywood star Ben Affleck official on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-over-39k-covid-cases-535-deaths-in-24-hours India on Sunday recorded 39,742 cases of Covid-19 and 535 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/armed-forces-increase-deployment-for-relief-ops-in-maha-ktaka-goa The Indian Armed Forces have increased deployment of more men and material on ground to carry out relief and rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, caused by incessant rains and consequent overflowing of riverbanks and dams. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-tennis-sania-ankita-knocked-out-in-the-first-round The Indian pair of Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina were knocked out in the first round of the women's doubles event at the Tokyo Olympics. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-spains-sara-sorribes-sends-world-no-1-ashleigh-barty-packing-in-opening-round Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain, ranked 48th in the world, caused the biggest upset in women's tennis at the Tokyo Olympic Games, defeating world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia 6-4, 6-3 on the Centre Court in Ariake Tennis Park, here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/ioa-seeks-relaxation-in-covid-tests-for-athletes-officials-returning-from-japan When Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu returns home from Japan on Monday, she will not be allowed to board her flight from Tokyo unless she carries her latest Covid-19 test (RT-PCR) report as a mandatory requirement for all travellers from Japan. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-swimming-tunisian-ahmed-hafnaoui-wins-mens-400m-freestyle-gold Ahmed Hafnaoui won Tunisia's first gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the men's swimming 400m freestyle here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/its-a-case-of-present-uncertain-for-yediyurappa-and-future-tense-for-bjp Monday happens to be the second anniversary of the BJP government in Karnataka. But instead of the air of exuberance associated with such occasions, a nervous tension smoulders beneath the surface. While the Covid pandemic has certainly put the lid on public celebrations and exuberance, it's a different story in Karnataka. https://opinionexpress.in/14k-whatsapp-government-users-targeted-in-2019-whatsapp-ceo   https://opinionexpress.in/im-not-involved-with-hotshots-claims-shilpa-shetty   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-declines-info-under-rti-on-elevation-of-top-court-lawyers-as-hc-judges   https://opinionexpress.in/nris-send-investment-proposals-to-yogi-govt   https://opinionexpress.in/trinamool-nominates-ex-prasar-bharati-ceo-jawhar-sircar-to-rs Rajya Sabha https://opinionexpress.in/rubina-dilaik-yoga-did-wonders-for-me   https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-archery-india-crash-out-in-mixed-team-quarterfinals The Indian mixed team in archery comprising Deepika Kumari and Pravin Jadhav crashed out in the quarterfinals, losing to South Korea 2-6. https://opinionexpress.in/mirabai-wins-silver-in-womens-49kg-weightlifting Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won India's first medal in the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, claiming silver in the women's 49kg weightlifting. https://opinionexpress.in/death-toll-from-rainstorms-in-chinas-henan-reaches-56 The death toll from the torrential rainstorms in China's Henan province had increased to 56, with five people reported missing, local authorities said. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-searches-at-multiple-locations-in-jk-in-arms-license-case Launching swift action, multiple teams of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried put searches at several locations in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with its probe into alleged illegal arms license case. https://opinionexpress.in/navys-rescue-ops-in-flood-hit-maha-ktaka-goa Indian Navy mobilised rescue effort on Saturday in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa's flood-hit areas to evacuation people trapped in these regions. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-hockey-need-to-tighten-game-says-reid-ahead-of-australia-match Indian men's hockey team chief coach, Graham Reid, was satisfied with his team getting its campaign off to a winning start against New Zealand but said they need to focus on tightening their game both in attack and defence. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-hockey-harmanpreet-brace-sreejesh-heroics-help-india-beat-new-zealand-3-2 Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh came up with some brilliant saves in the fourth quarter as India scraped through to a nervy 3-2 victory against New Zealand in a Group A encounter of the Tokyo Olympic men's hockey competition on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/saurabh-chaudhary-qualifies-for-the-final-of-10m-air-pistol India's ace 10m air pistol shooter Saurabh Chaudhary came up with superb marksmanship, topping the qualification round and lifting the gloom surrounding the contingent at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/govinda-opens-up-on-his-discomfort-during-romantic-scenes Actor Govinda, who will soon be seen the dance reality show "Dance Deewane", revealed that he was shy while enacting a romantic scene in his debut film "Ilzaam". https://opinionexpress.in/7-day-relief-no-revision-in-fuel-prices-in-a-week Oil marketing companies (OMC) continued to pause fuel price revision for seven consecutive days, the longest period in weeks, as the global development on oil production and rising US inventories softened crude and product rates. https://opinionexpress.in/army-soldier-killed-in-accidental-landmine-blast-in-jk An army soldier was killed in the Krishna Ghati sector of the line control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir when he stepped accidentally on a landmine. https://opinionexpress.in/karan-johar-turns-host-for-bigg-boss-ott Filmmaker Karan Johar has been roped in to host the upcoming controversial reality show "Bigg Boss OTT". https://opinionexpress.in/india-faces-most-difficult-challenge-by-following-lord-buddhas-path-pm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India has shown how it can face even the most difficult challenge by following the path of Lord Buddha. https://opinionexpress.in/2-militants-killed-in-kashmir-encounter Two unidentified terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces in Bandipore district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-to-examine-tighter-controls-on-export-of-spywares-like-pegasus   https://opinionexpress.in/quad-partnership-sets-the-tone-for-blinken-india-visit   https://opinionexpress.in/manpreet-singh-led-india-to-make-a-cautious-start-in-tokyo   https://opinionexpress.in/chinese-president-makes-surprise-visit-to-tibet   https://opinionexpress.in/cm-sidhu-bury-hatchet-reminiscence-old-times-hint-at-bigger-battles   https://opinionexpress.in/vodafone-idea-shares-dip-as-sc-dismisses-plea-on-correction-of-agr-calculation Shares of Vodafone Idea plunged over 7 per cent on Friday after the Supreme Court dismissed the plea by telecom operations to correct the alleged errors in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) calculation. https://opinionexpress.in/4-killed-10-injured-in-mumbai-house-collapse At least four persons were killed, and 10 others injured when a single-storey house crashed in Govandi suburb of northeast Mumbai, BMC Disaster Control said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/constantly-motivating-youngsters-the-duty-of-seniors-sreejesh Veteran Indian hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh says that it is the duty of the experienced players to make the juniors aware of the magnitude of the task at the Olympics, and that it's not enough to just represent the country. https://opinionexpress.in/deeply-distressed-by-the-course-of-events-in-house-venkaiah-naidu Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said he was "deeply distressed" by the happenings in the Rajya Sabha and added that the snatching and tearing of paper is a clear assault on democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/eijaz-khan-on-bigg-boss-going-digital-its-a-sensible-thing-to-do Actor Eijaz Khan, who is gearing up for the release of the second season of web-series "City Of Dreams", says it is sensible to stream the controversial reality show "Bigg Boss" on OTT. https://opinionexpress.in/jacqueline-flaunts-sexy-back Actress Jacqueline Fernandez set the mercury soaring with a glamorous picture flaunting her "sexy back" on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/deepika-qualifies-ninth-to-face-bhutanese-archer-in-first-elimination-round Ace Indian archer Deepika Kumari finished a creditable ninth after the women's individual ranking round, notching up a total of 663 points, on the opening day of the Tokyo Olympics at the Yumenoshima Ranking Field, the venue of the archery competitions, on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/instagram-tests-new-feature-to-curb-targeted-harassment With an aim to curb targeted harassment, Facebook-owned Instagram is now testing a new feature called "Limits". https://opinionexpress.in/markets-trade-in-green-healthy-response-to-zomatos-debut India's key equity indices made marginal gains during per-noon trade session on Thursday following supportive global cues. https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-row-rahul-demands-shahs-resignation-sc-probe-against-modi Upping the ante against the government, former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday described Pegasus as a weapon and demanded resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-35k-covid-cases-483-deaths India on Friday recorded 35,342 cases of Covid and 483 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/piyush-goyal-naqvi-meet-rs-chairman-over-paper-snatching-incident Leader of the House, Piyush Goyal, Deputy leader of the House Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan met the Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/kartik-aaryan-set-to-play-pilot-in-captain-india Actor Kartik Aaryan has been roped in to star in filmmaker Hansal Mehtas next titled "Captain India". https://opinionexpress.in/zomato-flies-on-market-debut-up-68-from-issue-price After a massive response to its IPO, online food delivery platform Zomato recorded a robust debut on the stock market on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/7-indian-navy-teams-start-flood-rescue-in-maharashtra The Western Naval Command, Mumbai has mobilised flood rescue teams and helicopters to provide assistance to the state for rescuing those marooned in flood-hit areas of Raigad and Ratnagiri, defence officials said here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-dismisses-telcos-plea-seeking-correction-in-agr-calculation In a big setback for telecom companies, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed their plea seeking correction of alleged errors in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) calculation. https://opinionexpress.in/ied-loaded-drone-shot-down-in-jk In a major anti-terror action, the Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday shot down a hexacopter carrying five kilo explosives in Akhnoor sector of Jammu, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/2-terrorists-killed-in-sopore-encounter Two terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security at Warpora area of Sopore in North Kashmir's Baramulla district, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ravi-kishan-to-introduce-pvt-member-bill-on-population-control-in-ls   https://opinionexpress.in/kl-meena-to-introduce-pvt-member-bill-for-uniform-civil-code-in-rs   https://opinionexpress.in/setting-up-central-varsity-part-of-ladakhs-unshackling-from-exploitation   https://opinionexpress.in/india-at-tokyo-olympics-huge-expectations-high-aspirations   https://opinionexpress.in/if-i-start-worrying-about-fame-ill-lose-myself-jasmin-bhasin   https://opinionexpress.in/plea-in-sc-seeks-court-monitored-sit-probe-into-pegasus-snooping-scandal   https://opinionexpress.in/judiciary-must-remain-free-from-political-pressures-cant-have-dual-system-sc   https://opinionexpress.in/arshi-khan-wants-to-add-wrestling-skills-from-the-great-khali   https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-reach-jantar-mantar-to-protest-against-farm-laws The farmers who are protesting since November last year over the new farm laws passed by the Centre arrived at Jantar Mantar on Thursday amid tight security to further intensity their agitation against the legislations. https://opinionexpress.in/universities-must-be-an-ideal-version-of-democracy-shashi-tharoor "In a democratic society, universities must evolve into spaces where an ideal version of democracy is allowed to thrive. In other words, our universities must become the staging grounds for experiments in developing the most principled version of our democratic ethos. And by extension, a microcosm of what our democratic society one day could be," said Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-adjourned-second-time-till-2-pm-after-oppn-protest The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned second time on Thursday till 2 p.m. after the opposition members demanded suspension of the Business to discuss Pegasus project, farmers protests and raids on media houses. https://opinionexpress.in/plea-in-sc-seeks-court-monitored-probe-into-snooping-scandal A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the Pegasus snooping scandal. The plea filed by advocate M.L. Sharma has claimed that the snooping scandal is an attack on the Indian democracy. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-protests-at-parliament-in-support-of-agitating-farmers Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday participated in a protest at the Parliament premises in support of farmers over their demand of repealing the three new farm laws. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-black-money-in-western-white-banks India's financial fraudsters find a safe haven for their loot and sanctuary for themselves in Britain as its regime skilfully breaks international laws  https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-tokyo-2020-games-set-to-begin-amid-lack-of-enthusiasm The Olympic Games, beginning on Friday, is the world's biggest sporting extravaganza but in the Japanese capital, which is the host city, there is clear lack of enthusiasm. https://opinionexpress.in/12-crew-rescued-as-steel-cargo-ship-mv-kanchan-sinks-off-gujarat-coast Twelve Indian crew stranded on cargo ship MV Kanchan were rescued just ahead of the vessel sinking off Umargam, Gujarat, said an official of Indian Coast Guard. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-to-resume-taking-bitcoin-payment-elon-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the company is "most likely" going to resume taking Bitcoin payment after some due diligence on the improvements in the energy mix used to mine the cryptocurrency. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-adjourned-till-12-amid-opposition-protests The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned after the opposition members demanded suspension of the Business to discuss Pegasus project, farmers protests and raids on media houses. https://opinionexpress.in/poonam-pandey-on-raj-kundra-he-leaked-my-number-with-the-message-ill-strip-for-you Actress-model Poonam Pandey claims businessman and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty Kundras husband Raj Kundra, upon a contractual disagreement in 2019, leaked her number along with a message that said "I will strip for you". https://opinionexpress.in/death-toll-from-heavy-rains-in-china-reaches-25 The death toll from torrential rains in central China's Henan province has increase to 25, while seven people remain missing, local authorities have confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-remain-unchanged-for-5th-day Oil marketing companies (OMC) continued the pause on fuel price revision for the fifth consecutive day, the longest period in weeks, as global development on oil production and rising US inventories softened crude and product prices. https://opinionexpress.in/tax-department-raids-multiple-premises-of-media-group-dainik-bhaskar The Income Tax Department on Thursday conducted raids against the media group Dainik Bhaskar in multiple cities over alleged tax evasion, official sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/neha-kakkar-never-a-bad-time-to-be-a-singer Neha Kakkar is fast emerging a one-woman industry of sorts, belting out hits with astonishing regularity and currently ruling the roost. She says it is never a bad time to be a singer in the industry. https://opinionexpress.in/manish-tewari-gives-adjournment-notice-to-discuss-pegasus-project Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari on Thursday gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss Pegasus project. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-zooms-over-500-points-nifty-above-15750 The key Indian equity indices surged on Thursday morning with the BSE Sensex gaining over 500 points. https://opinionexpress.in/multi-layer-security-at-jantar-mantar-in-view-of-farmers-protest Multi-layer security has been deployed around Jantar-Mantar, which is just a few metres away from Parliament and where farmers are scheduled to hold Kisan Sansad to protest against the three contentious farm laws. https://opinionexpress.in/pant-joins-indian-test-squad-after-recovering-from-covid-19 Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has joined the Indian Test team here after recovering from Covid-19 and completing isolation, the Indian cricket board has confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-41383-new-covid-cases-507-deaths India on Thursday recorded 41,383 cases of Covid and 507 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data showed. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-cm-on-exit-mode-cancels-dinner-party-for-legislators Amid talks of change of leadership in Karnataka, chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa has postponed the dinner party, to he held on July 25 for the party legislators and senior leaders. Earlier, he had also cancelled a BJP legislators meeting scheduled on the same day to celebrate the completion of two years in office. https://opinionexpress.in/rashami-desai-on-her-debut-ott-show-tandoor   https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-defence-ministry-to-investigate-nso-group   https://opinionexpress.in/india-successfully-flight-tests-new-generation-akash-missile   https://opinionexpress.in/indians-to-benefit-from-canadas-family-reunification-programme   https://opinionexpress.in/amid-standoff-with-punjab-cm-sidhu-shows-solidarity-strength   https://opinionexpress.in/byjus-acquires-us-based-epic-for-500mn-to-invest-1bn-in-us-1706   https://opinionexpress.in/tackling-indias-growing-population The Prime Minister should try to form a national policy on population and bring a consensus on the issue of managing its growth https://opinionexpress.in/afghanistan-after-the-fall Everybody in the Afghan national army already knows that the war is lost https://opinionexpress.in/is-honesty-alone-enough-for-officers The ‘honest-only' officers forget the fact that they are paid not merely to remain honest but to perform as well https://opinionexpress.in/the-fifth-coming Nepal’s new PM must work hard to repair ties with India and to regain his people’s trust https://opinionexpress.in/recklessness Owing to laxity by the States and citizens, the Supreme Court is forced to intervene https://opinionexpress.in/contouring-strategic-studies-in-our-country In this time and age, nobody can afford to be aloof from international politics. That’s why a closer strategic understanding through various tools is important https://opinionexpress.in/youtuber-puneet-kaur-says-raj-kundra-tried-to-contact-her-for-his-app YouTuber Puneet Kaur has opened up against arrested businessman Raj Kundra saying he had approached her via social media direct messaging for his mobile app, through which pornography content produced by him was reportedly published.  https://opinionexpress.in/instagram-testing-new-collab-feature-in-india Facebook-owned Instagram on Wednesday announced it is testing the ability for people to collaborate on Feed Posts and Reels called 'Collab' in India. https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-leaks-imran-khan-selected-as-person-of-interest-by-india-in-2019-says-report Imran Khan, Pakistan Prime Minister was selected as a person of interest by India in 2019, the leaked Pegasus database shows, as per The Guardian. https://opinionexpress.in/53-magnitude-quake-hits-bikaner An earthquake measuring 5.3 on Richter scale hit Rajasthan's Bikaner district on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-move-indian-marine-fishermen-bill-stalin-to-pm Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to move the Indian Marine Fishermen Bill, 2021 during the current session of the Parliament without addressing the concerns of the fisher folks. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-posts-video-of-training-for-tiger-3 Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has started preparing for "Tiger 3". A video of him pumping muscle has gone viral on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-price-cut-relief-may-come-soon-as-global-oil-softens Consumer's bearing the brunt of rising fuel prices for more than a couple of months may expect some relief over the next few days as Oil marketing companies (OMC) have begun evaluating the fall in global oil prices and its resultant impact on fuel prices in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/at-3998-covid-deaths-jump-over-10x-in-india-in-24-hours India on Wednesday recorded 3,998 deaths due to Covid in just 24 hours after it logged 374 deaths. https://opinionexpress.in/new-faces-to-lead-in-2022-up-elections With around six months left for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, it is a new generation of leaders that is preparing to lead the political campaign, paving the way for a new look politics in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/rainfall-intensity-over-nw-india-to-decrease-from-today The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said that rainfall intensity over Northwest India is very likely to decrease and further slowdown in intensity and spread is likely from Thursday onwards. https://opinionexpress.in/nikki-tamboli-to-focus-on-offering-quality-entertainment  bigg boss https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-prez-warns-taliban-on-links-with-let-jaish-al-qaeda   https://opinionexpress.in/2nd-odi-chahars-fighting-69-helps-india-win-match-series Pace bowler Deepak Chahar hammered 69 off 82 deliveries and shared an unbeaten 84-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bring India back from the dead and win the second One-day International by three wickets for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. https://opinionexpress.in/someone-lost-liberty-is-a-serious-matter-sc   https://opinionexpress.in/muslims-can-vote-for-anyone-they-want-aimplb MUSLIM VOTE https://opinionexpress.in/swiggy-raises-over-rs-9357-cr-after-zomatos-bumper-ipo After its rival Zomato witnessed a mega IPO last week, Swiggy on Tuesday announced the closing of a $1.25 billion (over Rs 9,357 crore) fundraise led by SoftBank Vision Funds 2 and its long-term investor Prosus, one of the largest technology investors in the world. https://opinionexpress.in/oppn-spreading-lies-about-covid-and-shortage-of-vaccine-pm Hitting out at the opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said political rivals are spreading lies about Covid-19 and shortage of vaccine. The Prime Minister Modi asked BJP MPs to counter lies spread by the opposition parties. https://opinionexpress.in/at-374-india-logs-lowest-covid-deaths-in-4-months India on Tuesday recorded 30,093 new Covid-19 cases and 374 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/sorry-state-of-affairs-cant-give-in-to-religious-pressure-groups-sc-to-kerala The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Kerala government for giving-in to the association of traders for relaxing Covid curbs for 'Bakrid' festivities. Directing the government to pay heed to the right to life of citizens, the top court asked it to follow its directions in the 'Kanwar Yatra' matter. https://opinionexpress.in/raj-kundra-to-be-produced-before-mumbai-court-today The Mumbai Police will produce arrested businessman Raj Kundra - the husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty - before a court this afternoon seeking his remand, official sources said here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/fb-harming-not-killing-people-with-covid-misinformation-biden After stirring a major controversy by saying that Facebook is "killing people" with Covid-19 misinformation, US President Joe Biden took a U-turn, and said that vaccine misinformation on Facebook has been harming people. https://opinionexpress.in/longest-pause-in-weeks-no-change-in-fuel-prices-for-3-days The oil marketing companies (OMC) continued to pause fuel price revision for the third consecutive day, the longest period in weeks, as global development on oil production has softened crude and product prices. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-adjourned-till-noon-on-pegasus-row After the opposition's heavy sloganeering seeking the suspension of Business to discuss the snooping issue, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon. https://opinionexpress.in/nz-extends-pause-on-quarantine-free-travel-from-aus-state The pause on quarantine-free travel from Australia's Victoria state to New Zealand will be extended for now, the Ministry of Health in Wellington confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/amazon-shuts-down-pegasus-owner-nso-groups-infrastructure After the massive Pegasus spyware controversy, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is the Cloud arm of Amazon, has shut down infrastructure and accounts linked to the Israeli surveillance company NSO Group. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-down-200-points-banking-oil-gas-stocks-fall The key Indian equity indices traded in the red on Tuesday morning with the BSE Sensex falling over 200 points. https://opinionexpress.in/raj-kundra-arrested-for-making-publishing-porn-content In a major swoop, the Mumbai Police late on Monday arrested businessman Raj Kundra -- the husband of Bollywood actor and model Shilpa Shetty -- for allegedly making pornographic content and publishing them through mobile applications. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-plans-nationwide-agitation-on-pegasus-project-report After it emerged that former party President Rahul Gandhi, among others, was one of the potential targets of snooping using the Pegasus spyware developed by Israel's NSO Group, the Congress has planned nationwide agitation and has decided to raise the issue in Parliament. https://opinionexpress.in/rubina-dilaik-to-make-big-screen-debut-in-the-upcoming-film-ardh Actor Rubina Dilaik, best known for winning the 14th season of the reality show "Bigg Boss", is set to make her big screen debut with the upcoming film "Ardh". https://opinionexpress.in/afghan-army-chief-to-visit-india   https://opinionexpress.in/nidhhi-agerwal-i-would-love-to-see-a-hindi-remake-of-ismart-shankar  nidhhi agarwal https://opinionexpress.in/modi-assures-covid-vaccine-supply-to-nepal   https://opinionexpress.in/veerashaiva-seer-warns-of-serious-consequences-for-bjp-in-ktaka  karnataka https://opinionexpress.in/rs-adjourned-till-2-pm-after-oppn-ruckus On day one of the Monsoon Session, the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha got disrupted with the Opposition creating ruckus over various issues, including fuel price rise, snooping issue and the chairman adjourned the House till 2 p.m. https://opinionexpress.in/free-him-on-or-before-5pm-today-sc-on-activist-held-for-fb-post The Supreme Court on Monday ordered for the release of Manipuri activist Erendro Leichombam, on or before 5 p.m. Monday. Leichombam was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) for a Facebook post criticising BJP leaders for advocating cow dung and cow urine as cure for Covid. https://opinionexpress.in/ls-adjourned-till-2-pm-amid-ruckus-when-pm-introduced-new-cabinet On day one of the Monsoon Session, the proceedings of the Lok Sabha got disrupted with the Opposition creating ruckus over various issues, including fuel price rise, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was introducing his recently inducted Council of Ministers. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-gets-respite-with-light-rain-l-g-to-review-monsoon-preps As the Met department had predicted heavy rain in Delhi and several northern states, light showers continued from Sunday, giving much needed respite from high humidity in the national capital region. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-38k-new-covid-cases-499-deaths India on Monday recorded 38,164 new Covid-19cases and 499 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/hamilton-wins-f1-british-gp-despite-penalty Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won a pulsating and controversial Formula 1 British Grand Prix, fighting back from a penalty for a first-lap tangle with Max Verstappen to take the lead from Charles Leclerc with two laps to go. https://opinionexpress.in/neha-dhupia-angad-bedi-announce-second-pregnancy Actress Neha Dhupia took to her social media on Monday to announce her second pregnancy. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-casualty-global-cues-profit-booking-subdue-equity-markets Profit booking subdued India's equity markets during the morning trade session on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ask-tough-questions-but-allow-govt-to-answer-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the opposition must ask tough questions, but allow the government to answer as well. https://opinionexpress.in/top-let-commander-among-2-terrorists-killed-in-shopian-encounter Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist commander was among two terrorists killed during an encounter between terrorists and security forces at Check Sadiq area in South Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/40-indian-journalists-phone-on-leaked-list-of-potential-surveillance-targets The Pegasus snoop list has 40 Indian journalists and forensic tests confirm presence of Pegasus spyware on some devices, The Wire reported. https://opinionexpress.in/hes-been-reading-everything-on-your-phone-rahul-on-phone-tapping-row Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday took up the phone tapping issue and launched a veiled attack against the Prime Minister. https://opinionexpress.in/gurugram-heavy-rain-waterlogging-throw-life-out-of-gear Parts of Gurugram witnessed waterlogging after receiving heavy rainfall on Monday morning. Both vehicular traffic and pedestrian movement were disrupted and the Commuters had a difficult time. https://opinionexpress.in/parliament-session-from-today-pandemic-hit-country-seeks-better-governance Prime Minister Modi marked the beginning of the Monsoon Session today https://opinionexpress.in/sidharth-shukla-broken-but-beautiful-3-character-will-challenge-my-acting-skills   https://opinionexpress.in/sidhu-is-new-punjab-congress-president  punjab politics https://opinionexpress.in/pegasus-project-has-big-tech-big-daddy-nexus-to-fear A bombshell report Sunday on military-grade Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO used by governments around the world to snoop on a long list of more than 50,000 people in 50 countries has injected a fresh round of ammunition into the raging debate over digital surveillance - especially when governments lean on private companies hacking muscle. https://opinionexpress.in/skipper-dhawan-debutant-kishan-shine-in-indias-seven-wicket-victory-over-sri-lanka India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the first One-day International to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/grand-ayatollah-warns-iran-not-to-trust-the-taliban   https://opinionexpress.in/rils-retail-business-likely-to-grow-3x-in-next-3-5-years   https://opinionexpress.in/31-bills-to-be-taken-up-during-monsoon-session   https://opinionexpress.in/omcs-pause-petrol-diesel-price-hike-on-sunday Oil marketing companies (OMC) hit the pause button on the incessant rise in petrol and diesel prices on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/rains-wreak-havoc-in-mumbai-toll-increases-to-22 At least 22 persons were killed in 11 different incidents as rains wreaked havoc on Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region since midnight, the BMC Disaster Control said here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/our-generation-should-start-restoring-the-planet-bhumi  Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who turned 32 on Sunday, says her birthday wish would definitely be that the present generation should start restoring the planet. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-vaccination-coverage-crosses-40-cr India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed the landmark of 40 crores, including 51,01,567 jabs administered in the last 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/olympic-countdown-no-contenders-in-sight-for-lightning-bolts-record That "Lightning Bolt" gesture will not be on show at the Tokyo Olympics after mesmerising the world for three successive Games and leaving a legacy that won't be forgotten -- at least till the world record is not broken. https://opinionexpress.in/amid-feud-punjab-congress-mps-to-meet-in-delhi Punjab Congress MPs of both Houses are meeting on Sunday afternoon at Pratap Singh Bajwa's residence to discuss the move to appoint Navjot Singh Sidhu as the state Congress chief. https://opinionexpress.in/we-are-not-political-tourists-priyanka-hits-back-at-bjp Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the BJP on Sunday, over its statement that she was a 'political tourist'. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gandhi-at-ground-zero-in-up  Priyanka Gandhi https://opinionexpress.in/south-korean-tt-legend-ryu-seung-min-tests-positive-upon-arrival-in-tokyo Former Olympic champion Ryu Seung-min, now president of the South Korean table tennis association, has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at Narita International Airport for the Olympic Games. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-41k-new-covid-cases-518-deaths India reported 41,157 new cases of Covid-19 and 518 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-wall-collapse-pm-announces-rs-2l-ex-gratia-to-kin-of-deceased Expressing grief over the loss of lives due to wall collapse in the Chembur and Vikhroli areas in Mumbai due to heavy rain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced ex-gratia to the kin of those who lost their lives and those injured. https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-riddle-haunts-bjp   https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-sets-up-parliament-groups-adhir-to-stay-as-floor-leader Ahead of parliament monsoon session beginning July 19, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has reconstituted the party's parliament groups for both houses for effective functioning of the party. Putting all speculation to rest, Sonia Gandhi has let Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stay as leader of the party in the Lok Sabha. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-to-remain-boss-in-up-as-party-gears-up-for-assembly-polls Words of appreciation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief J.P. Nadda have not only silenced the critics of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, but it also shows that he will be the choice of the party leadership to lead in the next year's assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/18-killed-in-mumbai-rain-related-incidents At least 18 persons were killed in several rain-induced tragedies as Mumbai and the surroundings were clobbered with heavy downpours early on Sunday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/high-time-to-demystify-justice-delivery-system-keen-on-live-streaming-cji   https://opinionexpress.in/nobody-too-young-to-effectuate-big-change-says-justice-chandrachud   https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-to-resign-after-govts-2nd-anniversary-say-sources Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa has been asked to step down after July 26, the day, the ruling BJP government will complete its second year in office in the state, sources said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/harish-rawat-reaches-out-to-amarinder-after-punjab-feud-escalates Amid escalating tension due to ongoing tussle in Punjab Congress unit, state in-charge Harish Rawat has flown to Chandigarh to meet sulking chief minister Amarinder Singh. Sources say the chief minister wrote back to Congress president Sonia Gandhi that party will split if Navjot Sidhu is given charge of the Punjab Congress. https://opinionexpress.in/these-are-all-rumours-says-yediyurappa-on-his-resignation Amid rumours of his resignation, Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday said it is not true at all. https://opinionexpress.in/all-border-fencing-gaps-with-pak-bdesh-to-be-filled-by-2022-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that all border fencing gaps with neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh will be filled till 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-high-command-sends-out-subtle-go-message-to-ktaka-cm-sources Even as Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa insisted on Saturday morning that all is well, speculation is rife that he is likely to go. According to sources, the BJP high command has sent a subtle but clear message to Yediyurappa, who is presently touring Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/us-navy-hands-over-mh-60r-maritime-helicopters-to-india In yet another sign of strengthening India-US defence relationship, the US Navy has handed over the first two MH-60R Multi Role Helicopters (MRH) to the Indian Navy to bolster its capabilities to ward off regional threats and to strengthen homeland defence. https://opinionexpress.in/first-covid-19-case-emerges-in-olympic-games-village Six days before the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, a "non-athlete person" tested positive for COVID-19 in the Games Village. The organising committee confirmed on Saturday that a case had been detected in the Village. https://opinionexpress.in/pankaj-tripathi-before-choosing-a-project-i-see-if-theres-gender-sensitivity-or-not Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who wows with his realistic acting and makes his fans chuckle with his comic timing, has spoken about what he keeps in mind while choosing a film. https://opinionexpress.in/square-opens-new-bitcoin-business-named-tbd-jack-dorsey Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has announced to create a new business focused on building an open developer platform for Bitcoin for his financial payments company Square.. https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-says-delhi-visit-to-get-clearances-for-pending-projects Amidst speculations on leadership change doing the rounds, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening to discuss "pending development projects" pertaining to the state. https://opinionexpress.in/dozens-of-taliban-militants-dead-after-attack-repelled-on-afghan-city Afghan security forces repelled an attack by the Taliban on Shiberghan city, capital of Jawzjan province, killing and injuring dozens of militants, a police officer said. https://opinionexpress.in/fb-is-killing-people-with-covid-misinformation-biden US President Joe Biden has hit out at Facebook again, saying that such social media platforms are allowing Covid vaccine misinformation to spread and are "killing people". https://opinionexpress.in/oppo-reno6-pro-5g-is-high-on-style-performance In a much-competitive premium smartphone market in India, the global smartphone brand OPPO, which is among one of the best-selling smartphone brands, has brought its much-awaited OPPO Reno6 series to the country. https://opinionexpress.in/aastha-gill-says-this-is-a-golden-time-for-all-musical-artistes Singer Aastha Gill says she feels blessed to be part of an era where independent music has grown and is still gaining momentum. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-price-moves-up-further-diesel-rate-unchanged Global cues pushed petrol prices to increase again across the country on Saturday adding further pressure to the stretched budgets of consumers grappling with rising food prices amidst shrinking income. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-recovery-rate-goes-past-97 With fresh Covid cases in India remaining below 40,000 over consecutive days, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday said the country's recovery rate has now climbed to 97.31 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-38079-new-covid-cases-560-deaths-in-24-hrs India reported 38,079 new coronavirus cases, lower than Friday and 560 deaths in the last 24 hours. According to the data shared by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday, the active cases in the country now stand at 4,24,025. The recovery rate has climbed to 97.31 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/monsoon-fashion-trends   https://opinionexpress.in/ias-officer-makes-a-cut-for-tokyo-olympics  Tokyo olympics https://opinionexpress.in/industry-bigwigs-rush-for-shopping-spree-for-internet-based-companies  digital india https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-fired-mortars-on-salma-dam-to-target-afghan-india-friendship   https://opinionexpress.in/south-africa-president-says-anti-indian-violence-was-planned   https://opinionexpress.in/ed-attaches-anil-deshmukh-familys-rs-421-cr-assets   https://opinionexpress.in/village-level-leaders-can-help-tackle-stubble-burning The Government can incentivise villages that exhibit no stubble burning; that will create peer pressure among the farmers to comply https://opinionexpress.in/prevent-the-third-wave-now In a large country like India, shuttering down businesses may not be the smartest strategy; faster vaccination is https://opinionexpress.in/visit-of-the-delimitation-commission-to-jk Ignoring the Commission's fixed mandate, local parties raised superficial and irrelevant issues the Commission could neither address nor resolve https://opinionexpress.in/monsoon-joy Though it comes with a host of maladies, the rainy season rejuvenates all living things alike https://opinionexpress.in/testing-times The Kanwar Yatra, a potential COVID-19 super-spreader, is a tricky issue for the UP CM https://opinionexpress.in/why-it-is-necessary-to-control-population In the last 120 years, the planet’s population has quadrupled. At some point in numbers, we must halt this human multiplication https://opinionexpress.in/2-lashkar-terrorists-killed-in-kashmir-encounter Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Alamdar colony in Srinagar on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/rawat-says-submitted-note-to-sonia-as-meeting-with-sidhu-ends It seems Chief Minister Amarinder Singh resistance on appointing Navjot Singh Sidhu as the Punjab President has worked and the meeting between Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Harish Rawat and Sidhu on Friday ended early, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/states-must-make-gangajal-available-for-devotees-at-nearest-temple The Ministry of Home Affairs has told the Supreme Court that for the Kanwar Yatra the state governments must not permit movement of "Kanwariyas for bringing 'Gangajal' from Haridwar to the Shiv temples of their choice". https://opinionexpress.in/facebook-rolls-out-new-emojis-with-sound Ahead of World Emoji Day on July 17, Facebook on Friday announced that it is rolling out emojis with sound on Facebook Messenger that is called "Soundmojis". https://opinionexpress.in/sidhu-harish-rawat-reach-10-janpath-to-meet-sonia-gandhi Disgruntled Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat on Friday reached at 10 Janpath to meet Sonia Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/up-cannot-go-ahead-with-kanwar-yatra-100-says-sc The Supreme Court on Friday pointed out that fear of a third Covid wave looms large over all Indians as it asked the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision on a physical Kanwar Yatra, emphasizing that a Yogi-government nod for a 100 per cent physical yatra is not advisable. https://opinionexpress.in/toofaan-far-from-the-storm-the-hype-promised Toofaan (film on Amazon Prime Video); Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Paresh Rawal, Mrunal Thakur, Vijay Raaz, Mohan Agashe, Hussain Dalal, Darshan Kumaar, Supriya Pathak; Direction: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra; Rating: * * (two stars) https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-recoveries-beat-new-covid-cases-in-india-in-24-hrs India reported 38,949 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, when 40,026 people were also discharged from hospital, taking the recoveries from the pandemic go past number of new infections. https://opinionexpress.in/celebs-mourn-loss-of-surekha-sikri-great-craft-graceful-person Bollywood personalities including Manoj Bajpayee and Randeep Hooda have mourned the death of three-time National Award-winning actress Surekha Sikri, popular in recent years as Dadisa in the TV series Balika Vadhu. https://opinionexpress.in/banned-2-mn-accounts-in-india-whatsapp-report-on-new-it-rules Facebook-owned WhatsApp on Thursday filed its first monthly grievance redressal report as required under India's new IT norms, saying it banned two million accounts in India alone from the May 15-June 15 period attempting to send harmful or unwanted messages at scale. https://opinionexpress.in/shatrughan-sinha-likely-to-join-trinamool After Yashwant Sinha another heavyweight national leader, Shatrughan Sinha, seems likely to cross over to the Trinamool Congress from the Congress soon. https://opinionexpress.in/sidhu-to-meet-sonia-gandhi-at-her-residence-amid-growing-row-in-party With hints of Congress' 'defiant' former Cabinet Minister Navjot Sidhu as the party unit chief months ahead of the Assembly polls in Punjab sparked a row, he reached Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi's residence here on Friday to meet her. https://opinionexpress.in/us-initial-jobless-claims-drop-to-360000 Initial unemployment claims in the US dropped to 360,000 last week, after ticking up from a pandemic low in the prior week, the Labour Department reported. https://opinionexpress.in/oyo-raises-660m-through-debt-funding OYO on Friday announced that it has raised a TLB (Term Loan B) funding of $660 million from global institutional investors. https://opinionexpress.in/djokovic-decides-to-compete-at-the-olympics World No. 1 tennis player, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, has ended the uncertainty over his Olympics participation, confirming on Friday that he would be boarding the flight to Tokyo. https://opinionexpress.in/surekha-sikri-passes-away-at-75-after-cardiac-arrest Three-time National Award-winning actress Surekha Sikri, popular as Dadisa of Balika Vadhu, passed away in the city following a cardiac arrest on Friday. She was 75. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-turn-flat-after-touching-new-highs The key Indian equity indices shed gains on Friday morning to trade on a flat-to-negative note after touching record highs during the initial trade. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-to-have-more-neet-exam-centres-this-year Even as the state government and the ruling DMK is in stiff opposition to the conduct of National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), the Centre has announced 18 centres for the exam instead of the 14 centres in 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rains-pound-mumbai-local-trains-hit Heavy overnight rains lashed Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) hitting road and rail traffic, though flight operation at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport was normal. https://opinionexpress.in/2-terrorists-killed-in-encounter Two terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Alamdar colony, in Danmar area of Srinagar, on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-economy-to-see-substantial-slack-in-fy22-despite-growth-rbi   https://opinionexpress.in/as-india-prepares-to-head-unsc-shringla-briefs-guterres-intl-envoys As India prepares to take up the presidency of the UN Security Council, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla met Secretary-General Antonio Guterres https://opinionexpress.in/gigi-hadid-talks-about-anxiety-issues-during-pregnancy   https://opinionexpress.in/zambia-wants-indian-investments-direct-flights-to-mumbai-new-delhi India Zambia https://opinionexpress.in/pandemic-pain-fuel-prices-rose-over-rs-20ltr-in-fy21-by-rs-10-this-yr   https://opinionexpress.in/after-amazon-fb-doesnt-want-lina-khan-to-probe-antitrust-case After Amazon, Facebook has also said that the Lina Khan-led US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shouldn't decide the future of its antitrust case. https://opinionexpress.in/9-in-10-gen-z-indians-demotivated-after-job-rejections-in-covid Most Gen Z job seekers (nine in 10) in India are demotivated after seven in 10 of those surveyed didn't get a positive response from employers after waiting for long periods during the second Covid wave, a LinkedIn report showed on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-price-moves-up-further-diesel-rate-a-tad-slower Global cues pushed fuel prices to increase again across the country on Thursday, adding more misery to the common man already grappling with rising food prices amid shrinking income. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwals-free-power-announcement-in-goa-is-impractical-shripad-naik Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal's pre-poll announcement to provide free power to domestic connections to the tune of 300 units, is a hollow promise aimed only at winning elections, Union Minister of state for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/pollution-in-yamuna-is-at-its-worst-uppcb The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) data shows that the pollution level in the Yamuna has worsened this year. https://opinionexpress.in/breaks-my-heart-bush-calls-troops-withdrawal-from-af-a-mistake Former US President George W. Bush has labelled the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan "a mistake", in an interview with DW. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-test-team-hit-by-covid-19-player-tests-positive Indian Test squad in England has been affected by Covid-19 after one of the players tested positive for the virus. The player affected has been kept in isolation and will not travel to Durham with the team for the camp that begins on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-vaccination-coverage-crosses-39-cr India's cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed the landmark of 39 crore that includes 34,97,058 shots administered across the country in the past 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/drone-spotted-and-destroyed-over-jammu-air-force-station Another drone was spotted in the area of Air Force Station in Jammu city which was jammed and destroyed by using anti-drone technology by the Air Force. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-files-complaint-against-up-minister-in-medical-equipment-purchase-case The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has filed a police complaint against Medical Education Minister Suresh Khanna, principal secretary (medical education) Alok Kumar and other officials, including directors of SGPGIMS and RMLIMS, for an alleged scam in the procurement of medical equipment. https://opinionexpress.in/free-judiciary-can-be-sustained-via-fair-service-condition   https://opinionexpress.in/fugitive-choksi-returns-happily-to-antigua-for-medical-treatment   https://opinionexpress.in/prolonged-situation-in-ladakh-negatively-impacting-ties-with-china-jaishankar   https://opinionexpress.in/no-for-president-declares-sharad-pawar-amid-speculation   https://opinionexpress.in/reliance-power-shareholders-approve-preferential-offer-to-rinfra The shareholders of Reliance Power Limited (Reliance Power), through postal ballot, have approved with overwhelming majority, preferential issue of equity shares and warrants. https://opinionexpress.in/uninterrupted-and-300-units-free-power-kejriwals-poll-promise-to-goa Launching a string of poll promises ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced free non commercial electricity to the tune of 300 units, 24-hour power supply and free electricity for farmers if the party comes to power in Goa. https://opinionexpress.in/gayles-experience-key-to-rebuilding-west-indies-cricket-cwi-chief Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief, Ricky Skerritt, has said that Chris Gayle's success and experience are extremely valuable to the rebuilding of West Indies cricket, especially while preparing for the ICC T20 World Cup, to be played in the UAE later this year. https://opinionexpress.in/countries-signal-waning-confidence-in-chinese-vaccine-against-delta-variant Thailand and Indonesia say they will give a booster shot to healthcare workers who received Sinovac, Wall Street Journal reported. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-tesla-sign-436-mn-deal-for-cybertruck-cameras-report Samsung has reportedly signed a deal with Elon Musk's electric car maker Tesla worth $436 million to let its latest camera modules to be used in Cybertruck. https://opinionexpress.in/11bn-doses-needed-to-vaccinate-70-of-world-to-end-covid-un-chief UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that 11 billion doses are needed to vaccinate 70 per cent of the world to end the Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/emmy-nominees-announced-the-crown-and-the-mandalorian-lead-race Nominations for the 73rd Emmy Awards were announced on Tuesday by the Emmy-winning father-daughter duo Ron Cephas Jones and Jasmine Cephas Jones. https://opinionexpress.in/court-orders-probe-into-rape-charges-against-waseem-rizvi A Lucknow court has directed the police to register and investigate an FIR against former Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board chairman, Wasim Rizvi, filed in connection with an alleged rape complaint. https://opinionexpress.in/akhara-parishad-seeks-place-in-ram-temple-trust The Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) has now demanded that it should be included in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. https://opinionexpress.in/in-poll-preparation-nadda-to-address-up-bjp-executive-meet The Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its state executive meeting on Friday to chart out its political roadmap for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, due early next year. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-takes-over-management-control-of-mumbai-intl-airport The Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, has taken over the management control of Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), India's second busiest airport by both passenger and cargo traffic, from the GVK Group following a board meeting of MIAL held on Tuesday, as per a statement issued by the Adani Enterprises. https://opinionexpress.in/zomato-ipo-anchor-portion-subscribed The anchor investors portion in the public issue of Zomato Ltd has been subscribed on Tuesday at Rs 76 per equity share. https://opinionexpress.in/at-38792-india-sees-rise-in-new-covid-cases India reported 38,792 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, and 624 deaths due to the virus, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/senior-ministers-nadda-discuss-bjp-strategy-for-monsoon-session  Senior Union Ministers and BJP chief J.P. Nadda met on Tuesday to discuss the party's strategy for the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament starting from July 19. A party insider said that the meeting was held at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's residence and lasted for around three hours. https://opinionexpress.in/top-lashkar-commander-among-3-terrorists-killed-in-pulwama A top commander of the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was among the three killed in an encounter between the terrorists and security forces in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/anti-terror-law-shouldnt-be-used-to-muzzle-dissent-sc-judge Supreme Court judge Justice D.Y. Chandrachud https://opinionexpress.in/3rd-covid-wave-hits-world-join-hands-to-avoid-it-in-india-paul   https://opinionexpress.in/banks-move-nclt-to-invoke-personal-guarantee-of-promoters   https://opinionexpress.in/indias-panama-papers-on-shell-firms-tax-loopholes-gather-dust Tax firm’s leaked data includes correspondences with 33 Cos, HNWIs https://opinionexpress.in/delta-variant-spreading-worldwide-at-scorching-pace-who-chief World Health Organization (WHO) caused by the Delta variant of Covid-19, spread around the world and has now been detected in 104 countries, he said, https://opinionexpress.in/second-string-england-eye-clean-sweep-against-pakistan-2206  England, cricket https://opinionexpress.in/population-control-law-is-a-must-for-india   https://opinionexpress.in/cm-dy-cm-keeping-tab-on-my-activities-says-maha-cong-chief   https://opinionexpress.in/bandla-scripts-history-on-board-virgin-galactics   https://opinionexpress.in/time-to-take-stock-on-world-population-day There is as yet no real check on world population growth as 140 million are born and 58 million die every year, adding a net 82 million https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-race-to-prevent-3rd-wave Economic activity has shown improvement since May-end, with a robust recovery in sectors https://opinionexpress.in/outsider-effect-rattles-bjp-in-certain-states The strategy to open party gates indiscriminately to disgruntled Opposition leaders boomeranged as the exercise began to erode the party's basic ideological content                              https://opinionexpress.in/left-out Kerala, hailed for decades on various counts, needs to regain the trust and confidence of entrepreneurs https://opinionexpress.in/on-guard The nation is not past the COVID threat factor; let there not be any breach of safety protocols https://opinionexpress.in/a-confusing-cabinet-expansion-exercise Burdening Ministers with three Ministries can seldom be a formula for success. It cannot be averred that the Modi Government has shed deadwood and found the manna https://opinionexpress.in/nothing-ear-1-to-cost-rs-5999-on-flipkart-in-india Consumer tech brand Nothing on Monday said that its first true wireless earbuds -- Nothing ear (1) -- will cost Rs 5,999 in India, as the wireless hearable market goes through a transformation in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/mrunal-thakur-says-toofaan-role-made-her-strong-confident Actress Mrunal Thakur is overjoyed to work with the National Award-winning filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra in the upcoming boxing drama "Toofaan", starring Farhan Akhtar. She says playing Ananya in the film has made her strong and confident. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-bjp-chief-dilip-ghosh-likely-to-meet-nadda-today Amid reports of differences in state party unit, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh is expected to meet BJP chief J.P. Nadda on Monday evening at his official residence here. https://opinionexpress.in/raj-lightning-pm-announces-rs-2l-ex-gratia-to-kin-of-those-who-died Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to lightning in parts of Rajasthan. Rs 50,000 would be provided to the injured, Modi said in his tweet. https://opinionexpress.in/flipkart-raises-36-bn-valuation-surges-to-376-bn Flipkart Group on Monday announced that it has raised $3.6 billion in funding as it continues to grow and advance the digital commerce ecosystem in India. https://opinionexpress.in/rajinikanth-resurrects-fan-club-dissolves-political-outfit In line with his earlier decision of not entering Tamil Nadu politics, superstar Rajinikanth on Monday announced reconversion of Rajini Makkal Mandram into Rajinikanth Fans Welfare Mandram. https://opinionexpress.in/federer-nadal-lead-tributes-to-djokovic-after-20th-grand-slam-win Swiss ace Roger Federer, Spaniard Rafael Nadal and several present and former tennis greats hailed world No. 1 Novak Djokovic for winning his sixth Wimbledon title and 20th Grand Slam crown overall at the hallowed Wimbledon centre court. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-37k-new-covid-cases-recoveries-cross-3-crore-mark India recorded 37,154 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and 724 deaths, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Monday, adding that the total recovery from the virus also crossed the three crore-mark. https://opinionexpress.in/rath-yatra-taken-out-in-ahmedabad-with-limited-participation In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra encompassing 19 kilometres was taken out in Ahmedabad on Monday amid a curfew on the route with only five vehicles, including three chariots allowed. https://opinionexpress.in/amazon-suffers-massive-outage-globally-including-india Amazon online store suffered a global outage on Monday, including in India, as users tried to place orders but could not access the product detail page. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-costlier-diesel-rate-cut-1st-time-in-3-months Global cues pushed fuel prices to increase again across the country on Monday adding more misery to the common man already grappling with rising food prices amid shrinking income. https://opinionexpress.in/prez-kovind-pm-modi-greet-people-on-jagannath-rath-yatra President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted people on the occasion of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, and prayed for the good health of all. https://opinionexpress.in/struck-by-lightning-11-jaipur-tourists-die-in-amer-watch-tower Eleven tourists lost their lives and another eight sustained injuries during a lightning strike near the Amer Fort. https://opinionexpress.in/38-killed-in-lightning-strike-in-up-yogi-orders-relief At least 38 people were killed in eleven districts of Uttar Pradesh, after being struck by lightning, thunder and rain. https://opinionexpress.in/branson-bezos-space-tourism-rivalry-gets-nastier-before-flight   https://opinionexpress.in/italy-overpower-england-in-penalties-to-win-euro-2020 soccer https://opinionexpress.in/richard-branson-safely-back-to-earth-after-touching-edge-of-space Ushering in a new space age, Virgin Galactic's billionaire CEO Richard Branson on Sunday touched the edge of space with three employees, including one of Indian-origin, and has landed safely back to Earth. https://opinionexpress.in/two-alleged-al-qaeda-linked-terrorists-held-in-lucknow-police-lead terror https://opinionexpress.in/terror-funding-case-nia-team-arrests-several-persons-in-kashmir   https://opinionexpress.in/176-turtles-20-dolphins-dead-after-cargo-ship-fire-in-sl The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that 176 turtles, four whales, and 20 dolphins had died and washed ashore on the country's beaches up to July 7 as a result of the burning of the X-Press Pearl container ship in May. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-adityanath-unveils-new-population-policy-for-up Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday unveiled the new population policy 2021-30, on the occasion of World Population Day. https://opinionexpress.in/tahira-kashyap-shows-shoulder-dance-in-new-post Filmmaker-writer Tahira Kashyap has shared a video showcasing her shoulder dance and workout skills while making sure nobody watches her. https://opinionexpress.in/why-ott-run-could-prove-a-game-changer-for-bigg-boss With the announcement that "Bigg Boss" would drop on OTT first before moving onto television in its upcoming season, the makers have tossed a googly on the Indian home entertainment pitch. If the digital domain has consistently emerged as a disruptor over the past couple of years, the move is bound to change a few ground rules on home viewing habits. https://opinionexpress.in/messi-calls-family-right-after-copa-triumph Argentina striker Lionel Messi video called his family immediately from the Maracana Stadium after Argentina won the Copa America Cup for the first time since 1993. The adorable moment has since gone viral on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-finally-appoints-india-based-grievance-officer Paying heed to India's demand, Twitter has finally appointed Vinay Prakash as its Resident Grievance officer (RGO) for the country. https://opinionexpress.in/night-curfew-in-up-relaxed-by-one-hour In a further relaxation of Covid restrictions, the Uttar Pradesh government has reduced night curfew hours by one hour. https://opinionexpress.in/over-144-crore-unutilised-covid-19-vaccine-doses-available-with-states-private-hospitals-centre More than 1.44 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states, UTs and private hospitals to be administered, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-invites-people-to-nominate-for-padma-awards-2022 Noting that India has many talented people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invited people and those doing exceptional work at the grassroots to nominate for Padma awards 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-is-numero-uno-as-bjp-sweeps-block-level-polls Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has reaffirmed his position as numero uno in the state after the BJP won 635 seats out of 825 block pramukh seats. https://opinionexpress.in/action-likely-against-ias-officer-who-thrashed-journo Action is likely to be taken against an IAS officer who was caught on camera, hitting a video journalist and smashing his mobile phone. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-logs-41506-new-cases With 41,506 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,08,37,222, while the active cases declined to 4,54,118, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-tv-plus-now-streaming-on-the-web As content streaming industry explodes globally, Samsung has quietly expanded its ad-supported streaming service TV Plus on the web. https://opinionexpress.in/india-must-start-competing-and-not-participating-in-olympics-honestly When the Indian athletes, seeking to improve upon the six-medal haul bagged at the 2012 London Olympic Games, managed only two at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog came up with a plan for India to win 50 medals at the 2024 Olympics. https://opinionexpress.in/no-change-in-petrol-and-diesel-prices-on-sunday The oil marketing companies (OMC) kept the petrol and diesel prices unchanged across the four metro cities on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/pv-sandhu-badminton-star-take-shuttle-to-glory badminton https://opinionexpress.in/pm-to-chair-meeting-of-council-of-ministers-on-july-14 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair a meeting with Council of Ministers on July 14 to discuss key issues amid ongoing Covid-19 crisis as well as other issues to take forward the country to fulfill his 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self reliant India) vision. https://opinionexpress.in/covids-delta-plus-variant-detected-in-tripura-1st-time-in-ne The highly infectious Delta plus variant of coronavirus has been found for the first time in Tripura after the Delta strain was detected in three northeastern states -- Assam, Manipur and Mizoram, doctors said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/aastha-gill-no-ones-dependent-on-film-songs-anymore Singer Aastha Gill has come a long way in a short time, since the days she was largely recognised as the promising female voice in Badshah hits such as "Dhup chik", "Abhi toh party shuru hui hai" or "DJ wale babu". Lately, whether she has sung with Badshah ("Pani paani") or Akasa ("Naagin"), she has owned the song as much as the other singer. https://opinionexpress.in/india-adds-42766-new-covid-cases-1206-deaths-in-24-hrs India recorded 42,766 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and 1,206 deaths, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/gurugram-sputnik-will-be-administered-at-govt-vaccination-centre-from-july-10 The Gurugram health department will start administering the Russian-made vaccine against Covid-19, Sputnik V, from Saturday (July 10) at the government polyclinic sector-31 without any charge, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/after-amul-mother-dairy-hikes-milk-prices-by-rs-2litre Days after prices of Amul milk (packed) increased by Rs 2 per litre, Delhi's leading milk supplier Mother Dairy too has announced an increase of Rs 2 per litre on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/end-of-the-ethiopian-empire Ethiopia can survive losing Tigray, but the wholesale disintegration of Africa's second-biggest country would be an almost limitless disaster https://opinionexpress.in/understanding-chinas-domestic-political-reforms In the coming years, Asian relations might be marked by increasing hostility and shifting sands of strategic alignments https://opinionexpress.in/our-failure The law, as well as the society, failed Father Stan as we put him on trial and persecuted him even before his sentence https://opinionexpress.in/peace-pipe The Hurriyat is back in action; this time on the back of the buzz generated by other J&K leaders https://opinionexpress.in/a-fair-deal-for-humans-and-their-best-friend The canine that we have with or around us, is one happy animal that we have to have the responsibility to keep that way, because he does the same https://opinionexpress.in/income-tax-raids-on-ramky-group-reveals-rs-1200-crore-artificial-loss   https://opinionexpress.in/biden-nominates-los-angeles-mayor-eric-garcetti-as-envoy-to-india   https://opinionexpress.in/why-vitamin-c-is-beautys-new-buzzword   https://opinionexpress.in/ed-to-record-statement-of-tainted-ex-mumbai-commissioner   https://opinionexpress.in/hc-uniform-civil-code-cant-remain-mere-hope-modern-india-needs-it   https://opinionexpress.in/complaint-of-cheating-against-salman-khan-sister-alvira-six-others Actor Salman Khan, his sister Alvira and six others have been summoned by the Chandigarh police, after a local businessman filed a complaint of cheating. https://opinionexpress.in/whatsapp-toes-govts-line-tells-hc-wont-enforce-privacy-policy WhatsApp on Friday accepted that "the government is the administrator" in its case and informed the Delhi High Court that it will put its privacy policy update "on hold" until the Data Protection Bill came into force. https://opinionexpress.in/anil-deshmukh-graft-case-ed-to-grill-vaze-on-saturday The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will interrogate sacked police official Sachin Vaze at the Taloja Jail in connection with the alleged corruption case lodged against former state home minister Anil Deshmukh, officials said here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/bribing-the-voters-through-freebies The Election Commission should bring freebies under the purview of the model code of conduct https://opinionexpress.in/crucial-bills-await-monsoon-session The significance of the session, however, remains in it being a golden window for public debates on crucial issues of national importance https://opinionexpress.in/turing-law-sc-order-on-377-comparative-analysis Both recognise the sexual orientation of the homosexual community and back their rights and personal liberty, reaffirm equality, sexual privacy, and autonomy https://opinionexpress.in/healthy-decision The decision to replace Harsh Vardhan raises more questions than it politically tries to answer https://opinionexpress.in/fresh-blood The PM’s new team contributes to gender parity, respects professional qualifications and the youth https://opinionexpress.in/he-portrayed-emotions-naturally-as-few-could Dilip Kumar’s rise to stardom came through essaying romantic emotions suppressed in youth when caste acted as an unbreakable barrier https://opinionexpress.in/dont-think-there-was-a-dip-in-my-performance-chahal Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has said that not much should be read into his demotion from Grade B to C in the Indian cricket board's annual contracts list, and added that his complete focus was on giving his best performance during the white-ball series in Sri Lanka, beginning July 13. https://opinionexpress.in/flight-commander-scindia-takes-control-of-civil-aviation-ministry India's Civil Aviation sector got a new commander to manoeuvre the industry out of the Covid turbulence, as Jyotiraditya Scindia took charge of the ministry on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/scarlett-johansson-opens-up-on-being-shadowed-by-daughter Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson says she can't find time to use the bathroom, being a mother to a six-year-old. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-slams-centre-over-hike-in-png-cng-prices Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday took a swipe at the BJP-led Centre over the hike in the prices of the CNG and PNG, saying that inflation is continuing to grow and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'accountability was only towards friends'. https://opinionexpress.in/ayushmann-i-use-my-social-media-to-draw-attention-to-future-disruptors Actor Ayushmann Khurrana says he follows a lot of young poets, singers, performing artistes and dancers who are yet to burst onto the scene and tries using his social media to draw attention to these artistes. https://opinionexpress.in/officials-in-railway-ministers-office-to-work-in-two-shifts Hours after taking charge as new Railway Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new cabinet, Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed all the officials of his team to work in two shifts. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-cancels-trump-proposal-to-time-limit-student-visas US President Joe Biden's administration has announced it is cancelling a proposal by his predecessor Donald Trump to limit student visas to a four-year term for scholars from India and most other countries. https://opinionexpress.in/pfizer-developing-covid-booster-shot-to-target-delta-variant Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that they were developing a Covid-19 booster shot intended to target the highly transmissible Delta variant, according to US media reports. https://opinionexpress.in/bigg-boss-to-stream-first-6-weeks-on-ott-before-tv The next season of the popular reality show "Bigg Boss" will stream its first six weeks on OTT and then make a gradual shift to television. The new season will be called "Bigg Boss OTT" and will arrive early this year. https://opinionexpress.in/people-across-india-praying-for-kalyan-singhs-speedy-recovery-modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday enquired about the health of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh and said people across India are praying for his speedy recovery. https://opinionexpress.in/five-day-rss-meet-begins-in-chitrakoot A five-day meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is set to begin in Chitrakoot from Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/global-cues-subdue-equities-markets-in-red India's key equity markets opened in the red on Friday as negative global cues subdued investors' sentiments. https://opinionexpress.in/gunfight-breaks-out-at-kulgam-in-kashmir An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces at Redwani area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-43k-new-covid-cases-911-deaths India recorded 43,393 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and 911 deaths, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/to-strengthening-cultural-roots-via-tourism-kishan-reddy   https://opinionexpress.in/grenade-found-inside-drain-in-southwest-delhi A grenade was found by a sanitation worker on Thursday while he was cleaning a drain under a walkway in southwest Delhi's Sagarpur area, police said. https://opinionexpress.in/no-interim-protection-for-twitter-centre-free-to-act-delhi-hc The Delhi High Court on Thursday said that there is no interim protection for Twitter and the Centre is free to take any action if the micro-blogging site breaches the new IT rules. https://opinionexpress.in/sri-lankan-presidents-brother-appointed-finance-minister   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-says-no-communication-on-french-asset-seizure-on-cairn-arbitration  cairn arbitration https://opinionexpress.in/japan-to-impose-covid-emergency-during-olympics-2021   https://opinionexpress.in/everyone-has-to-follow-law-of-land-new-it-min-vaishnaw New Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday did not waste any time to make it crystal clear how he wants things to pan out in the ongoing Twitter-Centre face off as he assumed office as the Union Minister for Railways, Communication, Electronics & IT. https://opinionexpress.in/rumer-willis-flaunts-figure-in-swimsuit-after-being-tagged-too-skinny   https://opinionexpress.in/hardeep-singh-puri-to-take-charge-of-petroleum-ministry   https://opinionexpress.in/anurag-thakur-takes-charge-as-new-ib-minister   https://opinionexpress.in/old-congressman-himachal-cm-virbhadra-passes-away   https://opinionexpress.in/modi-25-tech-savvy-cabinet-kick-starts-new-chapter modi https://opinionexpress.in/resignations-from-council-of-ministers-pour-in-ahead-of-reshuffle Several heavyweight ministers are resigning before the massive reshuffle of the Modi government this evening. https://opinionexpress.in/big-win-for-forces-top-hizbul-commander-killed-in-kashmir-encounter A top commander of proscribed terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was killed during an encounter between the terrorists and security forces in North Kashmir's Handwara on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/scindia-sonowal-rane-yadav-tipped-to-join-modi-govt Ministerial probables are assembling at Lok Kalyan Marg as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address them before the oath taking ceremony in the evening today. https://opinionexpress.in/21-new-faces-likely-in-modi20-bihar-tipped-for-lions-share A new look Modi government will be unveiled on Wednesday evening as 21 new faces find their way into the Council of Ministers. https://opinionexpress.in/reasons-to-include-a-workout-in-your-childs-routine A workout doesn't mean spending hours in a gym or sweating on a treadmill. The foundation of working out should be laid at a young age. Delhi-based fitness and sports nutritionist Hasti Singh shares top five reasons to include workout in a child's daily routine. https://opinionexpress.in/social-media-discord After a week full of intense drama and screaming headlines as social media giants and the Indian government/law enforcement agencies took the knives out in the open over new IT rules as well as spread of misinformation, millions of Indians were left with a burning question: Where does all this lead as the spread of fake news continues unabated? https://opinionexpress.in/bangla-dream Marked 40 years of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's homecoming after being in exile for about five years. After her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also known as the Father of the Nation in Bangladesh, was brutally murdered along with his wife and sons on August 15, 1971, Hasina was provided diplomatic asylum in India. https://opinionexpress.in/time-to-play-the-taiwan-card-oe At a time when the dragon is breathing fire, India must explore alternative tactics, perhaps the establishment of formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan can be a landmark step. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-homecoming Will Mukul’s return strengthen Trinamool’s bid to break BJP in Bengal? https://opinionexpress.in/disaster-management-and-internal-security India is among the five most vulnerable countries as far as natural disasters are concerned. Such a disaster comes unannounced -- there cannot be any Intelligence on earthquakes -- but a lot has been done in India following the Disaster Management Act passed by Parliament in 2005 to identify geographical segments that were prone to different kinds of natural disasters and fix a framework for handling them. https://opinionexpress.in/weaponization-of-sars-cov-2-chinese-conspiracy-or-any-other-mystery The Chinese paper “The unnatural origin of SARS and New Species of Man-made viruses as Genetic Bioweapons,” anticipating that third world war would be a biological war and describing SARS coronaviruses as a new era of genetic weapons that could be artificially manipulated and weaponized in an unprecedented way, has dismantled the smokescreen over conspiracy angle of the pandemic. Contrary to this, “the global times” has repudiated the Chinese conspiracy by quoting Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian studies centre at the East China Normal university, who contended that the book (leaked Chinese paper) has presented the academic enquiry of bioterrorism and possible manipulation of viruses as biological weapons. By emphasizing that 2002 and 2004 SARS epidemic faced by China originated from biological weapons labs abroad, Chinese state media outlet has contended that there is only reality that international terrorists were developing contemporary genetic weapons to attack China. https://opinionexpress.in/making-peace-with-nature-to-address-environmental-emergencies Nature provides the foundation for human existence and prosperity, but humanity is waging war on it resulting in planetary crises, among others, (a.o), the climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and COVID-19. The Nature, Natural systems and the Natural resources are interlinked, interdependent, and are nested, occupying the biggest space by nature, medium level space by natural systems and small space by natural resources. They are also interchangeably referred to in this paper. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-where-did-we-go-wrong Today COVID-19 has hit almost every family in the Country. The sufferings of citizens due this mysterious pandemic have multiplied manifold in its second wave when, Central Govt was celebrating its success in containing first wave and claimed that it has successfully contained COVID-19 which is almost finished. The Central Govt little realised that the COVID-19 was just sleeping like Kumbhakarn and was likely to hit back with vengeance. https://opinionexpress.in/dilip-kumars-body-taken-home-funeral-this-evening Renowned Bollywood actor Mohammed Yusuf Khan, world-famous as Dilip Kumar, passed away here on Wednesday morning after prolonged bouts of illnesses, his family and aides said. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-pandemic-will-test-indias-political-unity Covid-19 has struck people at every walk of life. It has shaken India’s vast population and affected economy, education, health care systems and also day to day normal life for the last one year. Similar to many countries, India too undertook various strategic steps to control Covid-19 and implemented many national and state level Covid-19 control measures. India has efficiently and effectively managed the emergence of first Covid-19 wave.  Although many epidemiologists and mathematical model experts predicted there could be second or third wave of Covid-19 in 202 in India, political leaders and policymakers took such information very leniently and casually. The laxity to adhere to covid-19 protocols was deviated at many situations across the country from the beginning of 2021. Critical analysis indicates that political and administrative machinery went into certain type of overconfidence that India has achieved measures to control Covid-19. Such indications from political leaders have profoundly impacted public and thus public diverged from adhering to covid-19 protocols. Recently, top medical journal the Lancet wrote Indian policy makers might have accepted pandemic as “endgame” in India once the first Covid-19 wave subsided. https://opinionexpress.in/twin-trouble-for-modi The WHO Representative to India, appreciated the response of the Government of India to the first wave of pandemic COVID-19 describing the Lockdown Measures as "timely, comprehensive and robust". https://opinionexpress.in/rtn-jaspal-singh-sidhu-is-president-2021-22-of-rotary-club-chandigarh Rtn Jaspal Singh Sidhu was installed here today as the President of Rotary Club of Chandigarh for the year 2021-22. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modis-new-cabinet-will-be-youngest-most-educated-in-recent-history "Overall two dozen OBCs (Other Backward Class) will be represented. The plan is to involve the smaller communities," they said. The average education will also be higher, with "PhDs, MBAs, post-graduates and professionals", the sources say. Special focus will be on each state and even region in states, the sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-to-get-new-leader-of-house-in-place-of-thaawarchand   https://opinionexpress.in/ankita-lokhande-on-bigg-boss-the-rumours-of-my-participation-are-baseless big boss https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-will-be-in-trouble-for-non-compliance-with-india-rules-hc   https://opinionexpress.in/governor-level-shake-up  ; ;  https://opinionexpress.in/akhara-parishad-supports-bhagwats-common-dna-statement   https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-below-35k-new-cases-just-over-550-deaths With 34,703 fresh Covid cases, India on Tuesday recorded lowest spike since March 17, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, as only 553 deaths were reported in the biggest relief since April 6. https://opinionexpress.in/dilip-kumar-still-in-hospital-health-improving-saira-banu Bollywood veteran Dilip Kumar's health is improving. The 98-year-old is currently recuperating in hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/gomti-riverfront-case-cbi-searches-42-locations-in-up-bengal-raj   https://opinionexpress.in/developing-safe-self-driving-car-a-hard-problem-admits-musk Tesla CEO Elon Musk has finally admitted that developing a safe and reliable self-driving car is indeed a difficult task. https://opinionexpress.in/fr-stan-swamy-to-be-laid-to-rest-in-bandra-church The funeral of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, Father Stan Lourduswamy, who passed away while in custody on Monday, shall be performed at a Bandra church here on Tuesday afternoon. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-to-procure-10-anti-drone-systems-for-border-deployment After a drone attack at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Jammu, the force has decided to procure 10 anti-drone systems to stop such attacks in future in the border areas. https://opinionexpress.in/bezos-retires-officially-andy-jassy-takes-over-as-amazon-ceo   https://opinionexpress.in/pranab-mukherjees-son-abhijit-mukherjee-joins-trinamool   https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-warns-foreign-troops-to-be-at-risk-for-being-occupiers   https://opinionexpress.in/anil-deshmukh-ducks-ed-date-thrice   https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-shakti-bhog-foods-ltd-cmd   https://opinionexpress.in/shocking-distressing-sc-on-section-66a-still-being-used-to-book-people   https://opinionexpress.in/shaan-i-avoid-songs-with-regressive-or-negative-connotations For singer Shaan, the positive impact that music creates on listeners is important. It is a reason he avoids songs with regressive or negative connotations. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-in-green-sensex-up-300-points The key Indian equity indices traded on a positive note on Monday with the Sensex gaining around 300 points. https://opinionexpress.in/at-723-india-records-lowest-covid-fatalities-since-april-8 India on Monday recorded 723 deaths and added 39,796 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-to-hit-century-in-delhi The prices of petrol continued its upward march on Monday, the second day running, taking its price closer to century mark in Delhi and Kolkata, the only two metro cities where the fuel is still below Rs 100 a litre. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-should-take-cognisance-of-corruption-allegations-mayawati Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Monday said that Centre should take cognisance of the alleged "corruption" in the Rafale deal. https://opinionexpress.in/green-india-challenge-aims-for-record-by-planting-1-million-saplings-in-1-hour   https://opinionexpress.in/dna-of-all-indians-is-same-irrespective-of-religion-mohan-bhagwat-2258   https://opinionexpress.in/khadi-project-bold-to-boost-tribal-income   https://opinionexpress.in/hepa-air-cleaners-masks-can-cut-indoor-covid-exposure-by-90-cdc   https://opinionexpress.in/assam-cm-firm-on-population-policy-to-eliminate-poverty-despite-criticism   https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-nine-new-medical-colleges-in-up Nine new medical colleges will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month. The final date for the event is yet to be decided. https://opinionexpress.in/mild-tremor-hits-kutch-in-gujarat A tremor of 3.7 magnitude was experienced in Gujarat's Kutch district on Sunday morning, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-nears-rs-100ltr-in-delhi-with-another-35p-hike Fuel prices continued an upward march on Sunday and the petrol was priced at Rs 99.51 per litre in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/philippine-military-plane-crashes-17-dead-40-rescued The Philippine defence secretary says at least 17 people have been killed and 40 rescued in the crash of a Philippine air force C-130 aircraft carrying troops in a southern province. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-to-piggyback-on-fm-thiagarajans-economic-expertise   https://opinionexpress.in/dma-calls-ramdev-the-bizman-clad-as-yoga-guru   https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-remains-isis-key-destination-for-pushing-drugs-into-india   https://opinionexpress.in/corporate-fraud-and-promoter-complicity   https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-sweeps-up-panchayat-polls   https://opinionexpress.in/saroj-khan-biopic-announced-on-her-first-death-anniversary A biography of Saroj Khan was been announced on Saturday, which marks the first death anniversary of the late choreographer. https://opinionexpress.in/dcw-rescues-12-yr-old-boy-working-in-a-mill-from-child-labour The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has rescued a 12-year-old boy, who was working as a child labourer at a mill in Dayalpur area of the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-model-s-plaid-catches-fire-in-us-report Elon Musk-owned Tesla's Model S Plaid caught fire, this week, in Haverford, Pennsylvania, while the owner was at the wheel, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/developments-in-education-health-empowering-women-in-delhi-aap-leader Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Delhi's Kalkaji constituency, Atishi has claimed that for the last few years the Delhi government has been working to empower women, providing them easy access to public healthcare, education and transportation. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-summons-ncp-leader-anil-deshmukh-for-questioning-on-july-5 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has once again summoned former Maharashtra Hone Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh for questioning on July 5 in connection with the alleged bribery charges. This is the third summon to Deshmukh in a week. https://opinionexpress.in/final-phase-3-results-of-covaxin-show-efficacy-of-778-against-covid Efficacy analysis demonstrates Covaxin to be 77.8 per cent effective against symptomatic COVID-19, through evaluation of 130 confirmed cases, with 24 observed in the vaccine group versus 106 in the placebo group. https://opinionexpress.in/pushkar-singh-dhami-sworn-in-as-the-new-uttarakhand-cm  Uttrakhand new CM Dhami https://opinionexpress.in/slight-respite-from-heat-wave-for-next-few-days After a week-long heat wave with the mercury crossing 40 degrees Celsius almost every day, there is hope for some respite with the prediction of "no heatwave conditions likely for next five days" over northwest India. https://opinionexpress.in/debris-of-sunk-cargo-vessel-caused-marine-disaster-in-sri-lanka-indian-navy Indian Navy informed Sri Lanka that it has identified 54 underwater debris and a ship-wreck in the vicinity of the ill-fated MV X-Press Pearl ship which caused the worse-ever man-made marine disaster in the sea off the island nation. https://opinionexpress.in/katrina-kaifs-moods-captured-on-a-saturday Katrina Kaif has shared her various moods on social media on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/harbhajan-singh-to-star-in-friendship-film-announced-on-his-birthday On Harbhajan Singh's birthday on Saturday, it was announced that the cricketer is all set to make his big screen debut with a film titled "Friendship". https://opinionexpress.in/congress-again-demands-jpc-probe-into-rafale-deal A day after France ordered a judicial probe into the allegations of graft in 36 Rafale fighter jets deal with India, the Congress on Saturday upped its ante against the Narendra Modi government and demanded Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe. https://opinionexpress.in/a-refreshingly-candid-perspective-on-the-tata-empire   https://opinionexpress.in/uttarakhand-bjp-to-elect-new-chief-minister-by-evening-today Uttarakhand will get its third chief minister in four months on Saturday evening after Tirath Singh Rawat resigned from the post on Friday night. https://opinionexpress.in/bring-petrol-under-gst-regime-fkcci-appeals-to-fm The members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), led by its president Perikal M. Sundar, on Friday appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to bring petrol and diesel under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime besides reducing the GST on commodities required for daily needs to contain inflation. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-hits-out-at-bjp-over-political-instability-in-uttarakhand A day after Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat resigned, the Congress on Saturday hit out at the BJP over the political instability in the state, accusing it of power hungry. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-targets-govt-once-again-over-covid-vaccination-policy Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday once again targeted the government over its vaccination policy, saying "mind the gap". https://opinionexpress.in/deciding-cases-not-easy-need-to-focus-on-repercussions-too-cji   https://opinionexpress.in/uttarakhand-cm-tirath-singh-rawat-resigns   https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-arrests-2-ed-officials-in-alleged-graft-case In a big embarrassment to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Friday that it has arrested two officials of the financial probe agency from Gujarat in connection with an alleged graft case https://opinionexpress.in/ed-attaches-properties-of-ahmed-patels-son-in-law-in-bank-fraud-case  ED, Bank Fraud https://opinionexpress.in/the-worlds-youngest-chess-gm   https://opinionexpress.in/doctors-heroes-without-capes-sad-to-see-brutal-attacks-on-them-cji   https://opinionexpress.in/its-for-pm-to-act-sc-junks-plea-seeking-action-mos-vk-singh The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking action against Union Minister Gen (retd) V.K. Singh for allegedly breaching oath of office by making certain comments on the India-China LAC issue. https://opinionexpress.in/padma-lakshmi-opens-up-on-the-stunning-photo-shoot  photoshoot https://opinionexpress.in/rise-in-new-cases-to-force-stringent-norms-in-tn-again The Tamil Nadu Health Department is keen on implementing stringent measures including wearing of masks, social distancing, and increasing the volume of tests, besides massive vaccination drives as 15 districts show fresh spike in Covid-19 cases. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-variant-to-make-up-80-of-new-cases-in-germany The Delta variant is expected to become the dominant Covid-19 strain in Germany with its share of positive cases approaching 80 per cent, Health Minister Jens Spahn said. https://opinionexpress.in/legal-threats-move-closer-to-trump-as-his-trusted-official-charged Legal threats have moved closer to former US President Donald Trump with the prosecution of his companies and a top official in his inner circle currently face charges of tax fraud. https://opinionexpress.in/europe-expected-to-be-delta-dominant-by-aug-warns-who The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Europe is expected to be "Delta dominant" by August, adding that increased mixing, travel, gatherings, and easing of social restrictions have ended a 10-week decline in the number of new Covid-19 cases across the continent. https://opinionexpress.in/hike-in-petrol-prices-diesel-unchanged In relief to transport sector, OMCs raised petrol prices as global cues pushed fuel prices up across the country on Friday adding to common man's misery, even as he already grapples with high food prices amid shrinking income. https://opinionexpress.in/badshah-i-dont-work-for-stardom He is among the top rappers in the country but Badshah insists he doesn't work for the stardom. It's also the reason, he adds, why the fear of losing stardom never bothers him. https://opinionexpress.in/warholm-breaks-29-year-old-400m-hurdles-world-record Norwegian star Karsten Warholm clocked 46.70 seconds in men's 400 metres hurdles to smash Kevin Young's long standing world record of 46.78 secs at the Bislett Games, which is also the fourth Diamond League, here on late Thursday night. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-nifty-start-on-weak-note-amid-sustained-fii-outflow Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty opened on a choppy note on Friday amid sustained foreign fund outflow and a mixed trend in Asian peers. https://opinionexpress.in/telecom-industry-under-tremendous-stress-sunil-mittal   https://opinionexpress.in/quad-copter-from-pak-repulsed-by-bsf-at-ib The Border Security Force (BSF) have fired at a quad copter from Pakistan to repulse it from crossing the International Border (IB) in the Arnia sector of Jammu, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-agrees-to-global-tax-framework-on-taxing-multinationals   https://opinionexpress.in/time-bound-call-on-defection-only-parliament-can-frame-laws-says-sc   https://opinionexpress.in/for-most-indians-respecting-all-faiths-very-important-to-being-truly-indian-report   https://opinionexpress.in/nadda-shah-greet-doctors-and-chartered-accountants BJP chief J.P. Nadda and union home minister Amit Shah, on Thursday, greeted doctors and chartered accountants on 'Doctors Day' and 'Chartered Accountants' Day. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-1005-deaths-as-new-cases-stay-below-50k India reported 48,786 new Covid-19 cases and 1,005 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/buying-your-dream-home   https://opinionexpress.in/public-opinion-on-social-media-should-be-ignored-by-judges-cji CJI https://opinionexpress.in/rafael-unveils-fifth-generation-missile-system-sea-breaker   https://opinionexpress.in/jk-govt-ends-149-year-old-darbar-move-practice   https://opinionexpress.in/shraddha-kapoors-new-style-takeaway   https://opinionexpress.in/amid-infighting-in-punjab-congress-sidhu-meets-priyanka Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has raised a banner of revolt against Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, on Wednesday, met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. https://opinionexpress.in/mandira-bedis-husband-filmmaker-raj-kaushal-no-more Actress Mandira Bedi's husband, filmmaker Raj Kaushal, passed away on Wednesday morning. Kaushal reportedly succumbed to a heart attack. https://opinionexpress.in/4-killed-in-lpg-cylinder-blast-in-delhis-farsh-bazar Four people, including two women, of a family were killed after an explosion in a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder at a house in east Delhi's Farsh Bazaar area on Wednesday morning, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said. https://opinionexpress.in/covaxin-effectively-neutralises-alpha-delta-variants-us-top-body Covaxin's Covid-19 jab, developed and manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, generates antibodies that can effectively neutralise the Alpha (B117) and Delta (B1617) variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19, the US National Institutes of Health has said citing results from two studies of blood serum from people who received the shots. https://opinionexpress.in/serena-williams-retires-from-wimbledon-opener-after-injury Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion from the US, was forced to retire from Wimbledon due to an injury in her first-round match against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich here. https://opinionexpress.in/tamannaah-bhatia-my-idea-is-to-not-let-image-take-over-work-i-want-to-do Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been acting for 16 years now. She has won a large fan base as one of the top glam queens of the South, and has also impressed as an actress of substance with select roles. She feels her idea is to not let any particular image dictate the kind of work she wants to do. https://opinionexpress.in/at-817-india-records-least-deaths-since-april-10 India reported 45,951 new Covid-19 cases and 817 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Wednesday. This is lowest deaths due to Covid since April 10. https://opinionexpress.in/zomatos-100m-investment-to-turn-grofers-into-unicorn-report Food delivery app Zomato, which is working to explore public markets later this year, has reached an agreement to invest $100 million in online grocer Grofers for about a 10 per cent stake. https://opinionexpress.in/two-drones-again-spotted-over-military-area-in-jammu Two drones were spotted over the military installations on Wednesday in Jammu city which were fired upon by alert troops forcing them to withdraw. https://opinionexpress.in/fir-lodged-against-sasikala-over-threat-to-ex-minister The Roshanai police in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu have registered a case against former interim general secretary of AIADMK, V.K. Sasikala and 500 others on a complaint filed by former minister and AIADMK, Villupuram district secretary, C.Ve. Shanmughan that several known and unknown people had issued death threats against him at Sasikala's behest. https://opinionexpress.in/india-warns-of-cross-border-terror-via-cyberspace-calls-for-global-action Raising an alarm about the emergence of cyberspace as a vehicle for cross-border terrorism by nations and terror organisations, India has called for international action to achieve a framework for global cybersecurity. https://opinionexpress.in/art-370-deprived-jk-of-everything-for-70-years-abrogation-changed-it  Article 370 https://opinionexpress.in/vidya-balan-on-pandemic   https://opinionexpress.in/cipla-to-import-moderna-vaccine-for-india Moderna is said to be 90 per cent effective against Covid. Like Pfizer, Moderna is an mRNA vaccine that has fragments of the genetic material known as messenger RNA. https://opinionexpress.in/high-level-ccs-meeting-at-pm-house Yesterday, the army said a major threat was averted when the troops spotted two drones near a military station in Jammu. They flew away after the troops opened fire at them. Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh has said that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba is likely involved in the attack on the Air Force base in Jammu on Sunday.   https://opinionexpress.in/questionable-pils-cause-problem-to-system-sc-junks-plea-on-central-vista   https://opinionexpress.in/all-states-must-implement-one-nation-one-ration-card-scheme-by-july-31-sc The Supreme Court on Tuesday said all state governments must implement one-nation, one ration card scheme by July 31. https://opinionexpress.in/credit-is-more-debt-chidambaram-slams-govts-new-relief-measures After the Centre on Monday announced eight economic relief measures, former finance minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday slammed the government saying that credit guarantee is not credit and it is more debt and no banker will lend to a debt ridden business. https://opinionexpress.in/not-a-package-another-hoax-rahul-gandhi-on-relief-measures A day after union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced eight relief measures worth Rs 6,28,993 crore, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a swipe at the government saying it is not a package but another hoax. https://opinionexpress.in/up-govt-moves-sc-challenging-ktaka-hc-order-granting-protection-to-twitter-md The Uttar Pradesh government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court order, which granted protection from arrest to Twitter MD Manish Maheshwari in a case connected with a viral video of attack on an elderly man in Ghaziabad. https://opinionexpress.in/top-lashkar-commander-militant-killed-in-kashmir Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists including a top commander were killed during an encounter at Parimpora in Srinagar on Monday, police said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-to-probe-drone-attack-on-jammu-airport-case The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was on Tuesday given the charge of investigation into the drone attack on the Jammu air force station. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-least-daily-covid-cases-since-march-18 India reported 37,566 new Covid-19 cases and 907 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Tuesday. This is lowest fresh cases of Covid since March 18. https://opinionexpress.in/dhankhar-levels-serious-allegations-against-trinamool-govt Dhankar gov vs mamta https://opinionexpress.in/covid-relief-economic-relief-measures-worth-over-rs-6-lakh-cr Covid relief https://opinionexpress.in/ap-guv-bjp-leaders-remember-narasimha-rao-on-birth-anniversary   https://opinionexpress.in/astrazeneca-tests-covid-booster-shots-against-beta-variant British-Swedish biopharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has in partnership with the University of Oxford rolled out human trials for booster shots against Beta Covid variant. https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-undercounted-covid-19-deaths-by-hundreds-of-thousands-report India has officially recorded more than 3,90,000 coronavirus deaths, but families who have lost loved ones, health experts and statisticians say that vastly undercounts the true toll, Wall Street Journal reported. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-reverses-gains-after-touching-fresh-high The BSE Sensex shed its initial gains on Monday after touching a new record high of 53,126.73 points. https://opinionexpress.in/minor-fire-at-delhis-aiims-no-injuries-reported A minor fire broke out at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here in the early hours of Monday which was brought under control quickly. No casualty or injuries were reported. https://opinionexpress.in/country-expected-truth-from-them-rahul-on-centres-vax-claims Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday once again took a potshot at the Narendra Modi government over the Covid vaccination programme saying the country expected truth from them. https://opinionexpress.in/twitters-interim-grievance-officer-for-india-quits   https://opinionexpress.in/cairn-sets-eyes-on-govt-assets-to-recover-dues   https://opinionexpress.in/wahhabi-sect-will-destroy-kashmir  wahhabi https://opinionexpress.in/low-vitamin-d-can-raise-death-risk-from-covid-by-20   https://opinionexpress.in/foreign-e-commerce-companies-violated-indian-laws-piyush-goyal   https://opinionexpress.in/shed-vaccine-hesitancy-do-not-believe-in-rumours-pm-modi-to-people Cautioning people that the threat of COVID-19 remains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged them to shed vaccine hesitancy and get themselves inoculated soon. https://opinionexpress.in/india-adds-50k-new-covid-cases-1258-deaths-in-24-hours India reported 50,040 new Covid-19 cases, slightly higher than Saturday and 1,258 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-economy-poised-for-recovery-in-fy22-sbi-chairman Although the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic again brought businesses and economic activities to a standstill, Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), Dinesh Kumar Khara has expressed hope that the country's economy would recover in the ongoing financial year. https://opinionexpress.in/mayawati-rules-out-alliance-with-aimim Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati has said that her party would contest the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand alone. https://opinionexpress.in/foreign-vaccines-centre-says-efforts-being-made-at-highest-level The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that it is making efforts at highest political and diplomatic level to procure foreign COVID-19 vaccines. https://opinionexpress.in/south-india-politics-remains-indifferent-to-national-parties   https://opinionexpress.in/low-intensity-blasts-at-jammu-air-force-station   https://opinionexpress.in/ncb-busts-international-drug-syndicate-active-over-darknet NCB dRUG RACKET Bust https://opinionexpress.in/ayodhya-to-be-global-tourism-hub-pm-reviews-development-plan  Ram Temple https://opinionexpress.in/major-modi-cabinet-expansion-anytime-now   https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-fatf-grey-list-continues   https://opinionexpress.in/addiction-is-neither-cool-nor-a-style-statement-pm-modi On the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for realising the vision of a drugs-free India, noting that they bring darkness, destruction and devastation. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-delhi-rajdhani-express-derails-major-mishap-averted The front wheel of the locomotive hauling the Nizamuddin-Madgaon Rajdhani Superfast Special, derailed while it zoomed through a tunnel in Ratnagiri, officials said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/dawoods-brother-iqbal-kaskar-gets-one-day-ncb-custody-in-drugs-case A court at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district has remanded Iqbal Kaskar, brother of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, in the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) custody for one day in a drugs case. https://opinionexpress.in/top-bjp-leaders-hold-meeting-at-party-headquarters Senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh and party president J P Nadda, held a meeting here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-19-caseload-tops-180mn The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 180 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.90 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-leaders-divided-on-ties-with-russia European Union (EU) leaders have failed to agree on the way forward on relations with Moscow, with most of them rejecting a proposal by France and Germany to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-may-soon-let-you-connect-your-google-account Micro-blogging site Twitter is working to make it possible to sign in to your account through a connected Google Account. https://opinionexpress.in/949-medical-workers-in-indonesia-die-of-covid At least 949 medical workers in Indonesia have died due to Covid-19 from March 2020 to June 2021, the Indonesian Medical Association's head Adib Khumaidi said. https://opinionexpress.in/pankaj-tripathi-lends-support-to-ncb-on-international-day-against-drug-abuse Actor Pankaj Tripathi on Saturday pledged support to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. He says authorities from NCB Patna Zonal Unit have reached out to him for the cause. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-on-a-roll-rates-rise-by-35-pltr Global cues pushed fuel prices to increase again across the country on Saturday, adding more misery for the common man already grappling with rising food prices amidst shrinking income. https://opinionexpress.in/its-simple-we-are-with-farmers-rahul-gandhi As the farmers are intensifying their protest over the three farm laws on the completion of seven months of their agitation at the borders of the national capital, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday came out in their support saying we are with the "farmers". https://opinionexpress.in/vaccinated-covid-recovered-tests-positive-for-delta In the first case of Delta positive in Rajasthan, a 65-year-old woman, who recovered from Covid-19 in May and had undergone both doses of vaccination, has tested positive with the variant. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-2-aides-of-anil-deshmukh The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested two aides of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with an alleged 'hafta' case, officials said here. https://opinionexpress.in/over-48k-covid-cases-1183-deaths-in-24-hours-in-india Witnessing a slight dip, India reported 48,698 new Covid-19 cases and 1,183 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-targets-anil-deshmukh-corruption-racket   https://opinionexpress.in/diaspora-student-to-present-nritya-kalanjali-bharatanatyam-arangetram-in-singapore Bharatanatyam, which is 2000 year old Indian classical dance form that originated in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India has today spread globally.After years of formal training, the student, with the blessing of her Guru, presents her debut solo performance on stage with great devotion called as Arangetram, which literally means ascending the stage. Arangetram is an important milestone for an aspiring dancer of Bharatanatyam. https://opinionexpress.in/unite-to-prevent-the-third-wave Leaders across the political spectrum should spread vaccine awareness https://opinionexpress.in/climate-change-and-its-socio-economic-impact Climate change and poverty are part of a vicious cycle. The inability of the vulnerable sections to effectively mitigate climate change-induced impacts make them worse off https://opinionexpress.in/one-world As UP and other elections approach, India must stop looking at people through the prism of religion https://opinionexpress.in/the-sidhus In a cleft stick, the Punjab Congress needs to bring its house in order before the Assembly elections https://opinionexpress.in/when-a-pms-conceit-dragged-down-india On the anniversary of the only state of Emergency that India has seen, here’s a look back at the dark days and those preceding it https://opinionexpress.in/us-economy-grew-at-64-in-2021-q1 The US economy grew at an annual rate of 6.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2021, the Commerce Department reported. https://opinionexpress.in/gunfight-erupts-in-jks-shopian An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in South Kashmir's Shopian district on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/nothing-partners-with-flipkart-to-launch-ear-1-in-india London-based Nothing, the newly-launched venture of OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, on Friday announced its foray into India in partnership with the country's homegrown e-commerce marketplace Flipkart. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-should-be-held-accountable-for-deaths-due-to-oxygen-shortage Citing a Supreme Court-appointed audit panel's report, the Delhi BJP leaders on Friday held Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responsible for deaths due to oxygen shortage in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/ray-uneven-but-worth-a-binge "Ray" (Anthology series on Netflix); Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Gajraj Rao, Shweta Basu Prasad, Anindita Bose, Ali Fazal, Kay Kay Menon, Bidita Bag, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Radhika Madan, Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor; Direction: Abhishek Chaubey, Srijit Mukherji, Vasan Bala; Rating: * * * (three stars) https://opinionexpress.in/ayesha-sulthana-gets-anticipatory-bail-in-sedition-case Lakshadweep film personality Ayesha Sulthana, who earlier this month got interim bail from the Kerala High Court, on Friday got anticipatory bail in the sedition case she has been charged with by the Kavaratti police. https://opinionexpress.in/theres-no-such-report-sisodia-over-claims-that-delhi-inflated-oxygen-need-during-covid-2nd-wave Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday denied existence of any report by the Supreme Court-appointed Oxygen Audit Committee about Delhi exaggerating its oxygen requirement by four times during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-attaches-properties-worth-rs-36594-cr-of-adarsh-group-riddhi-siddhi-grp The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said that it has attached properties worth Rs 365.94 crore belonging to the Adarsh Group of Companies, firms, LLPs, Riddhi Siddhi Group of Companies, firms, AOPs and others. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-consulting-with-allies-on-iran-pm Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that his country will work closely with its allies on preventing Iran from achieving nuclear weapons. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-files-charge-sheet-against-7-terrorists The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against seven terrorists of the Tehreek-Ul-Mujahideen (TuM) who were party to a conspiracy by its Pakistan-based handlers and their terror associates based in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Kuwait to execute terrorist activities and wage war against the country. https://opinionexpress.in/judge-keeps-india-terror-attack-suspect-in-us-custody A former Chicago businessman will remain in the United States as a federal judge in Los Angeles weighs whether he will be extradited to India for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed more than 160 people. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-remain-unchanged-on-friday Fuel retailers spared consumers of further hike in fuel prices by keeping retail prices of petrol and diesel unchanged on Friday, a day after it touched new records. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-open-on-positive-note Equity benchmark Sensex and Nifty opened on a positive note on Friday amid a firm trend in global markets. https://opinionexpress.in/ajay-devgn-to-produce-hindi-remake-of-telugu-hit-naandhi-with-dil-raju Superstar Ajay Devgn and producer Dil Raju on Friday announced that they are collaborating for the Hindi remake of Telugu film "Naandhi", the makers announced on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-screening-travellers-from-maha-for-delta-plus-variant The Goa government has started screening people entering the state from Maharashtra, especially from the southern Sindhudurg district, where a case of Delta Plus variant has been detected, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ceiling-collapse-occurs-in-south-mumbai-building-35-rescued-none-hurt At least 35 persons were rescued after a major portion of the third floor ceiling in a five-storey building, which was under repair, collapsed in south Mumbai's Fort area on Friday morning, a fire brigade official said. https://opinionexpress.in/africas-covid-caseload-at-historic-high-amid-3rd-wave-who The number of Covid-19 cases in Africa has increased at an unprecedented pace as the continent grapples amid the ongoing third wave that has posed a dire threat to the continent's public health infrastructure, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-first-indigenous-aircraft-carrier-will-be-commissioned-next-year-rajnath-singh India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) will be commissioned next year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/dark-days-of-emergency-can-never-be-forgotten-pm-modi On the 46th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said those "dark days" can never be forgotten and called for taking a pledge to strengthen India's democratic spirit and live up to the values enshrined in the Constitution. https://opinionexpress.in/global-covid-19-caseload-tops-1799mn The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 179.9 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.89 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. https://opinionexpress.in/why-no-large-scale-testing-of-delta-plus-variant-rahul Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday fired fresh salvos at the Narendra Modi government over the Delta Plus variant of Covid and asked why no testing on a large-scale was being done to stop its spread. https://opinionexpress.in/us-initial-jobless-claims-fall-after-rising-to-highest-level Initial unemployment claims in the US fell to 411,000 last week, after rising to the highest level in a month in the prior week, the Labour Department reported. https://opinionexpress.in/williamsons-boys-best-players-is-our-history-nz-greats Leading former New Zealand cricketers such as Brendon McCullum and Richard Hadlee are awestruck with the showing of skipper Kane Williamson's boys in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India here and feel this is probably the country's greatest-ever team. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-announces-windows-11-operating-system After weeks of leaks and hype, tech giant Microsoft has officially announced the next version of its desktop operating system (OS) -- Windows 11. https://opinionexpress.in/pelosi-tells-cook-to-let-antitrust-bills-play-out-report US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has confirmed that she spoke with Apple CEO Tim Cook about a recent slate of antitrust bills, adding that she told him to let the process play out, the media reported https://opinionexpress.in/soldier-killed-in-lightning-strike-in-jk A rifleman was killed while two others were injured on Friday in a lightning strike incident in J&K's Poonch district. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-51k-new-covid-cases India recorded 51,667 new Covid-19 cases and 1,329 deaths in the last 24 hours taking the country's total caseload to 3,01,34,445, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-raids-maha-ex-home-minister-anil-deshmukhs-residence For the second time in a month, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday raided the house of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. https://opinionexpress.in/india-may-be-world-leader-in-green-buildings-by-2024   https://opinionexpress.in/amid-navi-mumbai-airport-protest-hardeep-puri-cites-sardar-joke Mumbai, June 24 (IANS) As massive protests erupted on Thursday over the naming of the upcoming greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri attempted to lighten the mood with some "Sardar" humour.Puri dug out a two-year-old tweet by Bollywood singer-actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthi with a Santa-Banta joke: "Banta sent a letter to Civil Aviation Minister: Sir, it is my humble request that the new airport in Navi Mumbai should be named 'Bantacruz', since my brother has already one airport named after him 'Santacruz'."The existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) here was previously known as 'Santacruz Airport' because of its proximity to the Santacruz railway station and also the suburb bearing the same name.Reposting the celeb's tweet, diplomat-turned-politician Puri gave an amusing repartee: "The Ministry of Civil Aviation receives many requests for naming and renaming of existing and under construction airports. To lighten the mood a bit, I want to inform my friend Banta that his formal proposal has not yet been received by us!"Joining the spirit of the minister, Suchitra warmly acknowledged: "Haha. Stay well and witty sir. Love and respect always."Navi Mumbai saw massive protests on Thursday afternoon with thousands demanding that the upcoming new airport there should be named after popular local leader and parliamentarian, the late D. B. Patil.While the Shiv Sena wants it to be named after the party's founder, the late Balasaheb Thackeray, there are demands in favour of the father of Indian civil aviation J. R. D. Tata and even the state's longest-ruling chief minister Vasantrao Naik, the Opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena wants it to retain the name CSMIA as it is an extension of the CSMIA Mumbai airport, and some sections want its identity to be retained as NMIA to distinguish between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-meets-j-k-leaders-to-chalk-out-future-course-of-action Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a crucial meeting with 14 political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, including four former chief ministers, to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory. https://opinionexpress.in/save-agriculture-and-democracy-farmers-urge-president The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has sought President Ram Nath Kovind's intervention to 'Save Agriculture and Save Democracy' on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Emergency and the completion of seven months of the ongoing farmers' agitation, a top farmer leader said here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-unveils-new-anti-crime-strategy US President Joe Biden has launched a new crime prevention strategy amid soaring gun violence across the country, focusing on illegal sale of firearms, law-breaking dealers and better community support. https://opinionexpress.in/one-shot-of-pfizer-astrazeneca-vax-offers-60-protection-against-covid A single dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine offers around 60 per cent protection against infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19, in adults aged 65 years and above, according to a new study published in the The Lancet Infectious. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-expresses-anguish-over-rise-in-fuel-prices-edible-oils Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday expressed anguish over the unprecedented rise in the prices of edible oil, pulses, household goods, fuel prices, saying it is causing intolerable burden and widespread distress. https://opinionexpress.in/ahead-of-all-party-meet-nadda-meets-bjp-leaders-from-jk Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's all-party meet with Jammu and Kashmir leaders, BJP Chief J.P. Nadda met party leaders from the union territory, who would be participating in the meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-mp-mimi-duped-in-fake-vax-racket-one-arrested Kolkata Police have arrested a man allegedly for running a fake vaccination in Kasba area in the southern fringes of the city based on a complaint by Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty. https://opinionexpress.in/focus-on-toyconomy-pms-call-to-indias-toy-industry Noting that India's share in $100 billion global toy market is only around one-and-a-half billion dollars, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed to focus on "toyconomy" advising country's gaming and toy industry to play a big role in this sector. https://opinionexpress.in/30-myanmar-troops-killed-in-sagaing-clashes At least 30 Myanmar troops were reportedly killed during two fierce encounters with civilian resistance fighters in Kani and Yinmabin townships in the Sagaing region bordering northeast India. https://opinionexpress.in/sonu-sood-sells-eggs-bread-from-sonu-sood-ki-supermarket-on-a-cycle Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood was seen selling eggs, bread, chips, and daily grocery items on a cycle, calling it 'Sonu Sood ki Supermarket' in his latest video on social media. The gesture was meant to promote small businesses. https://opinionexpress.in/thunderstorm-gusty-winds-likely-in-delhi-8-statesuts Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds with speed up to 30-40 kmph at isolated places over Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad are very likely on Thursday, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-meets-modi-ahead-of-all-party-meet-discusses-security-in-jk Ahead of crucial all party meeting of Jammu and Kashmir leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Modi and discussed security situation in the Valley. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-records-statement-in-surat-court-in-defamation-case The statement of Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi was submitted on Thursday in the Surat magisterial court in 'Modi surname' defamation case filed by the BJP MLA from Surat West, Purnesh Modi. After submission, Rahul Gandhi soon left for Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-price-on-a-roll-consumers-spared-big-hike-in-diesel Fuel prices increased again across the country on Thursday, adding more misery for the common man already grappling with rising food prices amid shrinking income. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-variant-could-be-dominant-in-europe-by-aug The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that the Covid-19 Delta variant is expected to account for nearly all new cases in the continent by August. https://opinionexpress.in/us-begins-study-on-covid-vax-during-pregnancy-postpartum US researchers have started a new observational study to evaluate the immune responses generated by Covid-19 vaccines administered to pregnant or postpartum women, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced. https://opinionexpress.in/iphone-13-likely-to-release-in-late-2021-report In a bid to offer an upgraded iPhone, Apple is likely to unveil the upcoming "iPhone 13" in late 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/williamson-finally-takes-nz-to-pinnacle-of-crowes-dream Kane Williamson, considered the greatest New Zealand batsman after the late Martin Crowe, fulfilled a dream of the former Kiwis batsman by leading his team to the ICC World Test Championship title win. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-up-200-points The key Indian equity indices traded in the positive territory on Thursday morning with the BSE Sensex rising over 200 points. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-slams-up-govt-for-less-procurement-of-wheat Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday slammed the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh over less procurement of wheat from farmers and urged the government to extend the date to ensure maximum purchase. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-over-54k-new-covid-cases-in-24-hours India recorded 54,069 new Covid-19 cases and 1,321 deaths in the last 24 hours taking the country's total caseload to 3,00,82,778, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/akhara-parishad-calls-meeting-to-check-religious-conversion Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) , June 24 (IANS) The Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) -- the apex body of the 13 akharas (religious orders) -- has summoned a meeting of all the akharas to decide on the steps to be taken to check religious conversions. The meeting will be held soon, said akhara sources. The development comes close on the heels of the arrest of two persons on charges of converting over 1,000 persons.ABAP president Mahant Narendra Giri said, "We have to find a solution and provide an equal opportunity to all so that such incidents could be stopped."There are not only external factors for this but there are fault-lines within us also. Experiences have shown us that those who have been neglected in the mainstream or those who have been treated as outcasts, tend to take refuge in other religions."We will request the Hindus to rise above the considerations of caste and treat everyone with dignity, share mutual respect and avoid circumstances wherein someone changes his or her religion."The Mahant said that soon, a meeting of the representatives of all the 13 akharas would be held and the agenda would be to ask disciples and common Hindus to rise above the caste system and mull over steps for bringing back to the fold those who have changed their religion.Chief patron of Juna Akhara -- the largest of 13 akharas in terms of membership -- Mahant Hari Giri said, "We have always advocated welcoming back those who have switched over to other religions. Seers and disciples would be given the task of convincing people to rise above the narrow considerations of the caste system."The ABAP, two days ago, supported the introduction of a legal draft for population control.Mahant Narendra Giri, in a press statement, had said that the seers have always demanded that the ever-increasing population in the country should be controlled. He had said that under the Population Control Act, it should be ensured that couples, irrespective of their religion, should have only two children.He said that if the population growth in the country is not stopped by bringing a law, then there may be a big population explosion in the coming days. https://opinionexpress.in/no-internet-shutdown-in-view-of-all-party-meet-jk-police Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday dismissed rumours that the Internet facility was being shutdown or downgraded in view of the all-party meeting being held in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-a-travel-agency-for-wilful-defaulters-cong After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it has handed over assets worth Rs 9,371 crore belonging to fugitive businessmen Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi to state-run banks, the Congress questioned the BJP for aiding the fugitives and accused it of being a 'travel agency for wilful defaulters'. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-on-fire The Government should exercise fiscal discipline rather than exploiting oil prices to shore up revenue https://opinionexpress.in/the-bulwark An Opposition front is seemingly in the making, but its united impact on the BJP remains to be seen https://opinionexpress.in/coronas-orphans-kids-of-a-lesser-god Stung by the tragedy of one or both parents succumbing to the virus, thousands of children stare at an uncertain future, if they have one https://opinionexpress.in/astrazeneca-says-92-vaccine-effectiveness-against-delta-variant AstraZeneca said new data from Public Health England (PHE) demonstrated COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, offers high levels of protection against the Delta variant (B.1.617.2; formerly the ‘Indian variant). https://opinionexpress.in/at-least-12-injured-in-lahore-blast-media At least 12 people were injured in a blast in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-plus-variant-goa-increases-screening-along-maha-border Goa has increased screening of the border it shares with the Sindhudurg district in South Maharashtra, where the Delta plus Covid variant has been found, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/bomb-blast-near-hafiz-saeeds-house-in-lahore-kills-2 A massive bomb blast occurred near the house of terrorist Hafiz Saeed in Lahore's Johar Town area on Wednesday, in which at least two persons were killed, while 17 others have sustained injuries. https://opinionexpress.in/kartik-aaryan-to-star-in-musical-love-saga-titled-satyanarayan-ki-katha Actor Kartik Aaryan has been roped in for a musical love saga titled "Satyanarayan Ki Katha", directed by National Award-winner Sameer Vidwans. The actor officially announced the news with a motion poster of the film he shared on Instagram on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/antiguan-pm-gaston-browne-faces-questions-on-choksi-in-parliament Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne faced a barrage of questions in Parliament on Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/amid-infighting-punjab-cong-leaders-meet-rahul-gandhi Punjab Congress president Sunil Jhakhar, finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa met Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday to apprise him of the situation after infighting escalated in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/40-cases-of-delta-plus-variant-found-in-india As many as 40 cases of Delta Plus Covid variant have been detected in India -- the strain which the government has tagged as a "Variant of Concern". https://opinionexpress.in/bumrah-wears-wrong-jersey-returns-to-dressing-room-to-change-it India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was caught in a slightly awkward situation on the fifth day of the World Test Championship final at the Hampshire Bowl -- when he opened the bowling against New Zealand wearing a wrong jersey. https://opinionexpress.in/tokyo-2020-pm-wishes-very-best-to-indian-contingent On the occasion of Olympic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended his wishes to the Indian contingent taking part in Tokyo Olympics, beginning July 23. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-forms-high-level-panel-to-deal-with-3rd-covid-wave Though the daily infection level in West Bengal has come down to below 2,000 but the state government is not leaving anything to chance and has set up a high-level committee to effectively control the third wave of coronavirus that is likely to hit the country in the next two months. The committee that will have its first official meeting on Wednesday will formulate a strategy to develop infrastructure and also determine the treatment procedure so that the disease can be controlled from the beginning. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-cm-stalin-likely-to-head-temple-advisory-committee Tamil Nadu chief minister, M.K. Stalin is likely to head the state-level temple advisory committee to be constituted in the near future. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) minister P.K. Sekar Babu will be the vice-chairman of the committee. https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankars-urgent-call-to-disrupt-pak-terror-link-marks-new-phase-in-indias-afghan-diplomacy External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's clarion call during his address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday marks a new pro-active phase in India's global diplomacy on Afghanistan. https://opinionexpress.in/exciting-finish-expected-but-bundling-out-kiwis-difficult-gavaskar Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar expects an exciting finish to the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand on the reserve day on Wednesday but is sceptical about the bowlers being able to bundle out the opposition with just one full day of play remaining. https://opinionexpress.in/drt-sold-shares-worth-over-rs-5800-cr-of-united-breweries-in-bank-fraud-case-against-mallya-ed The debts recovery tribunal (DRT) has sold shares worth over Rs 5,800 crore of United Breweries Limited (UBL) that were earlier attached under the anti-money laundering law as part of an alleged bank fraud probe against fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/badshah-truly-believe-in-magic-of-india-especially-its-music With last year's "Genda phool" and his latest track "Paani paani", rapper Badshah has started infusing Indian music and instruments in his compositions. He says it is a conscious choice as he truly believes in the magic of India and its culture -- especially the music and instruments that often end up lost in the new digital age. https://opinionexpress.in/heartening-to-note-3-out-of-5-people-vaccinated-on-june-21-were-from-rural-areas-vp-naidu Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said it was heartening to note that three out of five people vaccinated as part of the COVID-19 inoculation drive on June 21 were from rural areas, where the majority of the country's population resides. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-variant-greatest-threat-to-us-accounts-for-20-of-covid-cases The Delta variant has emerged as the greatest threat to the efforts of combatting the coronavirus pandemic in the US as it now accounts for more than 20 per cent of cases in the country, top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has said. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-to-deliver-address-over-soaring-crime-rates-in-us-major-cities US President Joe Biden is set to deliver an address focusing on his administration's crime prevention strategy on Wednesday as multiple major cities across the country are facing crime spikes. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-2nd-us-firm-to-pass-2-trillion-market-cap Tech giant Microsoft reached a $2 trillion market capitalisation in trading, joining a small group of global companies that have crossed that threshold -- including Apple. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-to-be-cm-face-in-up-bjps-raj-cm-face-to-be-decided-by-party-arun-singh BJP general secretary and Rajasthan in charge Arun Singh on Wednesday announced here that Yogi Adityanath will be the face of Assembly elections to be held in Uttar Pradesh in early next year and the face of the chief minister in Rajasthan will be decided by the BJP Parliamentary Board. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-shed-gains-post-gap-up-opening The key Indian equity indices pared their initial gains after a gap-up opening to trade on a flat-to-negative note on Wednesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/already-across-3cr-mark-india-logs-50k-in-24hrs India recorded 50,848 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours taking the country's total caseload to over three crores, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/worst-seems-to-be-over-for-centres-covid-ratings   https://opinionexpress.in/india-g4-allies-force-amendment-to-unga-decision-on-security-council-reforms India and its G4 allies have forced General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir to accept an amendment to the decision on rolling Security Council reform negotiations to the next Assembly session during a meeting at which he and Germany's Permanent Representative Christoph Heusgen clashed openly dropping the genteel style of diplomacy. https://opinionexpress.in/naya-jk   https://opinionexpress.in/trp-scam-goswami-others-named-in-supplementary-charge-sheet   https://opinionexpress.in/smriti-irani-slams-rahul-calls-him-gyani-baba   https://opinionexpress.in/hic-hic-hooray The Delhi Government’s decision on reopening bars means that the patrons must share the onus of safety https://opinionexpress.in/the-dilemma The Centre’s invite to Kashmiri leaders for a meeting appears to have left them confused https://opinionexpress.in/diplomatic-avenues-across-the-sea Politically and historically, India has always been a steadfast ally of the Maldives. At home or at global platforms, India selflessly watches its back https://opinionexpress.in/wtc-final-start-of-fifth-days-play-delayed The start of the fifth day's play of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand on Tuesday was delayed due to rain. The match, which will run into the reserve day on Wednesday, has lost two complete days to rain besides sizeable number of overs on the other two days due to bad light. https://opinionexpress.in/tamil-nadu-prepares-for-a-possible-third-wave Even as fresh Covid-19 cases and active cases are showing a dip in Tamil Nadu, the state is preparing to counter the possibility of a third wave with experts differing whether the third wave will immediately succeed the second wave or will take some time. https://opinionexpress.in/mi-11-lite-revolve-active-watch-launched-in-india With an aim to expand its presence in the country, global smartphone brand Xiaomi on Tuesday launched a new smartphone -- Mi 11 Lite -- along with a new smartwatch -- Mi Watch Revolve Active -- for the Indian consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-working-women-more-worried-about-job-availability-linkedin The second wave of Covid worsened 'shecession' as twice as many working women in India are worried about availability of jobs, time for job-seeking compared to working men, according to the LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index report released on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/aimim-invites-applications-for-2022-polls-in-up The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has started inviting applications from candidates willing to contest the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-no-excuse-sc-directs-local-body-polls-in-9-tn-districts The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC) to conduct local body polls in nine districts, which were carved out of four existing ones, by September 15. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-to-interact-with-participants-of-toycathon-2021-on-june-24 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with participants of Toycathon-2021 on June 24 via video conferencing -- an event aimed at boosting the Toy Industry in India to help it capture a wider share of the toy market. https://opinionexpress.in/high-retail-investments-in-stock-market-may-help-finance-indias-infra-needs Rising retail participation in the stock market can enable to create a larger resource pool for financing India's infrastructure requirements, according to an SBI Ecowrap report. https://opinionexpress.in/astrazeneca-vax-linked-to-rare-neurological-disorder-in-india-england Eleven individuals who received the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine have developed a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome, clinicians in India and England have reported in two separate studies. https://opinionexpress.in/all-jk-gupkar-alliance-leaders-to-attend-pms-all-party-meet Mainstream political leaders who are part of the Peoples alliance for Gupkar declaration (PAGD), said on Tuesday that they will be attending the all party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24. https://opinionexpress.in/vaccine-availability-will-not-be-an-issue-20-22-cr-doses-next-month Asserting that India has the capacity to administer 1.25 crore Covid vaccine doses a day, the Centre on Tuesday made it clear that "there will not be any issue regarding vaccine supply" in the days ahead and that "around 20-22 crore doses will be administered next month". https://opinionexpress.in/rakesh-tikait-gives-3-t-formula-to-intensify-farmers-stir Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who is one among those leading the protests on Delhi borders against three farm laws for the last seven months, has given 'Triple T' formula to intensify the agitaion. https://opinionexpress.in/facebook-achieves-net-zero-emissions-100-renewable-energy Facebook has said that it has met goals of reaching net zero emissions and 100 per cent renewable energy for its global operations. https://opinionexpress.in/south-africa-crush-west-indies-win-test-series-2-0 Keshav Maharaj took a hat-trick as he bowled South Africa to a 158-run victory over the West Indies in the second Test, to make a clean sweep of the two-Test series at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. https://opinionexpress.in/loki-director-kate-herron-for-me-it-was-a-journey-of-self-discovery Director Kate Herron shared that the series 'Loki', for her, has been a journey of self-discovery as someone trying to find her place in the universe. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-judge-recuses-from-hearing-pleas-in-narada-case Supreme Court judge Justice Aniruddha Bose on Tuesday recused himself from hearing appeals of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state law minister Moloy Ghatak about their role on the day of arrest of four TMC leaders by the CBI in the Narada sting tape case. https://opinionexpress.in/minimum-temperature-in-city-rises (Courtesy: PTI) https://opinionexpress.in/after-black-fungus-maha-gets-21-cases-of-the-dreaded-delta-plus-variants Sounding fresh alarm bells, at least 21 cases of the dreaded Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 have been reported in Maharashtra, Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-less-than-50k-covid-cases (Courtesy: PTI) https://opinionexpress.in/modis-name-enough-to-win-up-polls   https://opinionexpress.in/record-run-continues-sensex-crosses-53000-mark   https://opinionexpress.in/the-business-with-terror-probes-isis-role-as-terror-sponsor   https://opinionexpress.in/pak-encouraged-kashmir-centric-terrorists-to-join-islamic-state-khorasan The banned Kashmir-centric terror organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was encouraged by Pakistan's spy agency ISI to join the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) outfit, according to a book. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-calls-meet-of-party-gs-in-charges-on-june-24 Congress president Sonia Gandhi has called meeting of party general secretaries and state in charges on June 24 (Thursday) to discuss issues related to organization and take stock of preparations of the poll bound states. https://opinionexpress.in/calcutta-hc-refuses-to-stay-order-on-nhrc-probing-violence The five-member bench of the Calcutta High Court refused to recall its June 18 order directing the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to constitute a committee for examining complaints filed by persons displaced during post-poll violence in West Bengal. The state had moved the court on Saturday seeking recall and stay of the High Court's Friday order. https://opinionexpress.in/prominent-assam-cong-mla-rupjyoti-kurmi-joins-bjp (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-centre-give-details-on-compensation-to-covid-victims-on-rs-4l-ex-gratia (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/aaps-punjab-cm-face-will-be-from-sikh-community-says-kejriwal The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday announced that the party will contest assembly elections on all seats in Punjab and a person from Sikh community would be the chief ministerial candidate, if the party comes to power. https://opinionexpress.in/kim-jong-uns-remarks-interesting-signal-says-us-nsa US National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's remarks that Pyongyang should be ready for a dialogue, as well as a confrontation with Washington, were an "interesting signal". https://opinionexpress.in/pawar-calls-meet-of-oppn-leaders-on-tuesday-meets-pk-today (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/maruti-suzuki-to-hike-prices-in-next-quarter Maruti Suzuki will raise prices of its vehicles during the July-September quarter due to high input costs. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-infections-in-us-will-surge-if-vax-rates-lag-ex-fda-chief The Delta variant, which currently accounts for at least 10 per cent of all the confirmed coronavirus cases in the US, could spur a surge of infections in the country during fall, if 75 per cent of the country's eligible population is not vaccinated, former Food and Drug Administration chief Scott Gottlieb said. https://opinionexpress.in/increased-competition-lack-of-bidding-may-create-stress-in-road-sector Increased competition in road sector and subsequent aggressive bidding has the potential to build-up of stress on working capital cycle resulting in projects getting delayed or stuck, a report on the sector has showed. https://opinionexpress.in/over-1000-conversions-in-up-racket-unearth-by-ats   https://opinionexpress.in/retail-business-likely-to-be-rils-next-growth-engine Oil-to-telecom giant Reliance Industries (RIL) which has largely seen its growth coming on the back of its petrochemical business over the past decades, is set to see a shift in the anchor's role with the retail business, including its e-commerce operations, to drive the company's growth. https://opinionexpress.in/nyc-rising-from-covid-restrictions-celebrates-yoga-day Rising from the pall of Covid-19 restrictions, New York City celebrated International Yoga Day at the Times Square with day-long performances of the ancient Indian art of developing a healthy mind and body. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-launches-galaxy-m32-with-segment-leading-display-in-india Samsung on Monday launched Galaxy M32 with segment-best 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display and smooth 90Hz refresh rate in India that starts from Rs 14,999. https://opinionexpress.in/malaika-arora-says-yoga-is-a-way-of-life-for-her-now On the occasion of International Day of Yoga on Monday, Malaika Arora draws focus on yoga and urges fans to integrate the form of fitness as a part of their in their lives. https://opinionexpress.in/security-beefed-up-in-tn-ahead-of-the-farmers-agitation https://opinionexpress.in/bcci-to-donate-rs-10-crore-to-indian-olympic-association The Indian cricket board will "donate" Rs 10 crore to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to support Indian athletes competing at the Tokyo Olympic Games next month, it was decided at an emergent meeting of its apex council. https://opinionexpress.in/3-terrorists-killed-in-jks-sopore Three terrorists were killed in an encounter that started on Saturday night between terrorists and security forces at Gund Brath area of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-trims-losses-after-losing-600-points The domestic stock market witnessed a gap-down opening on Monday, tracking global markets after Federal Reserve official Jim Bullard suggested that the first interest rate hike by the US central bank could come as early as the end of 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-53256-new-covid-cases-lowest-since-march-24 New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) The Covid-19 cases in India continued to witness a declining trend with the country recording 53,256 new cases, lowest since March 24. In the same time span, 1,422 fatalities were reported, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/yoga-remains-a-ray-of-hope-amid-covid-crisis-modi   https://opinionexpress.in/ak-sharmas-is-finally-settled-as-bjps-uttar-pradesh-party-vp   https://opinionexpress.in/doctors-to-face-action-for-failing-to-certify-covid-deaths-govt-to-sc   https://opinionexpress.in/this-gut-bacteria-may-help-fight-covid-19   https://opinionexpress.in/the-world-headed-for-cold-war-between-the-us-and-china   https://opinionexpress.in/india-has-quietly-made-deep-economic-inroads-in-africa   https://opinionexpress.in/current-bull-market-in-india-is-up-106-the-historical-average-is-284   https://opinionexpress.in/sons-greed-may-land-yediyurappa-in-jail-again-bjp-mlc   https://opinionexpress.in/indias-hunt-for-top-most-wanted-terrorists-escalates   https://opinionexpress.in/sebi-asks-pnb-housing-to-halt-rs-4000-cr-preferential-issue-of-shares   https://opinionexpress.in/finances-strained-cant-pay-rs-4l-compensation-to-covid-victims-centre-to-sc The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that the finances of states and Centre are under severe strain, due to the reduction in tax revenues and increase in health expenses on account of the coronavirus pandemic. And Rs 4 lakh compensation can't be paid to all those who died due to Covid-19 as it would exhaust the disaster relief funds, and also impact the Centre and states' preparation to address future waves of COVID-19. https://opinionexpress.in/airasia-india-operates-9-flights-with-fully-vaccinated-crew Passenger carrier AirAsia India has operated nine flights with fully vaccinated crew including cabin crew and pilots.According to the airline, the flights were operated on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/olympics-organisers-may-further-reduce-overseas-delegates-by-25000 (IANS) The Tokyo 2020 organisers could further reduce the number of foreign delegates attending the Olympic and Paralympic Games by as much as 25,000 to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 during the showpiece event next month. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-govt-to-give-rs-1-cr-ex-gratia-to-kin-of-6-slain-security-personnel The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government on Saturday announced a compensation of Rs one crore each to the families of six persons, who were residents of Delhi, and sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation. https://opinionexpress.in/kumbh-mela-was-biggest-super-spreader-event-aicc-official All India Congress Committee general secretary Dinesh Gundu Rao, on Saturday, said that the Kumbh mela organised in Uttarakhand amid the second Covid wave, was the "biggest super spreader event in the world", even as he blamed Prime Minister Narendra modi for not doing enough to rein in the rapid spread of infections earlier this year. https://opinionexpress.in/rashmika-mandanna-on-dear-comrade-hindi-dub-crossing-250mn-views ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/telangana-decides-to-lift-covid-lockdown-completely The Telangana government has decided to totally lift the lockdown in the state. At its meeting held on Saturday, the state cabinet discussed the matter and decided on total removal of the lockdown which was imposed to control the spread of Covid in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-demands-attempt-to-murder-case-against-vijayan ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/up-govt-to-connect-all-health-centres-with-main-roads In a bid to provide easy access to better health and medical facilities to the people in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has given instructions to connect all the community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) in urban and rural areas with the main roads. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-wishes-his-beloved-brother-rahul-gandhi-happy-birthday Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday wished Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his birthday calling him "my beloved brother".In a tweet Stalin said: "Wishing my beloved brother @RahulGandhi on his birthday and I join others in praising his selfless, untiring work to establish an egalitarian India in every aspect. His commitment to the ethos of the Congress Party has been exemplary."Earlier Stalin had extended birthday wishes to Gandhi over the phone. https://opinionexpress.in/will-interfering-in-elections-give-farmers-victory As the farmers agitation, which started on November 26 last year, entered the 205th day on Saturday, the question arises whether by adopting an arbitrary attitude and interfering in the elections, will the farmers be able to get what they want? https://opinionexpress.in/how-anti-science-tweets-could-flag-a-covid-outbreak Anti-science, partisan tweets like do not use mask or vaccines are of no use could flag a Covid outbreak in a particular region, scientists have found, a discovery that can help policymakers and public health officials. https://opinionexpress.in/india-wear-black-armbands-to-honour-milkha-singh ( Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/equity-cult-spreads-from-assam-to-andhra-in-corona-times States not known for a strong equity culture like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana have shown a big jump in stock market investors compared to the last quarter. https://opinionexpress.in/sr-pdp-leader-released-hours-after-mehbooba-receives-invite-for-june-24-meeting (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/american-shot-putter-crouser-smashes-world-record-in-eugene Olympic champion Ryan Crouser broke the 31-year-old men's shot put world record as he topped the US Olympic trials event in Eugene, Oregon. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-fy22-gdp-expected-to-grow-by-87-mofsl India's FY22 GDP is expected to grow by 8.7 per cent said Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) in a report." https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-maha-form-three-tier-water-management-committees-to-check-floods Karnataka and Maharashtra on Saturday jointly decided to form three-tier water management committees to check floods in both the states during the monsoon season. https://opinionexpress.in/software-to-help-identify-patients-who-may-require-ventilator-support  A software can now identify whether a patient will require ventilator support in an ICU or referral, and will make necessary arrangements before emergency sets in.  At a time when sudden ICU and other emergency requirements during the pandemic have been a challenge for hospitals to manage, timely information about such situations would help manage the health crisis better.   https://opinionexpress.in/cambodia-reports-highest-daily-covid-deaths https://opinionexpress.in/4-lions-in-chennai-zoo-diagnosed-with-delta-variant-of-covid-19 (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/calcutta-hc-snubs-mamata-govt-on-post-poll-violence (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/remittance-inflow-rise-in-nepal-but-is-it-also-cause-for-worry https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-attack-on-afghan-city-repulsed Afghan security forces have repulsed a Taliban attack on the northern Kunduz city on Saturday and the militants fled after suffering casualties, an army spokesman said. https://opinionexpress.in/all-jk-parties-being-invited-for-june-24-meeting-with-pm Amid reports that New Delhi is extending invitation to all mainstream political parties in J&K, former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti confirmed on Saturday that she has received the invitation while NC patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah said he is yet to receive it. https://opinionexpress.in/over-4k-youth-clubs-being-set-up-in-jk-one-in-each-panchayat-halqa In order to boost the local youth engagement with the Union Territory governments developmental initiatives, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered establishment of youth clubs, one in each Panchayat halqa, for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir. An outlay of Rs 12 crore has been earmarked in the current financial years annual budget for the purpose of making this novel engagement a success in the region of the youths limited access to the governments developmental initiatives. https://opinionexpress.in/7-people-dead-after-plane-crash-lands-in-russia Seven people were killed after a plane made an emergency landing in Russia's Kemerovo Oblast in Siberia, an emergency services official said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-releases-updates-for-imovie-final-cut-pro Apple has released a series of updates to its consumer and professional video editing apps for the Mac to bring a range of workflow improvements and new features. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-vociferously-opposes-tipu-sultans-statue-in-andhra (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/oprah-winfrey-talks-about-dealing-with-trauma-as-a-child Celebrated talk show host-philanthropist Oprah Winfrey found herself on the other side of the mic for a change when she appeared as a guest on Hollywood star Drew Barrymore's chat show recently. https://opinionexpress.in/kim-jong-un-vows-to-overcome-all-difficulties North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to break through all difficulties facing the country at the end of a plenary session of the ruling party, state media reported on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/jk-lg-to-interact-with-ddcs-bdc-panchayat-representatives ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/safrican-military-personnel-to-help-hospitals-against-resurgence South Africa has deployed military personnel in hospitals in the province of Gauteng to help fight against a latest Covid-19 resurgence, said Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane. https://opinionexpress.in/paks-qureshi-says-af-doesnt-share-border-with-india-but-what-about-pok Pakistan is obsessed with India, and its ruling elite goes ballistic when the conversation shifts to New Delhis role in Afghanistan. The outburst by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is the latest edition when there has been a free flow of vitriol targeting India. https://opinionexpress.in/latest-covid-testing-kit-sensit-exhibits-86-100-specificity (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rains-in-gujarat-anand-gets-173-mm-in-4-hours ( Courtesy IANS )  https://opinionexpress.in/19-year-old-charged-teen-over-arizona-shooting-spree Authorities US state of Arizona said that a 19-year-old teenager was charged over a shooting spree that left one dead and 12 others injured in the Phoenix metropolitan area. https://opinionexpress.in/vtoo-now-mumbai-college-complains-of-vaccine-scam A Mumbai College on Saturday claimed it may have been cheated in a vaccination drive on it campus, conducted by an event management company earlier this month.According to the Aditya College, Borivali west, one Rajesh Pandey, who reportedly posed as an event company head and chief manager of sales for the reputed Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, had conducted the vaccination camp in the college on June 3.However, the KDAH has already denied its involvement in such camps while the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued warnings to all people to beware of scamsters taking advantage of the situation.In a statement, the Aditya College authorities said that Pandey allegedly even agreed to procure all necessary permissions and complete all legal formalities, while the college would only make the payments.Accordingly, the inoculation drive was held for the students, staffers and their families as the trustees of the college, considering the difficulties in getting vaccination slots for people in the 18-44 age group.Following the fracas involving the Hiranandani Heritage Society in Kandivali west last week, and delays in receiving the Covid Vaccination Certificates (CVC) by the beneficiaries in the college inoculation camp, the college authorities lodged a formal complaint with the police.On Friday, Tips Industries Ltd Chairman Ramesh Taurani also revealed that 365 of his employees were inoculated on June 3 but have yet to receive their CVCs.Police sources say that there may be at least 9 other similar camps conducted in the city by one or more groups which are now being probed in detail.In the cases that have come out so far, there are many common points - the CVCs not issued promptly, in many cases, the data not uploaded on the CoWin portal, people not experiencing any possible side-effects post-dose, CVCs that eventually came were from different hospitals with errors, high charges for the dose which the Centre now plans to give free to all from June 21, etc.Notching a big breakthrough, Additional Commissioner of Police (Mumbai North Region) Dilip Sawant on Friday said that five persons have been arrested in connection with the vaccine scam in the Kandivali society.As the scams are coming out, many people are worried whether they were administered the genuine vaccines or something else since in some cases the vials were not sealed, or they were stamped 'Not For Sale'. https://opinionexpress.in/i-dont-have-any-mafia-links-vijayan-has-sudhakaran ( Cortey IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/ebrahim-raisi-wins-iran-presidential-race-by-landslide Ebrahim Raisi, the incumbent Chief Justice of Iran, has won the country's presidential election by a landslide, according to preliminary results released on Saturday by the Interior Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/farhan-mourns-mikha-singhs-death-you-represented-a-dream (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/security-challenges-led-to-monumental-changes-in-force-iaf-chief (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/kashmiri-migrants-seek-release-of-mirwaiz-umer-farooq-from-detention Demands are being made to release Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq from house detention. He has been in detention since last 23 months https://opinionexpress.in/new-indian-it-rules-do-not-conform-with-international-norms-un-special-rapporteurs Experts at United Nations Office of the Human Rights Commissioner have said in a report that it is concerned that Indias Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, in their current form, do not conform with international human rights norms. https://opinionexpress.in/imf-proposes-setting-up-of-an-intl-carbon-price-floor (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/un-partners-raise-37bn-for-covid-relief-in-2020 (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/santhosh-to-visit-up-again-fuels-fresh-speculations BJP National General Secretary, Organisation, B.L. Santhosh, who had visited Lucknow 15 days ago, is again coming to UP on June 21. Speculations are rife about his second visit in less than a month. https://opinionexpress.in/ntpc-among-top-50-great-place-to-work-in-india NTPC has been recognised as a 'Great Place to Work' for the 15th year in a row by the Great Place to Work Institute. https://opinionexpress.in/relaxing-covid-curbs-should-be-carefully-calibrated-mha ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/with-hardliner-raisi-likely-to-be-prez-womens-freedom-in-iran-may-get-hit-israeli-expert As an Iran-expert at one of the most important security institute in Israel and the Middle East, Dr. Raz Zimmt's views on Iran, its domestic and foreign policies, are keenly followed by the strategic and political community globally. https://opinionexpress.in/us-to-invest-over-3bn-for-covid-antiviral-medicines The US government is investing more than $3 billion to accelerate the development and manufacturing of antiviral medicines to treat Covid-19, according to a statement by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). https://opinionexpress.in/30-to-40-countries-unable-to-give-2nd-covid-shots-who ( Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/pm-narendra-modi-to-hold-an-all-party-meeting-on-jk-next-week Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold an all-party meeting on Jammu and Kashmir next week, a first such move taken since the abrogation of Article 370 from the region and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories in August 2019, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/yoga-helps-these-artists-better-their-art International Yoga Day is celebrated across the globe on Monday, June 21. To get you inspired, IANSlife speaks to eight exemplary visual artists, classical dancers and musicians who share insights on how their yogic lifestyle helps them with life and art. https://opinionexpress.in/nep-enabling-progression The idea is to broaden entry-level qualifications to boost an interdisciplinary approach to academics https://opinionexpress.in/vaccines-for-the-world-charity-or-self-interest ‘Self-interest’ is a better word, because leaving large populations unvaccinated guarantees new variants will arise, some more infectious and deadly https://opinionexpress.in/coronavirus-and-an-incredible-evolution The fear of Covid had snatched away the parameters of life. But as time passed I found a new meaning, a new vision and an ability to override the fear and a confined life https://opinionexpress.in/make-unlocking-safe The people are expected to be responsible and realise that being masked and distanced is the new reality https://opinionexpress.in/a-shot-at-honesty It is time that the country embraces transparency in the handling of Covid-19 to restore the people’s faith in the system https://opinionexpress.in/finmin-refutes-reports-of-alleged-black-money-held-by-indians-in-switzerland  USD https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-60k-new-covid-cases-1647-deaths India has recorded 60,753 new cases of Covid and 1,647 fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/raje-is-bjp-bjp-raje-in-rajasthan-triggers-tumult-in-state-unit   https://opinionexpress.in/no-one-could-catch-the-flying-sikh-a-tribute  flying sikh https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-says-all-is-well-amongst-huge-tension   https://opinionexpress.in/wtc-final-rain-washes-out-first-day-play Rain washed out the first session of play on the opening day of the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand at the Southampton Bowl here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/hyundai-india-launches-premium-suv-alcazar Automaker Hyundai Motor India on Friday launched premium 6- and 7-seater SUV Alcazar. https://opinionexpress.in/coast-guard-maintain-watch-on-10kl-oil-spill-off-chennai The Indian Coast Guard is monitoring the 10 kilolitres (KL) oil spill into the sea about 450km southeast of Chennai from a Portuguese flag container ship named MV Devon, said an official. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-riots-sc-says-hcs-judgment-granting-bail-to-3-activists-not-be-treated-as-precedent The Supreme Court on Friday expressed dissatisfaction with the Delhi High Court 100-page judgment granting bail to one of the three student-activists accused in a case of "larger conspiracy" related to the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots, which claimed lives of 53 people and left hundreds injured. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-condoles-death-of-1st-zambian-president-kenneth-d-kaunda Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi has expressed condolence over the death of the first Zambian President Kenneth David Kaunda. https://opinionexpress.in/nikki-tamboli-millind-gaba-come-together-for-party-track-shanti "Bigg Boss 14" housemate Nikki Tambol i and singer Millind Gaba will be seen grooving together in an upcoming pary number titled "Shanti". The track is slated to release on June 22. https://opinionexpress.in/sherni-slow-burn-impact Sherni (film on Amazon Prime); Cast: Vidya Balan, Sharat Saxena, Vijay Raaz, Mukul Chadda, Brijendra Kala, Neeraj Kabi, Ila Arun; direction: Amit V. Masurkar; Rating: * * * (three stars) https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-vs-suvendu-nandigram-poll-result-hearing-deferred The Calcutta High Court on Friday deferred to June 24 the hearing on the petition filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's Nandigram win in the 2021 Assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/nsui-iyc-to-hold-free-vax-camp-on-rahuls-birthday Even as former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said that he will not celebrate his birthday, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has planned to organise free Covid vaccination drive at its office for the people. https://opinionexpress.in/wtc-final-just-another-feather-to-add-in-this-big-hat-kohli India skipper Virat Kohli said on Friday that the World Test Championship (WTC) final was "just another feather to add in this big hat that we have created" and that there were many more milestones to come. https://opinionexpress.in/kolkata-remains-waterlogged-more-rain-forecast Kolakta on Friday was still severely waterlogged, even as the MeT Department forecast more rainfall to follow and people splashed through knee- and waist-deep water through city streets. https://opinionexpress.in/israeli-warplanes-strike-hamas-military-posts-in-gaza Israeli warplanes struck military posts of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Hamas movement, in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/gujarat-boards-502525-evaluation-plan-for-class-12 Following the Supreme Court's acceptance of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) merit formula for Class 12, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) too has announced its plan for the students and the results will be declared by the third week of July. https://opinionexpress.in/pankaj-tripathi-those-of-us-who-have-power-and-potential-must-look-out-for-others Actress Pankaj Tripathi feels those who have power and potential must take up the duty of looking out for others more than ever today. He addressed the subject through an audio clip on social media. https://opinionexpress.in/nz-to-focus-on-fast-bowling-in-wtc-final-williamson Hours before the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at the Ageas Bowl here, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said his team would be focusing on its main strength - bowling - when it takes on the Virat Kohli-led side on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-to-sell-germany-69-radar-systems The state-owned company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced it will manufacture and deliver 69 tactical mobile radar systems to the German Army in a deal valued at 36 million euros. https://opinionexpress.in/israels-elbit-announces-defence-deals-with-us-sweden Israeli defence electronics company Elbit Systems has announced two deals with the Swedish and US armies, totaling $52 million. https://opinionexpress.in/shraddha-kapoor-invests-in-a-beauty-brand Actress Shraddha Kapoor, who has been roped in as the brand ambassador of MyGlamm and has also invested in the brand, says she hopes to understand and fulfil the beauty needs of her fans and followers. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-tumbles-650-points-metal-oil-gas-lead-selloff The key Indian equity indices slumped on Friday with the BSE Sensex losing over 650 points. https://opinionexpress.in/amit-shah-likely-to-visit-gujarat-on-june-20-21 Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit his home state Gujarat for two days on June 20 and 21, sources said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/no-protection-to-live-in-couple-allahabad-hc The Allahabad High Court has dismissed the protection plea of a live-in couple, noting that the woman was already married and in a live-in relationship with another man. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-takes-a-dig-at-modi-govt-over-fuel-prices Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday took a swipe at the Narendra Modi government over the increase in fuel prices and said the condition of the government is such that if the rates do not increase then it becomes big news. https://opinionexpress.in/wb-guv-meets-adhir-keeps-everyone-guessing-in-cong West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is on a visit to the national capital, has created a buzz in the Congress circles after meeting Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury at his residence here. https://opinionexpress.in/williamson-strategic-smart-while-kohli-is-passionate-smith The World Test Championship (WTC) final between Virat Kohli-led India and Kane Williamson-led New Zealand will be a battle of two contrasting captaincy styles, say former international captains. https://opinionexpress.in/at-1587-india-logs-least-daily-covid-deaths-in-60-days India on Friday recorded 62,480 new cases of Covid and 1,587 fatalities in the last 24 hours, lowest in the last two months, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/mehul-choksi-remanded-to-dominica-state-prison-by-court A Dominican court has ordered Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi to be remanded at the Dominica State Prison despite a decline in his health, the local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-is-satisfied-with-the-prime-minister-meeting-in-delhi   https://opinionexpress.in/suv-hiran-case-nia-nets-mumbai-polices-dirty-harry-pradeep-sharma   https://opinionexpress.in/pashupati-kumar-paras-elected-ljp-president Amid the ongoing tussle between Chirag Paswan and his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, the latter has been elected as national president of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)." https://opinionexpress.in/pfizers-arthritis-drug-can-cut-death-risk-in-severe-covid-patients  An arthritis drug -- Tofacitinib -- developed by US biopharmaceutical Pfizer has shown to be effective in reducing the risk of death or respiratory failure in hospitalised adult patients with Covid-19 pneumonia who were not on ventilation, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/mercedes-benz-india-launches-seventh-generation-of-s-class Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz on Thursday launched the seventh generation of its flagship limousine, the S-Class, in India.   https://opinionexpress.in/sii-to-conduct-clinical-trials-of-novavax-for-children  (18:36)  https://opinionexpress.in/nadal-pulls-out-of-wimbledon-olympics Rafael Nadal, winner of 20 Grand Slam title, will skip this year's Wimbledon and will also not feature in the Tokyo Olympic Games as he wants to rest his body. https://opinionexpress.in/my-phone-is-being-tapped-im-constantly-followed-yediyurappas-detractor One of the main detractors of Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, Hubli-Dharwad west constituency BJP MLA Aravind Bellad, on Thursday said that he 'believes' that his phone is being tapped and he is constantly being followed. https://opinionexpress.in/class-12-results-policy-adopted-after-wide-consultation-nishank (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/domestic-yoy-air-passenger-traffic-zooms-in-may (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-or-her-family-members-will-never-be-allowed-into-aiadmk Hitting out at against former interim General Secretary V.K.Sasikala, AIADMK leader C. Ve. Shanmugham on Thursday asserted that she or her family members will never be allowed entry to the party. https://opinionexpress.in/haryana-cm-gives-covid-package-of-rs-1100-crore (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/ex-cop-pradeep-sharma-arrested-in-suv-case-sent-to-nia-custody ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/vishal-sikkas-ai-platform-vianai-systems-raises-140m Human-Centered AI platform and products company Vianai Systems, founded by former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka, on Thursday announced it has raised $140 million in a Series B round from SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and other industry players. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-army-top-brass-discuss-twin-threats-from-china-pakistan   https://opinionexpress.in/astrazeneca-vax-recommended-for-australians-above-60-yrs The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has advised that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine be administered to people aged 60 and over, rather than those over 50 years as was previously recommended, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-targeted-through-cyber-intrusions-by-redfoxtrot-linked-to-chinese-military Active since 2014, RedFoxtrot predominantly targets aerospace and defense, government, telecommunications, mining, and research organizations in India among other countries. https://opinionexpress.in/iran-giving-up-on-joint-comprehensive-plan-of-action An immediate end to US sanctions and a quick rollback of Iran's deviations from strict adherence to the treaty's terms might have done the trick https://opinionexpress.in/italys-exit-will-hit-chinas-plans Europe took a long time to see through Chinese strategy of gaining control of strategic assets https://opinionexpress.in/why-it-is-difficult-to-make-things-happen No matter how good an idea is, it will get converted into a policy only if the ultimate decision-making authority, a politician or a group of politicians, puts its stamp on it https://opinionexpress.in/blood-money The closed case of the Italian marines is mired not only in legality but in morality, too https://opinionexpress.in/jab-gap-rethink As confusion abounds, India still lacks a comprehensive outlook on tackling the virus https://opinionexpress.in/the-lost-cause-of-ingenuous-tribals The poor forest dwellers are at the mercy of no one, despite being the best caretakers of the forested greens and the environment https://opinionexpress.in/early-access-for-battlegrounds-mobile-india-now-live-for-indian-gamers South Korean video game developer KRAFTON on Thursday announced the 'Early Access' of Battlegrounds Mobile India for the Indian gamers. https://opinionexpress.in/suv-hiran-cases-nia-arrests-ex-encounter-specialist-pradeep-sharma In a major development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided and arrested former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma in connection with the ongoing probe into the cases of SUV planting and businessman Mansukh Hiran murder, here on Thursday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/australias-unemployment-rate-falls-to-51 Australia's unemployment rate has fallen for the seventh consecutive month to pre-pandemic levels, according to labour force data released on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/peta-urges-dcgi-to-replace-calf-serum-method-for-vax-production People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, on Thursday, requested the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to replace Newborn Calf Serum (NBCS) with animal-free chemical solution, in the production of the Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin. https://opinionexpress.in/us-house-votes-to-make-juneteenth-federal-holiday The Democrat-led House of Representatives has voted to make June 19, also known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the US. https://opinionexpress.in/rising-solar-pv-module-prices-near-term-headwind-icra The increase in imported photovoltaic (PV) module price level by about 15-20 per cent is likely to impact returns of solar power project developers, ratings agency ICRA said. https://opinionexpress.in/fed-shock-equities-fall-as-fii-roll-back-feared Fears of foreign funds exiting India pulled India's stock markets lower during per-noon trade session on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/vaani-kapoor-its-been-a-long-wait-to-see-my-films-get-a-release Vaani Kapoor has a dream line-up right now. After her last release, the blockbuster "War" in 2019, she was cruising along, looking at three mega releases in 2020. Then, pandemic struck. https://opinionexpress.in/nia-raids-ex-encounter-specialists-mumbai-home-detains-him-ld In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma's Andheri home and later detained him, as part of the ongoing probe into the cases of SUV planting and businessman Mansukh Hiran murder, here on Thursday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/mha-withdraws-y-category-security-of-tmc-leader-mukul-roy The Central government has withdrawn the 'Y+' category security of Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, sources said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/evacuation-order-remains-in-effect-after-us-chemical-plant-blast An evacuation order is still in place over a massive fire which was triggered by an explosion at a chemical plant in the US state of Illinois earlier this week, according to authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/jahnvi-kapoors-summer-beach-glam Actress Jahnvi Kapoor's looks are trending. Keeping it fun and sassy, the young star plays with bright hues and bold colours. The millennial flaunts her envious curves in colourful bikins and a metallic maillot. In her latest pictures on Instagram, Kapoor is seen enjoying the sunset at the beach and in her villa at the Maldives. https://opinionexpress.in/release-rs-4k-cr-pending-dues-to-farmers-tdp Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday wrote to chief minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, demanding the immediate release of dues to farmers, amounting to as much as Rs 4,000 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/google-pledges-rs-113-cr-to-boost-healthcare-infra-in-india Google on Thursday announced new grants of nearly Rs 113 crore to help strengthen India's healthcare infrastructure and workforce in rural areas, as India prepares for the third Covid wave. https://opinionexpress.in/torrential-rains-lash-kolkata-many-areas-waterlogged Torrential overnight rains coupled with high tide drowned most parts of the capital city of West Bengal on Thursday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/303040-formula-cbse-submits-class-12-scoring-plan-in-sc-results-by-july-31 The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that for Class 12, the marks will be based on unit test/mid-term/pre-board exam and 40 per cent weightage will be given. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-issues-severe-travel-warning-for-uae The Israeli Ministry of Health has issued a "severe" travel warning for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the concerns of Covid-19 spread. https://opinionexpress.in/89-nations-ahead-of-india-in-vaccination-kapil-sibal Congress leader Kapil Sibal has accused the BJP of doing politics on the issue of vaccination after the ruling party MP opposed discussion in the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) on this issue. https://opinionexpress.in/wtc-final-rusty-india-take-on-buoyant-nz-in-test-crickets-pinnacle India, boosted by the sun that has been drying the Hampshire Bowl pitch over the past few days, will hope to dent their biggest threat, New Zealand's swing bowlers, in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final that commences on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-67k-new-covid-cases-2330-deaths India on Thursday recorded 67,208 new cases of Covid and 2,330 fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/atmospheric-conditions-not-favourable-for-monsoon-in-delhi-4-other-states Large-scale atmospheric conditions currently are not favourable for further advance of monsoon into Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, the National Weather Forecasting Centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/italy-first-to-enter-knockouts-in-euro-2020 Italy became the first side to enter knockout stages of Euro 2020 thanks to a 3-0 win over Switzerland here late on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/fire-at-aiims-22-fire-tenders-at-spot A massive fire broke out at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Wednesday night, following which 22 fire tenders were rushed to douse the blaze, fire officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/special-cell-questioned-twitter-md-in-alleged-cong-toolkit-case-on-may-31 The Delhi Police Special Cell questioned Twitter India MD Manish Maheswari in connection with alleged Congress toolkit case on May 31, senior officials of the Special Cell conformed. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-lashes-out-at-us-after-meeting-with-biden Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out at the US on arms control, human rights, cyber-attacks, among other issues, after "constructive" talks with his American counterpart Joe Biden. https://opinionexpress.in/ceo-satya-nadella-steps-in-as-microsoft-chairman-too Microsoft has elected CEO Satya Nadella as Chairman of the tech giant, a first in two decades when Microsoft's chairman will also be its CEO. https://opinionexpress.in/propaganda-plaint-against-twitter-its-india-md-actor-swara-bhaskar-journalist-arfa-khanum Two days after Ghaziabad Police police booked Twitter Inc, Twitter Communication India Pvt Ltd and others, more troubles are brewing for the US-based social media giant as a complaint has been filed against it, it's India MD Manish Maheshwari, Bollywood actor Swara Bhaskar, journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani and others for giving communal colour without fact checking truthfulness of an incident. https://opinionexpress.in/disturbing-dissent-in-both-national-parties-wednesday-16-june-2021 While the BJP, as the ruling party at the Centre, can crack the whip, the Congress, being in the Opposition, does not have that luxury https://opinionexpress.in/has-twitter-actually-lost-its-legal-shield-in-india With IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slamming Twitter once again, ironically in a series of tweets, leading experts on Wednesday began a debate on whether the micro-blogging platform has actually lost its "legal shield" in the country from prosecution over posts. https://opinionexpress.in/india-strong-contenders-for-olympic-hockey-medal-oltmans (Courtesy IANS) https://opinionexpress.in/infringement-of-liberty-sc-shocked-as-bail-plea-not-listed-for-over-a-year The Supreme Court has expressed its dissatisfaction after learning that a bail application under Section 439 of the CrPC was not listed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for more than year. https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-unsuccessfully-trying-divide-and-rule-politics-in-aiadmk ( Courtesy IANS )  https://opinionexpress.in/rajiv-assassination-convict-perarivalans-mother-meets-stalin Arputhammal, mother of AG Perarivalan one of the seven convicts in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at his office in the Secretariat on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-total-up-921-adani-enterprises-up-890-vs-60-for-nifty-in-last-1-year Adani Total Gas went up by 921 per cent while Adani Enterprises went up by 890 per cent in the last one year compared to 60.7 per cent return for the NSE Nifty index, as per Trendlyne data. https://opinionexpress.in/cbse-to-submit-class-12-assessment-formula-in-sc-on-thursday ( Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/teslas-new-model-s-gets-official-epa-range   https://opinionexpress.in/madras-hc-rejects-former-tn-ministers-anticipatory-bail-plea ( Courtesy IANS )  https://opinionexpress.in/no-approval-to-delhi-panel-to-probe-deaths-due-to-o2-shortage Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said, the Centre has denied approval to a committee set up by the Delhi government to probe deaths caused by the lack of oxygen during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and award compensation to the families of the deceased. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-putin-highly-anticipated-summit-in-geneva-is-on ( Courtesy IANS )  https://opinionexpress.in/social-media-narrative-delhi-police-moves-sc-against-hc-bail-to-riots-accused (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/congress-to-reach-out-to-3-cr-families-to-collect-covid-data The Congress is going to launch a massive outreach program to reach 12 crore persons in a month to collect data about Covid and Sonia Gandhi will write personal condolence messages to those who lost their kin during the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/two-250-bedded-covid-hospitals-in-bengal-through-pm-cares The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) fund trust has decided to allocate Rs 41.62 crore for establishment of two 250-bedded makeshift Covid-19 hospitals by DRDO at Murshidabad and Kalyani in West Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/good-together Considering decades of bonhomie, Nepal would do well to embrace India and shun Chinese lies https://opinionexpress.in/family-feuds The bloodless coup against Chirag is not unique but such internal strife demeans politics itself https://opinionexpress.in/resistance-to-coup-bleeds-myanmar State administration has shut down due to rail, health, bank and civil servants being AWOL and the country’s economy has collapsed https://opinionexpress.in/new-zealand-reveal-fit-williamson-wtc-final-ball New Zealand Cricket (NZC) posted images that confirmed that captain Kane Williamson and wicketkeeper BJ Watling are fit to play the World Test Championship final against India that commences at the Hampshire Bowl from Friday. NZC also posted an image of the Dukes ball that will be used in the final. https://opinionexpress.in/up-overcoming-second-covid-wave-with-active-cases-at-6496 Uttar Pradesh is finally overcoming the second wave of the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/calf-serum-used-in-manufacturing-of-viral-vaccines-bharat-biotech Bharat Biotech on Wednesday clarified that while new born calf serum is used in the manufacturing of viral vaccines, the final formulation of its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin is free from all impurities. https://opinionexpress.in/melbourne-to-further-ease-curbs-despite-rise-in-covid-cases Australia's second largest city Melbourne will further ease restrictions from Thursday midnight despite a surge in Covid cases. https://opinionexpress.in/whatsapp-for-ios-to-add-search-for-stickers-shortcut WhatsApp has submitted update 2.21.120.9 through the TestFlight beta with a new search for stickers shortcuts. https://opinionexpress.in/prashant-kishor-to-continue-to-help-tmc-till-2026-polls For the first time in his career perhaps, Prashant Kishor's I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee) will continue providing strategic help to Trinamool Congress till the next assembly elections in 2026. The move is significant because Trinamool Congress will face three crucial elections - the panchayat, the municipalities and Corporations and the Lok Sabha elections in the next five years. https://opinionexpress.in/no-calf-serum-in-covaxin-manufacturing-govt Refuting rumour spread by some social media posts, the Central government on Wednesday clarified that Covaxin, India's indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, does not contain newborn calf serum at all. https://opinionexpress.in/nikhil-kamath-indias-youngest-billionaire-cheated-in-charity-chess-match-report Zerodha co-founder, Nikhil Kamath, India's youngest billionaire cheated in a charity chess match, Forbes reported. https://opinionexpress.in/ronaldo-knocks-off-4-billion-from-coca-colas-value Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo inflicted a $4-billion loss on soft drink major Coca-Cola with his gesture of putting aside two bottles of carbonated drinks and picking water instead during a press conference ahead of Portugal's match against Hungary. https://opinionexpress.in/farhan-akhtar-starrer-toofaan-to-release-digitally-on-july-16 The Farhan Akhtar-starrer "Toofaan" is all set for a digital release on July 16, the actor tweeted on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-loses-status-of-intermediary-platform-in-india Social media platform Twitter has lost its status of intermediary platform in India over non-compliance to the new intermediary guidelines. https://opinionexpress.in/bsp-mlas-joining-samajwadi-party-an-illusion-mayawati A day after reports of some suspended BSP MLAs meeting with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav surfaced, BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday said it is an illusion. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-variant-not-yet-classified-as-voc-niti-aayogs-paul In the context of public discourse regarding detection of new variants, NITI Aayog Member (Health) V.K. Paul has reminded that the newly detected 'Delta Plus' variant is not yet classified as a Variant of Concern (VOC). https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-govt-to-train-5000-youths-as-health-assistants The Delhi government will train 5,000 youths to assist doctors and nurses as part of preparations for a possible third wave of COVID-19, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/galaxy-tab-s7-fe-galaxy-tab-a7-lite-in-india-on-june-18 Samsung will launch Galaxy Tab S7 FE and Galaxy Tab A7 Lite tablets in India on June 18 and the devices will go on sale from June 23. https://opinionexpress.in/mithun-chakraborty-questioned-by-kolkata-police-over-inciteful-speech Kolkata Police virtually questioned BJP leader and Mithun Chakraborty on a complaint lodged against him alleging that the actor was responsible for inciting violence through one of his speeches made during a BJP campaign. https://opinionexpress.in/it-ministry-blasts-twitter-says-it-failed-to-comply-with-new-guidelines A day after micro-blogging platform Twitter said that it has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that the US-based company has failed to comply to the new intermediary guidelines. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-strikes-in-gaza-after-arson-attacks Israel has launched air strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, after incendiary balloons were launched from the territory. https://opinionexpress.in/dozens-feared-missing-in-nepals-floods-landslides Over four dozen people are feared missing as floods and landslides wreaked havoc in Helambu and Melamchi areas in Sindhupalchok district of Nepal following incessant rains on Tuesday and Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-active-covid-caseload-falls-below-9l-after-70-days With continued slide in daily new Covid cases, India's active caseload on Wednesday stood at 8,65,432 -- a decline below nine lakh mark after 70 days. https://opinionexpress.in/jasmin-bhasin-if-i-start-worrying-about-fame-ill-lose-myself "Bigg Boss 14" star and actress Jasmin Bhasin says the fame that the show brought her hasn't affected her in real life. https://opinionexpress.in/moderna-protein-based-covid-jabs-safe-for-use-in-kids Moderna's mRNA Covid vaccine and a protein-based shot is safe for use in young children and offers strong immunity response, with no adverse effects, according to a research on baby rhesus macaques. https://opinionexpress.in/why-broken-but-beautiful-3-director-priyanka-ghose-refrained-from-watching-sidharth-shuklas-works Director Priyanka Ghose, of the new series "Broken But Beautiful 3", says she deliberately didn't watch lead actor Sidharth Shukla's previous works before directing him. https://opinionexpress.in/govts-attempts-to-save-pms-image-is-costing-lives-rahul Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the central government over its vaccination policy, saying its constant attempts to save Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image are facilitating the virus and costing people's lives. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-dues-of-states-not-cleared-as-claimed-by-fm-chidambaram Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has alleged that contrary to the claims of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, GST dues of Congress-ruled states Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are yet to be cleared. https://opinionexpress.in/tensions-rise-in-south-china-sea-rajnath-calls-for-negotiations Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the Code of Conduct negotiations will lead to positive outcomes in the South China Sea as tension escalated in the waters, causing concern all the nations in the region and beyond. https://opinionexpress.in/light-rains-likely-in-delhi Delhi may receive light showers on Wednesday but will have to wait for seven to 10 more days for monsoon rains, according to the India Meteorological Department. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-india-reports-62224-fresh-cases A single day rise of 62,224 new coronavirus infections were reported taking India's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,96,33,105, while the active cases were recorded below nine lakh after 70 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/up-police-books-twitter-journalists-for-circulating-video The Uttar Pradesh Police have booked microblogging platform Twitter, a news portal and six persons in connection with the circulation of a video in which an elderly Muslim man narrates his ordeal after he was allegedly attacked by some people in Ghaziabad. https://opinionexpress.in/italian-marines-case-proceedings-closed The closure of the marines’ case sets a bad precedence for trying future crimes by foreigners on Indian soil in the Indian courts https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-assures-cadres-of-her-return-to-aiadmk-soon Former interim general secretary of AIADMK, V.K. Sasikala, who was expelled from the party after being arrested in a disproportionate assets case, has in a series of audio clippings and phone calls to AIADMK cadres exhorted that she will be back in the party. https://opinionexpress.in/us-covid-19-deaths-cross-600000-lead   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-seeks-support-of-all-mps-in-catch-the-rain-campaign With the onset of monsoon in Kerala, Ministry of Jal Shakti has again accelerated the ongoing "catch the rain" campaign, requesting all the Members of Parliament (MPs) to take part in the drive. https://opinionexpress.in/iicf-applies-for-fcra-ac-to-receive-foreign-donations-for-ayodhya-mosque The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) Trust, which is overseeing the construction of the Mosque in Ayodhya, has submitted its application for Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) account at State Bank of India (SBI) in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-tourism-stakeholders-demand-strict-protocols-till-next-march Strict enforcement of protocol for entry to Goa, quarantine centre for tourists and putting off high-capacity events like electronic dance music (EDM) festivals till March 2022, are some of the measures recommended by tourism industry stakeholders in the state to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in order to "re-build the image of Goa to all tourists". https://opinionexpress.in/enrico-casarosa-calls-his-animated-film-luca-a-love-letter-to-the-summers-of-our-youth Director Enrico Casarosa says childhood memories inspired him to make the new animated film "Luca", which is ready to release digitally on June 18. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-safe-spicejet-enhances-booking-options-baggage-allowance Amidst Covid pandemic, passenger carrier SpiceJet had enhanced booking as well as baggage allowance options. https://opinionexpress.in/vidya-balan-main-sherni-music-video-shows-you-dont-have-to-roar-to-be-a-tigress Vidya Balan says the music video "Main Sherni", of her upcoming OTT film "Sherni", is a tribute to all women who have the indomitable spirit of never giving up. The video, released on Tuesday, features Vidya along with nine women who have shown courage in real life. https://opinionexpress.in/daily-covid-cases-down-79-active-cases-65-health-ministry There has been sharp decline in both new and active Covid-19 cases across India for the last few days, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-to-address-5th-edition-of-vivatech-on-wednesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 5th edition of VivaTech on Wednesday -- one of the largest digital and startup events in Europe.The event is held in Paris every year since 2016. The 5th edition of VivaTech is scheduled to be held between June 16 and June 19. https://opinionexpress.in/power-finance-corporation-logs-highest-ever-net-profit-in-fy-21 State-owned non-banking finance firm Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has recorded the highest-ever net profit of Rs 8,444 crore for financial year 2020-21, a 49 per cent jump over the previous year. https://opinionexpress.in/more-waterway-link-to-boost-ne-india-bdesh-trade (IANS) Experts, lawmakers, academicians and traders have advocated for more waterway connectivity and development of related infrastructures to boost trade and economy between India's northeastern states and the neighbouring Bangladesh. https://opinionexpress.in/salman-khan-zoya-and-farhan-akhtar-among-producers-of-salim-javed-docu-film-angry-young-men (Courtesy IANS)  https://opinionexpress.in/pakistan-expanding-plutonium-production-capacity-for-use-in-nuclear-weapons-sipri https://opinionexpress.in/remembering-the-poet-philosopher-guru-arjan-dev-ji-by Today is a significant day for the Sikhs, as the community worldwide observed the martyrdom day or Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth of the 10 Gurus of Sikhs. https://opinionexpress.in/messi-vargas-on-target-in-argentina-chile-stalemate Eduardo Vargas extended his impressive Copa America scoring run with a second-half header that earned Chile a 1-1 draw with Argentina. https://opinionexpress.in/how-can-you-threaten-another-officer-sc-rap-to-ex-himachal-top-cop-seeking-bail The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea by former Himachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zahur Haider Zaidi seeking restoration of bail in a custodial death case.\ https://opinionexpress.in/antilia-suv-case-nia-nabs-two-suburban-residents The National Investigation Agency has arrested two more persons in connection with the probe into the sensational cause of a SUV planted with gelatin sticks near Antilia building and the murder of its owner, officials said here on Tuesday.   https://opinionexpress.in/kerala-police-begins-probe-into-discovery-of-explosives A day after explosive materials consisting of two gelatine sticks, four detonator batteries and wires were recovered from a cashew plantation under the control of the State Forest department near Pathnapuram in Kollam district, various departments of the Kerala Police have begun a probe into this. https://opinionexpress.in/gadar-turns-20-gold-will-always-be-gold-says-director-anil-sharma Director Anil Sharma turned nostalgic opening up about his 2001 blockbuster "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha", which completes 20 years of release on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/the-g7-world How equipped is the grouping to tackle the changing world realities and the new challenges? https://opinionexpress.in/caution-ahead Considering the third wave, would it be more prudent to slow down the lockdown lifting process? https://opinionexpress.in/the-fall-and-rise-of-oli-as-nepal-pm Though he is likened to a ‘Prime Minister of no substance’, Oli is trying every trick in the book to remain in the saddle https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-will-end-windows-10-support-in-oct-2025 As the next version of Windows is expected to be unveiled on June 24, Microsoft has revealed that it will end support for Windows 10. https://opinionexpress.in/nsdl-sebi-must-reveal-source-of-funding-in-adani-co-cong The Congress has questioned the silence of NSDL, SEBI and the Finance Ministry in the alleged investments in the Adani-owned companies. https://opinionexpress.in/nz-holds-1st-meeting-on-countering-terrorism-violent-extremism New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday opened the country's first meeting on countering terrorism and violent extremism, which is being held in Christchurch over the next two days. https://opinionexpress.in/supply-of-covaxin-to-govt-at-rs-150dose-not-sustainable-bharat-biotech The supply price of Covaxin to the government of India at Rs 150 a dose is a non-competitive price and clearly not sustainable in the long run. Hence a higher price in private markets is required to offset part of the costs, Bharat Biotech said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/patiently-waited-for-a-year-on-galwan-but-no-clarity-sonia Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the Congress party joins a grateful nation in remembrance of the supreme sacrifice made by 20 brave soldiers of the Bihar Regiment in Galwan Valley, including their commanding officer, who lost their lives in the confrontation with PLA troops of China on the night of 14-15 June 2020. https://opinionexpress.in/conway-patel-included-in-15-member-nz-squad-for-wtc-final Opener Devon Conway, who scored a double century on debut this month, left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel as well as injured duo Kane Williamson and BJ Watling, have been included in 15-member New Zealand squad for the World Test Championship final against India to be played at Hampshire Bowl from Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-mandir-trust-issues-another-clarification Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has issued another statement amid the allegations of corruption in the purchase of Ram temple land. https://opinionexpress.in/hdfc-banks-mobile-app-down-bank-says-looking-on-priority Customers of HDFC Bank have been facing issues with the bank's mobile banking application during the day. https://opinionexpress.in/bhumi-pednekar-have-been-itching-to-be-back-on-set Actress Bhumi Pednekar has resumed shooting and says it feels surreal to be back on set. https://opinionexpress.in/bell-bottom-to-release-in-theatres-on-july-27 The Akshay Kumar-starrer spy thriller "Bell Bottom" has now been scheduled for a theatrical release on July 27. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-pg-medical-students-mbbs-interns-protest-for-hike-in-stipend The Post graduate medical students and medical interns across Tamil Nadu wore black badges during work demanding hike in their stipend, complaining that the state is paying the lowest amount as stipend to PG Medics and medical interns. https://opinionexpress.in/2-dg-effective-against-all-covid-variants-says-study The 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) developed by the Defence Research and Development organisation (DRDO) for the coronavirus treatment, effectively inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 multiplication and works against all variants of Covid-19, says a research study. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-elaborates-on-teslas-new-electric-motor Elon Musk has elaborated on details of Tesla's new electric motor -- the Plaid carbon-wrapped motor -- and even teased an even crazier higher RPM version coming to the new Roadster. https://opinionexpress.in/pfizer-astrazeneca-covid-jabs-highly-effective-against-delta-variant Two doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta (B16172) variant, according to new analysis from Public Health England (PHE). https://opinionexpress.in/actor-sanchari-vijay-to-be-creamated-with-police-honours Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday announced that the last rites of noted Kannada actor Sanchari Vijay will be performed with police honours. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-stocks-characterised-by-similar-set-of-fpis-low-mutual-fund-holdings Adani Group stocks may have been on fire in recent months adding to Gautam Adanis wealth but an analysis of shareholdings reveals similar set of top FPI holdings across the stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-his-ministers-meet-twice-in-4-day-ahead-of-likely-cabinet-rejig Though there is no official word on Union Cabinet expansion or reshuffle so far from the Centre, there is speculation as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held two continuous meetings with party's top brass and two separate groups of Ministers in a span of four days. https://opinionexpress.in/akhilesh-worst-performing-mp-from-up-with-36-attendance-0-qs-asked , June 15 (IANS) With 36 per cent attendance and zero questions, Akhilesh Yadav is the worst performing MP from Uttar Pradesh, according to Shantanu Gupta, author, BJP sympathiser and policy analyst. https://opinionexpress.in/barabanki-police-puts-mukhtar-ansaris-under-arrest-in-ambulance-case A Barabanki court on Monday remanded mafia don-turned-BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari to judicial custody in a case of alleged forgery and cheating in the registration of a bulletproof ambulance used to ferry him between courts and jail in Punjab. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-pm-delays-easing-of-remaining-covid-curbs-in-england UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed a four-week delay to the lifting of all the remaining Covid restrictions in England beyond June 21, citing the risk of highly transmissible Delta variant. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-draws-curtains-over-italian-marines-case-closes-all-proceedings The Supreme Court on Tuesday closed all criminal proceedings pending in India against two Italian marines, accused of killing of two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012, after payment of Rs 10 crore compensation by Italy. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-gandhi-demands-cbi-enquiry-into-up-scribes-death Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding a CBI enquiry into the death of a TV journalist based in Uttar Pradesh who had been found dead under mysterious circumstances in Pratapgarh district. https://opinionexpress.in/parliament-panel-summons-twitter-over-misuse-of-its-platform Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology has asked Twitter to appear before it on June 18 and put its views on prevention of misuse of its platform. https://opinionexpress.in/india-registers-lowest-covid-cases-of-over-60k-since-march-29 India's Covid caseload continued to fall with the country recording 60,461 new cases, lowest since March 29 and 2,726 fatalities due to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/hc-grants-bail-to-jnu-jamia-students-in-north-east-delhi-riots-case The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to JNU students Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita and Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha, who were arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with a case related to larger conspiracy in the north east Delhi riots in February last year. https://opinionexpress.in/lagaan-turns-20-aamir-khan-goes-down-memory-lane Aamir Khan tells you he wouldn't be inclined to relive the mammoth experience of making "Lagaan", the film that marked his debut as producer exactly two decades ago on this date, struck box office gold and eventually took him to the Oscars. https://opinionexpress.in/choksi-trial-adjourned-as-his-health-declines The trial of the fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case has been adjourned to June 25 due to decline in his health condition, local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/naftali-govt-sans-netanyahu-to-begin-work-in-israel   https://opinionexpress.in/forest-cover-in-india-enhanced-up-to-one-fourth-of-countrys-area-modi-at-un   https://opinionexpress.in/astrazeneca-jab-authorised-for-all-age-groups-says-ema AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine remains authorised for all populations, European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said. https://opinionexpress.in/london-travel-agency-booked-antigua-villa-from-where-choksi-was-abducted-claims-lawyer Ahead of the hearing of Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's bail plea in Dominica, his lawyer contended on Monday that two new evidences have come to light to show that his "abduction" was pre-planned - alleged "decoy" Barbara Jarabik had asked an AirbnB agent whether the property she was inquiring was booked by a UK travel agency, and video evidence shows the arrival and departure in Jolly Harbour of the boat upon which the bound and gagged diamantaire was taken out to sea to be transferred to the larger ship for the "unlawful journey" to Dominica. https://opinionexpress.in/tourism-picks-up-in-himachal-with-easing-of-restrictions Hundreds of holidaymakers once again started gathering across resorts in Himachal Pradesh on Monday with the partial lifting of Covid-induced interstate travel restrictions after over a month and a half. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-post-poll-violence-gang-rape-survivors-move-sc-for-sit-probe A 60-year-old woman and a 17-year-old minor girl from West Bengal have moved the Supreme Court alleging horrific gang-rape by Trinamool Congress workers, for their families supporting the BJP in recently-held Assembly election, and sought an SIT probe into all incidents of post-poll violence. https://opinionexpress.in/now-retail-inflation-zooms-to-over-6-in-may Exponential rise in food prices sequentially rocketed India's retail inflation in May as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by over 6.30 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-to-contest-all-seats-in-2022-gujarat-assembly-polls-kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister and national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal, said on Monday that AAP will contest on all the 182 seats in the Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled next year. https://opinionexpress.in/no-more-space-for-monetary-steps-tough-task-ahead-for-rbi-sbi-report As the economy battles yet again to come out of the Covid-induced slowdown, an SBI Ecowrap report has suggested that the space for monetary accommodation is over, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will face multiple challenges in terms of boosting India's growth rate and stabilising the rupee. https://opinionexpress.in/india-uk-trade-talks-case-for-tariff-optimization A notion worth dispelling is that Scotch whiskies are costlier to produce; it is 50 per cent more expensive to produce it in India than in Scotland https://opinionexpress.in/honour-sanctity-of-ecology Disrupted ecology invites virulent viruses; India must cut dependence on scant natural resources https://opinionexpress.in/india-gets-poorer-investors-richer Imagine if all of Rs 2100,000 crore under Atmanirbhar package had been distributed among 40 crore workers in the informal sector; it would have boosted demand https://opinionexpress.in/compassion The world froze in prayers for a good half hour when Christian Eriksen collapsed during a UEFA match https://opinionexpress.in/opening-up The Government is quite right in deciding to declassify details of all of India’s wars https://opinionexpress.in/mplads-a-boon-or-necessary-evil The fund allocated to all MPs for local area development is hardly utilised for above-board projects that would really benefit the locals https://opinionexpress.in/fans-trend-we-miss-you-on-sushants-first-death-anniversary It's been a year since he passed away but Sushant Singh Rajput is alive in the hearts of numerous fans. The 34-year-old Bollywood actor's untimely demise on June 14 last year had left his fans, friends and family in a state of shock. On the actor's first death anniversary on Monday, "We miss you" trended on Twitter along with the hashtag #SushantSinghRajput. https://opinionexpress.in/get-set-play-late-to-score-in-england-rahane India Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has said that batsmen need to get set and play late to score runs in England. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-should-take-cognisance-of-ram-temple-land-purchase-deal-congress After the controversy erupted on the issue of land purchase by Ram Mandir trust, the Congress has demanded that the Supreme Court should take cognisance of the issue. The Congress said that this is disrespect to the faith of crores of devotees. https://opinionexpress.in/trust-must-clarify-if-money-collected-in-name-of-faith-misused-sanjay-raut Amid charges of corruption in the land purchased by the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust in Ayodhya, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded "clarification" from the Trust and other leaders, saying the construction of the temple is a matter of faith for the saffron party and the common people. https://opinionexpress.in/aap-will-contest-all-seats-in-gujarat-in-2022-polls-kejriwal The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest all seats in Gujarat in the 2022 state Assembly elections, the party's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/batsmens-concentration-needs-to-be-upto-the-mark-in-england-pujara Batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has said handling different conditions on one particular day will be the biggest challenge for India batsmen in England where they play the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand from June 18 and a five-Test series against Joe Roots men in August-September. https://opinionexpress.in/putin-calls-trump-colourful-individual Russian President Vladimir Putin called his former US counterpart Donald Trump a "colourful individual" during an exclusive NBC News interview which will air on Monday https://opinionexpress.in/chitrangda-singh-shows-how-she-gears-up-for-monday-morn-zoom-calls Chitrangda Singh looks regal in her latest post on social media, decked up in jewellery. The actress says that she is all ready for her Monday morning zoom calls.  https://opinionexpress.in/social-media-activist-arrested-for-defamatory-content Popular Social media commentator and supporter of AIADMK and BJP, Kishore K. Swamy was arrested by the Chennai city police on charges of circulating defamatory content against DMK leaders and former chief ministers C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi. He is also booked for using abusive and defamatory language on social media against present Chief minister M.K. Stalin. https://opinionexpress.in/misleading-handful-transactions-no-full-implementation-of-onorc-in-delhi The political slugfest between the Delhi government and central government over ration scheme, has reached the Supreme Court. The Centre on Monday informed the top court that the Delhi government's claims of launching of one nation one ration card (ONORC) is misleading, as the scheme was merely launched in one circle in Seemapuri. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-price-hiked-again-petrol-nearing-century-mark-across-the-country Fuel prices were increased again across the country on Monday adding more misery for the common man already grappling with rising food prices amidst shrinking income. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-covid-variant-may-soon-become-dominant-strain-in-us Covid-19 Delta variant is likely to become the dominant source of new infections in the US and could lead to new outbreaks by September, said Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-govt-gearing-up-to-combat-third-covid-wave Taking a lesson from the second Covid wave, the West Bengal government is accelerating the process of infrastructure development to tackle the the third wave and control it more effectively. As it has been found that children and consequently the women are more prone to the next Sars-CoV-2 attack, the state health department has taken special measures to protect the vulnerable section from the deadly bite of the third phase. https://opinionexpress.in/big-b-at-first-day-of-shoot-after-lockdown20 Amitabh Bachchan went to work at 7am on Monday, after the second lockdown was lifted. The veteran actor posted a picture on Instagram, wearing a mask and seated in his car on way to work. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-live-commerce-industry-to-reach-4-5b-by-2025 Driven by beauty and personal care (BPC), India's live commerce market is expected to clock a gross merchandise value (GMV) of $4-$5 billion by 2025, a new report showed on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-chancellor-in-laws-hit-with-55m-pound-bill-in-amazon-india-tax-dispute-report A joint venture between UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak's billionaire in-laws and the internet retailing giant Amazon is in a multimillion-pound dispute with the Indian tax authorities, a Guardian investigation has found. https://opinionexpress.in/ljp-mps-join-hands-against-chirag-paswan Five of the six Lok Janshakti Party MPs in the Lok Sabha have joined hands against their leader Chirag Paswan and elected Pashupati Kumar Paras in his place, causing a big churn in Bihar politics. https://opinionexpress.in/sushant-singh-rajput-remembered-by-industry-colleagues-on-1st-death-anniversary Film industry colleagues took to social media to remember late actor Sushant Singh Rajput on his first death anniversary. The 34-year-old actor was found dead in his Mumbai residence on June 14 last year.  https://opinionexpress.in/base-effect-indias-wpi-inflation-zooms-to-1294-in-may Base effect, along with high transportation fuel cost, lifted India's annual rate of inflation based on wholesale prices to 12.94 per cent in May from a rise of 10.49 per cent in April. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-unveils-biggest-exclusive-games-ever-for-xbox Microsoft has announced a new lineup of 30 games, 27 of which will be included with Xbox Game Pass. https://opinionexpress.in/us-state-sees-more-deaths-than-births-for-1st-time-due-to-covid Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the US state of Montana witnessed more deaths than births for the first time since data collection began in 1908. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-team-winds-up-its-match-simulation-out-of-quarantine The Indian cricket team ended its three-day match simulation on Sunday ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal among others getting a chance to bat. https://opinionexpress.in/kirti-kulhari-the-attitude-of-acceptance-helps-me The ongoing second wave of the pandemic has affected us in many different ways, including taking a toll on mental health. Actress Kirti Kulhari reveals what she does to lift her spirits when she feels down. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-warns-withdrawal-of-relaxations-if-norms-are-flouted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has warned people of the state that the lockdown relaxations which have come into effect from Monday, could be withdrawn if the Covid-19 protocol norms are violated. https://opinionexpress.in/e-auction-of-raj-sandstone-blocks-soon-for-use-in-ram-temple The Rajasthan government will soon be holding an online auction of mining blocks of the unique pink Bansi Paharpur sandstone, which will be used for the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya as the central government approved the conversion of 398 hectares of forestland into revenue land, confirmed officials here. https://opinionexpress.in/break-after-first-two-sets-helped-me-bury-self-doubts-djokovic World No. 1 Novak Djokovic attributed his comeback in French Open final from two sets down to winning the title to a small break that helped him bury self-doubts. https://opinionexpress.in/selfish-nationalistic-approaches-marred-initial-covid-fight-uk-pm UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted that "selfish and nationalistic approaches" had marred the initial global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-to-produce-rjd-rs-member-ad-singh-in-court-seek-4-day-custody The Enforcement Directorate (ED) which arrested Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Rajya Sabha MP A.D. Singh in connection with the fertilizer scam case, will produce him in a court here and seek four days custody, sources said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-wishes-new-israeli-pm-bennett-looks-to-deepen-ties Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, saying he looks forward to meeting him and deepening the strategic partnership between the two counties. https://opinionexpress.in/adani-group-stocks-tumble-adani-enterprises-dips-25-pc-amid-reports-of-nsdl-freezing-3-fpi-accounts Shares of Adani Group companies witnessed a massive drubbing in morning trade on Monday, tumbling up to 25 per cent, amid reports that the National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) has frozen certain FPIs accounts that have holding in some of these firms. https://opinionexpress.in/sunil-grover-on-how-he-makes-comedy-seem-so-easy He doesn't have to try too hard. His audience can't hold back a chuckle when he doles out a mere oneliner or tiny twist of expression. Sunil Grover makes comedy seem like a cakewalk. https://opinionexpress.in/socialism-mamata-banerjee-wedding-was-a-low-key-affair The much hyped marriage between Socialism and Mamata Banerjee was conducted on Sunday in the presence of Communism and Leninism. Communism's son Marxism was also present during the wedding. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-temple-trust-slams-allegations-of-fraud The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has strongly denied allegations of corruption levelled by opposition parties, in land purchase. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-down-300-points-finance-auto-stocks-lead-selloff The key Indian equity indices declined on Monday morning tracking mixed cues from the Asian market along with profit booking by traders after the indices scaled new highs last week. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-70k-covid-cases-lowest-since-march-31-and-3921-deaths India's Covid cases continued to witness decline as it recorded 70,421 new Covid cases, lowest since March 31 and 3,921 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/factory-of-religious-conversion-running-unabated-in-up   https://opinionexpress.in/china-tests-its-stealth-bomber-h-20s   https://opinionexpress.in/as-cong-turns-left-its-leaders-march-right-in-up   https://opinionexpress.in/new-zealand-win-2nd-test-clinch-series-in-england-after-22-years   https://opinionexpress.in/congress-high-command-silent-on-rising-signs-of-discord-in-rajasthan   https://opinionexpress.in/digvijaya-singh-has-scored-a-self-goal-on-article-370-for-congress   https://opinionexpress.in/russia-us-ties-at-lowest-point-in-years-putin   https://opinionexpress.in/india-starts-medicab-project-to-fight-covid-30   https://opinionexpress.in/a-full-blown-factional-war-is-raging-in-congress-bjp-in-rajasthan   https://opinionexpress.in/manoj-bajpayee-on-the-family-man-2-controversy-wed-never-do-anything-to-offend-anyone Actor Manoj Bajpayee has returned as Shrikant Tiwari on "The Family Man 2", and he is getting a good response for the role again. The series faced however, faced the ire of certain sections before release, over allegations that it depicted Tamils in an "objectionable manner". The actor feels the series has worked, and that proves people know the story isn't about hurting sentiments. https://opinionexpress.in/security-on-high-alert-in-tn-after-infiltration-threats The Tamil Nadu state police and Central intelligence agencies have stepped up vigil after threats of an armed group trying to infiltrate from Sri Lanka were received. https://opinionexpress.in/csk-skipper-dhoni-tests-his-fitness-with-a-shetland-pony Former India cricket team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has got a new competitor to ‘test his fitness ahead of the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) season, which will resume in the third week of September. https://opinionexpress.in/gois-most-efficient-ministry-of-lies-empty-slogans-rahul Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued his tirade against the union government, alleging that the government's most efficient ministry is of "Lies & Empty slogans." https://opinionexpress.in/over-80k-new-covid-cases-3303-deaths-in-24-hrs-in-india India's Covid cases continued to witness decline as it recorded 80,834 new Covid cases, lowest since April 1 and 3,303 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/allahabad-hc-grants-bail-in-love-jihad-case The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to a man from Mahoba district in an alleged case of abduction, rape and unlawful religious conversion of a woman by marriage. https://opinionexpress.in/suspense Amid the COVID scare, will it be a good idea to go ahead with the Amarnath Yatra this year? https://opinionexpress.in/stumbling-block USFDA rejects Covaxin’s application for emergency use approval, putting it under pressure https://opinionexpress.in/india-and-af-the-taliban-conundrum New Delhi must consider what it can do to prevent the Taliban from coming to power because that would be to the advantage of Pakistan https://opinionexpress.in/claims-of-co-win-system-hacking-data-leak-baseless-govt The government on Saturday dismissed the claims of hacking of the Co-WIN system and data leak as "baseless". https://opinionexpress.in/dominica-hc-denies-bail-to-choksi-citing-him-as-flight-risk Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi was on Friday denied bail by the High Court in Dominica, citing him to be a flight risk, local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/cait-asks-goyal-to-direct-cci-probe-into-amazon-flipkart A day after the Karnataka High Court judgement dismissing the petition of Amazon & Flipkart, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday sent a communication to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urging him to direct the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to immediately initiate investigation proceedings against Amazon and Flipkart without any further ado. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-council-meet-begins-may-consider-duty-cuts-on-medical-supplies The 44th meeting of the GST Council, the second this year in the midst of the second wave of Covid pandemic, began on Saturday morning through video conferencing. https://opinionexpress.in/civilian-injured-in-militant-attack-in-jks-sopore A civilian was injured on Saturday in a militant attack on the security forces at Arampora in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town. https://opinionexpress.in/no-exemption-to-mainstream-media-from-new-it-rules-govt All mainstream media, including print and electronic, will have to comply the provisions of IT Rules, 2021 with immediate effect without exemption as the government has refused to exempt them from the ambit of the new digital media rules. https://opinionexpress.in/wider-alliance-of-anti-bjp-parties-necessary-ncp-leader-after-pawar-kishor-meet A day after election strategist Prashant Kishor met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, a spokesperson of the party on Saturday said there is a need to have a "wider alliance" of political parties against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sbha polls. https://opinionexpress.in/the-best-and-most-beautiful-match-in-paris-djokovic World No. 1 Novak Djokovic called Friday's semi-final, in which he consigned 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal to only his third defeat in 108 matches at Roland Garros, the best and the most beautiful game he has played in Paris. https://opinionexpress.in/french-open-djokovic-shakes-the-order-beats-nadal-to-enter-final Novak Djokovic dashed Rafael Nadal's hopes of winning a record 21st Grand Slam title and his 14th French Open after the world No. 1 overcame the Spaniard 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 in a four-hour-22-minute semi-final that was replete with moments of brilliance as well as errors. https://opinionexpress.in/sad-bsp-form-alliance-for-2022-punjab-assembly-polls The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) formed an alliance on Saturday for the 2022 Punjab Assembly election. https://opinionexpress.in/chances-of-3rd-wave-quite-real-delhi-govt-preparing-on-war-footing-cm Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday cautioned that the chances of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were quite real, while he asserted that his government was preparing on a "war-footing" to combat it. https://opinionexpress.in/meghan-markles-estranged-dad-threatens-to-expose-dirty-laundry Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas Markle has threatened to expose "dirty laundry" in an upcoming interview scheduled to be aired on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/masks-no-longer-required-in-us-senate-for-vaccinated-people The Attending Physician of US Congress has sent new guidance announcing that masks are no longer required on the House floor for those who are fully vaccinated, a media report said. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-to-host-merkel-in-wh-on-july-15 US President Joe Biden will host German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House on July 15, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. https://opinionexpress.in/congs-first-love-is-pakistan-bjp-on-digvijaya-singhs-clubhouse-chat-leak Pointing to alleged leaked 'Clubhouse' chat of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, the BJP on Saturday said that Congress' first love is Pakistan. https://opinionexpress.in/world-day-against-child-labour-ayushmann-khurrana-highlights-issue Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who is Unicef's celebrity advocate for their global campaign EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children), has spoken about the practice of child labour as a total violation of child rights, on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour on Saturday, https://opinionexpress.in/facebook-acquires-vr-game-developer-bigbox-vr Facebook gas acquired BigBox VR, makers of the popular battle royale virtual reality game titled Population: One for an undisclosed sum. https://opinionexpress.in/heavy-rains-lash-mumbai-authorities-gear-up-in-view-of-imds-alert Heavy rains lashed Mumbai in 24 hours till Saturday morning, although no major water logging was reported and local trains as well as city buses largely ran as per their normal schedule, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/fire-breaks-out-at-showroom-in-south-delhi A fire broke out at a showroom in south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar Central Market area on Saturday morning, Delhi Fire Service officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-gdp-grows-23-as-lockdown-eases The UK GDP is estimated to have grown by 2.3 per cent in April, the fastest monthly growth since July 2020 as the Covid-19 lockdown eased, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. https://opinionexpress.in/4002-covid-deaths-in-24-hrs-as-india-logs-84k-new-cases The coronavirus situation in India appears to be stabilizing as the country recorded 84,332 new Covid cases, and 4,002 deaths due to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-20-cabinet-reshuffle-to-instigate-image-makeover  cabinet reshuffle https://opinionexpress.in/bihars-big-nda-allies-in-dilemma-over-issues-raised-by-smaller-parties Larger parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal United JD(U) which are part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar are in a dilemma over the issues raised by smaller allies like Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). https://opinionexpress.in/27-succeeded-in-getting-vax-appointment-on-cowin-in-last-7-days-survey (Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/dontt-cite-problems-implement-one-nation-one-ration-card-sc-to-bengal The Supreme Court on Friday asked the West Bengal government to immediately implement the 'one nation one ration card' scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/resettlement-of-mizoram-tribals-in-tripura-jolted-as-ngt-accepts-complain The plan to rehabilitate 36,140 tribal migrants, who had fled Mizoram 24 years ago, following ethnic strife, received a jolt after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) accepted a complaint filed against their resettlement in Tripura's forest areas. https://opinionexpress.in/chorus-for-reform-within-congress-grows-again-after-jitins-exit In wake of the departure of UP leader and former Union Minister Jitin Prasada, the chorus for reforms within the Congresss has grown louder with a section of leaders calling for a "major surgery" in the party. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-considering-plea-for-rs-4-lakh-to-covid-victims-sc-told (Courrtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/rajiv-assassination-pmk-urges-stalin-to-request-guv-for-release-of-convicts Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder- president S. Ramadoss has urged Tamil Nadu Chief minister MK Stalin to write to the Governor for the release of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts. He said that the state government must petition the Governor to immediately take action on the request made by the earlier Palaniswami government.assasination https://opinionexpress.in/highly-contagious-covid-variants-detected-in-sl Sri Lankan health authorities announced on Friday that the two highly contagious Covid-19 variants -- B.1.1.7 and B.1.617.2 -- have been detected in the island nation. https://opinionexpress.in/taliban-overruns-another-crucial-afghan-district Taliban militants seized control of another important district in Afghanistans northern Takhar province, officials said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/gdp-crashing-and-bjp-looting-india-rahul-gandhi On the day when the Congress is protesting against fuel price hike across the country, former party president Rahul Gandhi attacked the government for looting the country. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-is-a-sinking-ship-i-will-not-ride-on-it-om-prakash-rajbhar Former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) President, Om Prakash Rajbhar, has taken a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said, "BJP is a sinking boat, whosoever wants to ride on it is welcome to do so, but I will not ride on it. https://opinionexpress.in/not-an-expert-sc-declines-to-pass-order-on-moratorium-amid-covid20 The Supreme Court on Friday said the courts are not experts in financial matters and disposed of a writ petition seeking fresh loan moratorium relief, extension of time period under the restructuring scheme and temporary cease on the declaration of NPA by banks amid the Covid-19 second wave. https://opinionexpress.in/special-status-necessary-for-atmanirbhar-andhra-jagan Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and emphasised on the importance to accord the 'Special Category Status' to the state for it to become 'Atmanirbhar' (self-reliant) and systematically stronger. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-impact-on-indian-economy Besides informal sectors, the lower strata of society and daily wage workers faced the greatest impact due to social distancing as well as reduced household income https://opinionexpress.in/g7-opportunity-for-india-11-june-2021 This summit could be the beginning of a new world order based on cooperation & alliances https://opinionexpress.in/ufos-the-silly-season-comes-early-this-time Then there are all the suggestions that the UFOs are optical illusions, meteorological phenomena or electromagnetic events https://opinionexpress.in/vector-virulence-and-velocity All segments of our population, percolating down from the politicians, have done grave injustice to our great nation. Even the citizenry has! https://opinionexpress.in/taming-the-chinese-dragon China is trying to boost its influence by providing COVID-19 vaccines to the Southeast Asian nations https://opinionexpress.in/last-resort With nothing seemingly going his way in the Congress, Jitin Prasada has taken a leap of faith https://opinionexpress.in/greta-thunberg-back-for-climate-protests-at-swedish-parliament Following a long spell of online protests, Swedish environment activist Greta Thunberg was back in front of the Swedish parliament building on Friday for an in-person demonstration against climate change. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-to-address-rajasthan-issues-maken-says-vacancies-to-be-filled The Congress is in damage control mode in Rajasthan after Jitin Prasada's exit and is all set to fill the vacancies in the Rajasthan Cabinet in the coming days and will also take up the pending issues. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-notice-to-wazirx-its-directors-for-rs-2790-cr-transactions The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said that it has issued a show cause notice to Crypto-Currency Exchange Zanmai Labs Pvt Ltd (WazirX) and its Directors Nischal Shetty and Sameer Hanuman Mhatre for transactions involving crypto-currencies worth Rs 2,790.74 crore, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/g7-leaders-summit-to-begin-with-focus-on-covid-climate-change The much-anticipated G7 Leaders' Summit, which will mark the first in-person meeting of the member heads of state since the Covid-19 outbreak last year, is set to begin on Friday with the main focus on the pandemic and climated change. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-postpones-aiims-ini-cet-examination-by-one-month The Supreme Court on Friday ordered postponement of AIIMS INI CET Examination, 2021, scheduled on June 16, by one month. https://opinionexpress.in/g7-members-pledge-1b-covid-vax-doses-for-poorer-nations The Group of Seven(G7) leaders countries -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US -- have pledged to donate one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to poor countries to help vaccinate the world by the end of next year, according to media reports. https://opinionexpress.in/crisil-assigns-highest-corporate-governance-rating-to-bharti-airtel Bharti Airtel on Friday said that Crisil has assigned 'CRISIL GVC Level 1' grading to the company, which is the 'highest' level in terms of corporate governance practices. https://opinionexpress.in/us-fda-denies-emergency-use-approval-for-covaxin The US Food and Drug administration has denied approval for emergency use of Covaxin, developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, and has asked for additional data, biopharmaceutical Ocugen, the US partner of the Indian vaccine maker has said. https://opinionexpress.in/global-regulator-for-banks-red-flags-crypto-assets-such-as-bitcoin The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, said on Thursday that cryptoassets such as Bitcoin pose additional and higher risks to banks and would be subject to a new conservative prudential treatment. https://opinionexpress.in/3-dead-in-florida-supermarket-shooting Three people, including a child, were killed in a shooting inside a supermarket in the US state of Florida, local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/mukul-roy-likely-to-meet-cm-mamata-banerjee In a surprise development on Friday BJP national vice-president and MP from Krishnanagar North, Mukul Roy, is expected to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee fuelling speculation that he and his son Subhrangshu Roy might be returning to the Trinamool Congress. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-to-help-yogi-govt-in-scaling-up-vaccination The Uttar Pradesh unit of the ruling BJP will now help the Yogi Adityanath government in scaling up the Covid vaccination drive. https://opinionexpress.in/up-cm-meets-bjp-chief-nadda-after-modi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday called on BJP chief J.P. Nadda after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/nusrat-jahan-controversy-snowballs-into-political-potboiler The now controversial marriage of Trinamool Congress MP and city-based businessman Nikhil Jain has taken a political hue as the BJP has jumped into the squabble alleging that the film actress has cheated people by showing off her wedding as a happy inter-religious marriage. https://opinionexpress.in/pakistans-national-assembly-passes-bill-to-give-right-of-appeal-to-kulbhushan-jadhav Pakistan's National Assembly has passed a government-backed bill that will provide the right of appeal to Indian death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav, according to a media report. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-most-popular-party-among-indian-diaspora-in-us-survey   https://opinionexpress.in/apple-supply-chain-creates-20k-jobs-in-india-report Apple supply chain's shift of operation to India, in line with the incentives provided by the government, has reportedly created around 20,000 job in the country to date. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-rules-for-home-delivery-of-liquor-come-into-force-from-friday The Delhi government notified the rules allowing home delivery of liquor for orders placed through mobile applications and websites on Thursday, which will come into effect in the national capital from Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/pfizer-covid-19-jabs-protective-against-beta-gamma-variant US pharmaceutical Pfizer's vaccine against Covid-19 can effectively neutralise Beta, Gamma variant of the Coronavirus disease, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-maximum-speed-limit-revised-for-motor-vehicles Delhi Traffic Police has issued a fresh notification superseding all previous orders regarding declarations of speed limits on the roads of NCT of Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/safrica-technically-enters-3rd-covid-wave South Africa has "technically" entered the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the country's National Institute for Communicable Diseases said. https://opinionexpress.in/lalu-celebrates-74th-birthday-in-delhi-daughter-misa-shares-photo Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President, Lalu Prasad celebrated his 74th birthday at daughter Misa Bharati's residence in New Delhi on Friday. Misa shared the photographs on her Twitter handle. https://opinionexpress.in/youtube-for-android-tv-passes-100-mn-installs Google-owned video streaming platform YouTube's app for Android TV has surpassed 100 million installs. https://opinionexpress.in/landslide-blocks-jammu-srinagar-highway The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway was blocked on Friday by a massive landslide in the Ramban district. https://opinionexpress.in/one-who-lives-in-glass-houses-shouldnt-throw-stones-at-others-sc-to-ex-mumbai-cp The Supreme Court on Friday expressed shock and declined to entertain a plea by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh seeking transfer of all inquiries against him outside Maharashtra and also for transferring of all investigations from state police to an independent agency. https://opinionexpress.in/antigua-cabinet-discusses-choksis-abduction-claim The Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet held a brief discussion into Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's abduction claim, as well as on the decisions rendered by the Magistrate and the High Court of Dominica, local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-galaxy-m32-with-industry-best-display-in-india-this-month Samsung is set to launch Galaxy M32, its latest Galaxy M Series smartphone in India, in the Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 price range later this month. https://opinionexpress.in/eam-jaishankar-holds-meeting-with-indias-envoys-to-gulf-nations External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has held a meeting with India's envoys to the Gulf nations to discuss a host of issues, including encouraging speedy resumption of flights to this region and facilitating reuniting families separated by Covid disruption. https://opinionexpress.in/us-budget-deficit-tops-2tn The US budget deficit soared to $2.1 trillion during the first eight months of fiscal year 2021, which ends on September 30, the Treasury Department reported. https://opinionexpress.in/johnson-biden-sign-new-atlantic-charter UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden have signed a new Atlantic Charter aimed at working together on global challenges during their first-ever in-person meeting. https://opinionexpress.in/2-iranian-warships-enter-atlantic-ocean-for-1st-time Two Iranian war ships have entered the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, a top official confirmed here. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-ends-mou-with-us-on-facilitating-travels-for-diplomats Just days ahead of the much-anticipated meeting between Russian President Vladmir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed an order to nullify the Moscow-Washington Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on "open ground" that facilitated travels for diplomats in their host country. https://opinionexpress.in/another-wrestler-arrested-in-sagar-dhankar-murder-case The Delhi Police on Friday arrested another wrestler in connection with the May 4 Chhatrasal Stadium brawl that led to the death of Sagar Dhankar, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/google-updates-search-algorithms-to-curb-online-harassment Google has updated its Search algorithms to protect people who are dealing with extraordinary cases of repeated harassment online. https://opinionexpress.in/footprints-of-climate-change-evident-in-himalayas-karakoram-ranges The footprints of climate change are evident in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges where increased glacial melt, hazardous events, changes in snowfall patterns are all combining to alter the water supplies of downstream countries which depend on rivers emerging from these ranges. https://opinionexpress.in/vidya-balan-i-did-not-set-out-to-break-stereotypes Vidya Balan has time and again challenged Bollywood stereotypes with her roles, living out her characters with power-packed performances. The actress says it was not something that she did consciously. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-rise-again-across-the-country-petrol-costs-rs-102ltr-in-mumbai The common man continues to face the heat from rising fuel prices as oil marketing companies once again decided to pass on the rise in global oil rates to consumers on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/up-cm-adityanath-meets-pm-modi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath is meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to apprise him about the political situation in the state and steps taken to control the second wave of Covid pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-91k-covid-cases-3403-deaths India recorded 91,702 new Covid cases as 3,403 people succumbed to the virus in last 24 hours, according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/will-bjp-strike-a-deal-with-bsp-supremo-mayawati   https://opinionexpress.in/tata-expands-digital-footprint-with-majority-stake-in-health-platform-1mg   https://opinionexpress.in/ne-indias-first-drdo-supported-covid-hospital-in-assam The DRDO supported first ever 300-bed Covid hospital in northeast India was inaugurated in Guwahati on Thursday by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The modern Covid Care Hospital was set up by converting a portion of the Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati and it will act as an annexe to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/ioa-scrambles-for-athletes-olympic-kit-without-chinese-connection With less than 50 days to go for the Tokyo Olympic Games to begin, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is staring at a challenging task of making arrangements for a new sports kit for the Indian contingent -- without the China imprint. https://opinionexpress.in/may-get-killed-if-asaram-freed-on-bail-rape-victims-father-in-sc The father of the child rape victim has moved the Supreme Court, opposing bail of jailed godman Asaram Bapu, apprehending that his daughter and his family could be killed by followers/henchmen of the powerful godman. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-discusses-up-political-situation-with-amit-shah-apna-dal-chief Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the state's political situation and Covid management. Former Union Minister and Apna Dal chief, Anupriya Patel also joined the deliberations. https://opinionexpress.in/oxford-astrazeneca-covid-jab-linked-to-low-platelet-count-study The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may be associated with a condition characterised by low platelet counts, in rare cases, according to a study by an international team of researchers. https://opinionexpress.in/motivated-tag-fine-unfair-sc-moved-against-hc-order-on-central-vista A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Court's judgement declining to stop the construction activity at the Central Vista Redevelopment project amid the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, and imposing Rs 1 lakh cost on the petitioners. https://opinionexpress.in/g7-aims-to-boost-healthcare-systems-against-future-pandemics G7 nations have aimed to join forces to end the Covid-19 pandemic and strengthen health care systems worldwide to counter future outbreaks, according to a draft declaration leaders are expected to make. https://opinionexpress.in/too-much-at-stake-in-2nd-test-for-england-to-lose-focus-hussain The England cricket team has too much at stake in the second Test against New Zealand to lose focus and get distracted by the Ollie Robinson tweets issue of the first Test, says its former captain Nasser Hussain. https://opinionexpress.in/1-in-2-indian-americans-discriminated-in-past-yr-study A new study has revealed that one in two Indian-Americans have reported being discriminated against in the past one year. https://opinionexpress.in/india-slips-to-55th-rank-globally-in-home-price-movement As property price in the country declined amid the pandemic, India moved down 12 spots in the global home price index to 55th rank in Q1 2021, according to Knight Frank's Global House Price Index - Q1 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/tackle-biodiversity-climate-crises-together-experts ( Courtesy IANS )  https://opinionexpress.in/eightfold-ai-raises-220m-led-by-softbank-vision-fund-2 Artificial Intelligence-powered talent intelligence platform Eightfold AI on Thursday announced that it has raised a $220 million in its Series E funding round led by SoftBanks Vision Fund 2. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-may-extend-lockdown-by-a-week-on-experts-advice ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-at-shahs-residence-likely-to-meet-pm-and-nadda-on-fri Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached the national capital on Thursday where he is likely to meet the BJP central leadership. https://opinionexpress.in/punjab-cm-asks-modi-to-remit-pending-dues-of-scholarship-scheme Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking release of the state's pending amount and revised sharing pattern under the Post-Matric Scholarship for Scheduled Castes (PMS-SCs) for 2017-2020. https://opinionexpress.in/strong-winds-of-25-35-kmph-likely-over-northwest-india Strong surface winds, of the order of 25-35 kmph, are likely to prevail over plains of northwest India during next four days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.The National Weather Forecasting Centre of the IMD, however, has forecast dry weather conditions over the rest of northwest India.No large change is expected in the maximum temperature during next 48 hours and it may fall by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius thereafter over the plains of northwest India.Outlook for subsequent two days from 8.30 a.m. of June 13 to 8.30 a.m. of June 15 reports scattered to fairly widespread precipitation likely over northwest India, except Rajasthan where it is likely to be at isolated places.The forecast came when the mercury went past 40 degrees in the national capital on Thursday, settling at 41 degrees Celsius for the second consecutive day.The haze and the UV index has made it feel more sweltering though, with the IMD saying that dry weather in the city is a major contributor to the rise in temperature and the mercury is expected to further go up in coming days.The national capital on Wednesday saw a maximum of 42.2 degrees Celsius maximum, three notches above the season's average, while the minimum temperature was 31.4 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average.The IMD has forecast partly cloudy sky and strong surface wind blowing at a speed of upto 20-30 kmph during the day in Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-higher-education-enrollment-stands-at-385cr India's enrollment in higher education stands at 3.85 crore in 2019-20, as compared to 3.74 crore in 2018-19, registering a growth of 11.36 lakh (3.04 per cent). https://opinionexpress.in/the-booming-gaming-industry-in-india The gaming market in India has seen tremendous boom in the last few years and will continue to grow as the development and advancement in technology continues to happen even as we speak. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-labour-market-now-in-worst-condition-since-apr-may-2020-cmie As employment rate continues to worsen amid the second wave of Covid-19, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has said that the Indian labour market is in its worst condition since April-May last year, when the whole country was under lockdown. https://opinionexpress.in/china-sustains-artificial-sun-at-record-120-mn-c-for-over-100-sec https://opinionexpress.in/wuhan-markets-sold-dozens-of-wild-animals-prior-to-covid-pandemic Markets in China's Wuhan sold dozens of wild animals that can host pathogens and potentially jump to humans, two years before the Covid pandemic hit the world, according to a study. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-toll-sees-sharp-spike-as-bihar-revises-data India recorded 6,148 deaths in last 24 hours -- the highest since the pandemic hit last year -- according to data released by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Thursday, as Bihar sharply revised its toll upwards. https://opinionexpress.in/fictional-no-violation-of-privacy-hc-quashes-plea-against-films-on-ssr The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to stay the release of movie, Nyay: The Justice, scheduled for release on Friday, purportedly based on the life of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-agriculture-exports-jump-to-41-billion-despite-pandemic-disruptions ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/cong-panel-on-punjab-submits-report-to-sonia-amarinder-to-stay ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/bafta-breakthrough-india-selected-list-of-participants-revealed The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on Thursday announced names of the 10 selected participants for its talent initiative, BAFTA Breakthrough India. The selected participants include "A Suitable Boy" actress Tanya Maniktala, "Scam 1992" writer Sumit Purohit and "Gully Boy" cinematographer Jay Pinak Oza among others. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-putin-summit-to-take-place-in-lakeside-villa ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/phased-unlock-fy22-gdp-growth-projected-at-85-icra India's GDP growth has been projected at 8.5 per cent in FY22, said ratings agency ICRA. https://opinionexpress.in/covaxins-phase-3-trials-results-likely-next-month The results of third phase trials of India's first indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin are expected to be released next month.Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech said its service provider, IQVIA, has started final statistical analysis. https://opinionexpress.in/if-ideology-doesnt-matter-changeover-is-easy-sibal A day after Jitin Prasada left the party, the Congress leaders of the G-23 group of which Jitin Prasada was a part of, attacked him and said that ideological commitment is more important in politics.S https://opinionexpress.in/only-tourists-with-both-vax-doses-must-be-allowed-in-goa-minister Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar on Thursday said that tourism should be opened once everyone in Goa gets a double vaccine dose and only those tourists who have taken both the shots should be permitted. https://opinionexpress.in/wtc-final-india-team-begins-group-training-practice-in-southampton The Indian cricket team had its first group training and nets session at the Hampshire Bowl ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand, the Indian cricket board informed through a video on social media on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-russia-send-tough-messages-ahead-of-biden-putin-summit As US President Joe Biden began his visit to Europe, where he will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin next week, Washington and Moscow have sent tough messages ahead of the much-awaited summit. https://opinionexpress.in/selena-gomez-its-so-hard-to-tour Singer Selena Gomez has revealed that she finds touring hard because it leaves her lacking in self-love. https://opinionexpress.in/military-plane-crashes-in-myanmar A military plane crashed in Myanmar's Mandalay region due to severe weather on Thursday morning, a military spokesperson said. https://opinionexpress.in/sweltering-in-delhi-as-mercury-remains-above-40 For the second consecutive day, the mercury went past 40 degrees in the national capital on Thursday settling at 41 degrees Celsius, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. https://opinionexpress.in/dominica-declares-mehul-choksi-as-prohibited-immigrant In a massive setback for the Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, wanted in India in Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, the Dominican government declared him as a "prohibited immigrant" in their country. https://opinionexpress.in/g7-plans-end-of-tax-paradise-for-mncs It will end a lucrative business model of the MNCs that park most of their profits in tax havens, bringing curtains down on the golden era of the havens themselves https://opinionexpress.in/when-doctors-become-patients It’s an Indian medical conundrum: How long will the doctors tolerate violence against themselves? https://opinionexpress.in/environment-is-forever-not-diamonds Permission to mine for diamonds in a 364-hectare area in MP will lead to felling of 225,000 trees besides permanently damaging rare plant species and adversely impacting ground water table https://opinionexpress.in/better-tomorrow Crushed, the tourism industry is hoping that the run of bad luck would soon be over https://opinionexpress.in/good-intent The Election Commission of India is pushing the Government over the next batch of electoral reforms https://opinionexpress.in/likud-oxygen-for-israels-polity Irrespective of whether Netanyahu stays or goes, it can’t be denied that his Likud party has changed the contours of Israeli politics forever https://opinionexpress.in/tn-assembly-session-to-begin-from-june-21 Tamil Nadu assembly session will begin at the Kalaivanar Arangam from June 21 at 10 a.m. This was announced by the Speaker M. Appavu on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/i-will-continue-fight-for-peoples-rights-farooq-abdullah   https://opinionexpress.in/first-mega-monsoon-tragedy-as-11-killed-in-mumbai-house-crash In the first major monsoon-related tragedy, at least 11 persons were killed and 7 more injured when a two-storied residential building collapsed and crashed on an adjoining tenement in Malad west late on Wednesday, officials said here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/sasikala-wooing-thevar-community-to-take-over-aiadmk   https://opinionexpress.in/gail-logs-28-sequential-growth-in-q4-net-profit GAIL (India) Ltd on Wednesday reported a 28 per cent growth in its net profit for the January-March period, on a quarter-on-quarter basis, at Rs 1,908 crore.During the Q3 of FY21, the state-run natural gas major had reported a net profit of Rs 1,487 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/bajaj-allianz-life-declares-rs-1156-crore-bonus Private life insurer Bajaj Allianz Life has declared bonuses amounting to Rs 1,156 crore to its policyholders. This includes a special one-time bonus of Rs 315 crore, which is over and above the regular bonus. https://opinionexpress.in/faster-vaccination-frontloading-of-fiscal-steps-key-to-recovery-finmin As economic activities have slowed down amid the second wave of Covid-19 and lockdowns across states, a Finance Ministry report has said that faster vaccine coverage and frontloading of fiscal measures announced in this year's budget would be the major factors in boosting the investment and consumption cycles and, in turn, reviving the economy. https://opinionexpress.in/fighter-jet-disappears-from-radars-during-bulgarian-us-drill ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/romantic-mumbai-rains-make-kangana-yearn-for-someone-special The Mumbai rains on Wednesday left Kangana Ranaut in a romantic mood. The Bollywood actress yearned for the person meant for her to show up. https://opinionexpress.in/shut-down-telegram-group-for-undue-help-during-open-book-exams-du Delhi University (DU) has written a letter asking social media app Telegram to shut down a specific group on the app through which students were being allegedly told the answers to questions asked in the online open book examination held by the university. https://opinionexpress.in/isro-to-assist-development-projects-in-ne-through-space-technology ( Courtesy IANS )   https://opinionexpress.in/cong-panel-on-punjab-finalises-report-to-submit-this-week The Congress panel on Punjab to resolve factionalism in the state, met at a party war room at GRG road on Wednesday, and deliberated on the report.Mallikarjun Kharge, who is heading the committee said that, "we will submit its report in three or four days." https://opinionexpress.in/varun-dhawan-enjoys-mumbai-rain-says-felt-amazing Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan on Wednesday reminisced about his childhood days, saying that he always loved playing in the rain. https://opinionexpress.in/is-centre-planning-something-big-in-jk With rumours becoming rife over New Delhi planning 'something big' in J&K, top sources told IANS on Wednesday that the focus of the central government is on two important issues: whether the suspended Amarnath Yatra can be resumed and whether assembly elections can be held before the year end. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-ias-officer-anup-chandra-pandey-joins-as-election-commissioner-lead Retired IAS officer Anup Chandra Pandey on Wednesday took office as Election Commissioner, returning the three member body, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, to full strength. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-dents-global-electronics-sales-un In the first three quarters of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic caused a 30 per cent fall in electronic and electrical equipment sales in low and middle-income countries but only a five per cent decline in high-income countries. This highlights and intensifies the digital divide between north and south, said a new United Nations (UN) report on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/us-mounts-pressure-on-pak-for-access-to-military-bases-after-afghan-withdrawal As the US gears up to end its longest fought war in Afghanistan and withdraw its troops from the country, the Joe Biden administration is in deliberations with Pakistan to provide the US access to its airspace and a drone base, which would be used to keep an eye on the situation in Afghanistan after the troops withdrawal and also to make sure that it does turn into a terrorist base again. https://opinionexpress.in/lakshadweep-admin-implementing-sangh-parivar-agenda-congress Lakshadweep Pradesh Congress Committee president Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed has slammed the Union Territory administrator Praful G. Patel for his acts in the island, accusing him of implementing the agenda of the Sangh Parivar. He said, this will be opposed tooth and nail. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-mla-demands-ban-on-madarsa-operations-in-bihar A day after the explosion in a madarsa in Banka district, BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur demanded that such educational institutions should be banned across the state."Madarsas are meant to provide the education of terrorism in Bihar. Hence, we have demanded a ban on such institutions in Bihar," Thakur said. https://opinionexpress.in/asaram-has-ulterior-motive-to-shift-outside-jail-sc-told https://opinionexpress.in/russia-reports-over-10k-new-covid-cases Russia has reported 10,407 Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest number of daily infections since March 7, according to the official data released on Wednesday.The total number of coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 5,156,250, Xinhua reported.The national Covid death toll rose by 399 to 124,895 in the past day, while the number of the country's recoveries grew by 9,814 to 4,761,899.Meanwhile, Moscow, Russia's worst-hit region, reported 4,124 new cases, taking its total to 1,209,214.More than 141.1 million Covid tests have been conducted across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/cop-26-will-cdm-regain-focus CDM is an effective tool to facilitate low-carbon transition and helps in technology transfer https://opinionexpress.in/person-in-control-new-entity-in-charge SEBI wants to shift focus from promoters to controlling shareholders or the so-called ‘person in control’ (PIC), but is the new breed willing to take charge? https://opinionexpress.in/wide-angle Hurting the BJP outside West Bengal seems to be the TMC’s game plan https://opinionexpress.in/a-salad-coalition-can-lead-israel-wednesday-09-june-2021 The nation is facing a chronic problem of splintered democracy. Can the new disparate coalition deliver a stable Government or will Likud spring back? https://opinionexpress.in/india-have-better-record-than-nz-away-from-home-in-wtc   https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-books-avantha-reality-gautam-thapar-in-yes-bank-fraud-case   https://opinionexpress.in/jitin-prasada-once-close-to-rahul-gandhi-joins-bjp-ahead-of-up-polls jitin prasad bjp https://opinionexpress.in/will-up-govt-bring-truth-of-agra-hospital-mockdrill-asks-priyanka Congress General secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over the oxygen crisis in the Agra hospital and asked if the government would get to the bottom of the truth in the hospital for the mock drill and punish the people behind it. https://opinionexpress.in/tom-hiddleston-have-always-felt-an-affection-for-loki Actor Tom Hiddleston has opened up about what makes his character, Loki, the God of Mischief, the most fun character to portray. https://opinionexpress.in/revenue-deficit-grant-of-rs-9871-cr-released-to-17-states The Finance Ministry has released the third monthly instalment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) Grant of Rs 9,871 crore for the year 2021-22 to 17 states. https://opinionexpress.in/telangana-further-relaxes-restrictions-permits-more-activities With an increase in the relaxation hours during the lockdown from Thursday onwards, the Telangana government has permitted some more economic activities in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/monsoon-storms-into-maharashtra-trains-traffic-hit-in-mumbai The first monsoon rains hit Maharashtra and Mumbai with full fury on Wednesday, hitting local trains and road traffic, and flooding low-lying areas in the country's commercial capital, officials said here. https://opinionexpress.in/kanpur-accident-pm-announces-rs-2l-ex-gratia Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief at the untimely demise of 17 people in a road accident in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased. https://opinionexpress.in/retired-ias-anup-chandra-appointed-election-commissioner President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed retired IAS officer Anup Chandra Pandey as Election Commissioner. https://opinionexpress.in/farmers-are-true-to-their-stance-despite-several-deaths-rahul Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a potshot at the government saying the farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws despite several deaths at the protest site. https://opinionexpress.in/infosys-regrets-glitches-on-itr-e-filing-portal-working-on-resolution-nilekani Responding to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamans call to attend to the complaints of the taxpayers regarding issues on the newly launched ITR e-filing portal and improve the service quality, Infosys Co-Founder and Chairman Nandan Nilekani said on Tuesday that the company regrets the initial glitches and is working to resolve the issues. https://opinionexpress.in/williamson-doubtful-santner-ruled-out-of-2nd-test-against-england New Zealand skipper and batting mainstay Kane Williamson is doubtful while spinner Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of the second Test against England that begins at Edgbaston here on Thursday. The injuries to two key players come 10 days before New Zealand's World Test Championship final against India gets underway at Southampton. https://opinionexpress.in/raashii-khanna-want-people-to-open-their-hearts-and-donate Actress Raashii Khanna is trying to help the poor, who are the worst affected by the pandemic and its ensuing lockdown, and she requests all to donate towards helping the needy. https://opinionexpress.in/nasas-juno-sends-1st-images-of-jupiters-largest-moon After flying closer to Jupiter's largest moon than any other in more than two decades, NASA's Juno spacecraft has sent back two images offering dramatic glimpses of the icy orb. https://opinionexpress.in/arshi-khan-funny-to-see-how-low-people-go-to-participate-in-bigg-boss Actress and "Bigg Boss" star Arshi Khan feels celebrities create unnecessary controversies to be eligible for participation in the reality show. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-runs-out-of-stock-halts-vaccination Vaccination in Tamil Nadu has come to a grinding halt as several districts have fallen short of the required doses in the state. 39 out of the 45 health units of the state reported a shortage of vaccines. https://opinionexpress.in/uber-hiring-250-engineers-in-india-to-expand-tech-product-teams Ride-hailing major Uber on Wednesday announced to hire nearly 250 engineers for its Bengaluru and Hyderabad-based teams, as the company expands operations for its engineering and product work in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-over-92k-covid-cases-2219-deaths-in-24-hrs India on Wednesday logged 92,596 new Covid infections in 24 hours, less than one lakh cases for the second straight day and 6,098 cases more than Tuesday, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-kills-54-govt-teachers-die-in-champaran-no-salaries-no-ex-gratia "Happiness is no longer part of my life," said Kumari Neha. The 30-year-old was tragically widowed when her husband Deepak Anand, a government school teacher succumbed to Covid-19 while being treated at Government Medical College and Hospital at Bettiah, the headquarters of Bihar's West Champaran district. https://opinionexpress.in/vaccine-free-food-could-upset-indias-fy22-fiscal-numbers The first signs of rising stress in the country's fiscal position this year is becoming evident with the government further streching its already stretched finances to provide for additional food and free vaccines to the masses hit by the second Covid-19 wave. https://opinionexpress.in/pak-expresses-concern-over-more-bifurcation-changes-in-jk Amid reports circulating that India may be looking into bringing about more bifurcation and demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has warned New Delhi against any attempt to further make demographic changes in what it calls Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to "perpetuate its illegal occupation". https://opinionexpress.in/44-crore-more-vaccine-doses-ordered-by-health-ministry After the Prime Minister announced free vaccination, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a fresh order for 25 crore doses of Covishield and 19 crore doses of Covaxin. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-chhetri-now-3-short-of-peles-77-international-goals Ace forward Sunil Chhetri has become the world's second most prolific goal scorer amongst the active players -- his tally of 74 is second only to Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo's 103 -- but the India captain is not counting them as yet. In the all-time goal scorers' list, Chhetri is three goals short of Pele's 77 goals. https://opinionexpress.in/no-data-to-show-children-will-be-seriously-hit-in-next-covid-waves-aiims-chief There is no data, either from India or globally, to show that children will be seriously infected in any subsequent Covid-19 waves, AIIMS, Delhi, Director Dr Randeep Guleria said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-writes-to-12-cms-to-urge-centre-for-loan-moratorium ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/a-conference-that-might-never-take-place Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan intends to call a conference of foreign ministers of Islamic countries in Islamabad to discuss the so-called Kashmir issue. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-police-busts-interstate-arms-syndicate-arrests-supplier-with-12-pistols The Delhi Police's Crime Branch on Tuesday said that it has busted an interstate illegal arms syndicate and arrested one arms supplier Sajid. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) crime branch Monika Bhardwaj said that the police also recovered 12 sophisticated semi-automatic pistols, which were being supplied to the Shahrukh and Hasim Baba Gang. https://opinionexpress.in/significant-rise-of-frauds-in-second-wave-of-coronavirus ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/efficacy-of-covaxin-covishield-sputnik-v-more-or-less-equivalent-guleria Data available till now shows clearly that efficacy of all vaccines -- whether Covaxin, Covishield or Sputnik V -- are more or less equivalent, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said amid rumours about differentiated abilities of Covid-19 vaccines available in India in terms of production of antibodies or higher seropositivity rate. https://opinionexpress.in/crack-down-on-illegal-adoption-of-kids-orphaned-amid-covid-sc In a significant direction, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a crackdown on NGOs or individuals involved in illegal adoption of children orphaned amid the Covid pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/dont-let-taxpayers-down-fm-tells-infosys-over-issues-on-itr-e-filing-portal Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday called out Infosys and its Co-Founder Nandan Nilekani for the problems faced by taxpayers while using the newly launched ITR e-filing portal. https://opinionexpress.in/bombay-hc-cancels-ex-filmstar-mp-navneet-kaur-ranas-caste-certificate In a huge jolt, the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench on Tuesday struck down the caste certificate issued to Amravati Lok Sabha MP and ex-filmstar Navneet Kaur Rana on the grounds that it was obtained fraudulently using fabricated documents.A division bench comprising Justice R. D. Dhanuka and Justice V. G. Bisht ordered her to surrender it within 6 weeks and imposed a fine of Rs 200,000 to be paid to the Maharashtra Legal Services Authority within a fortnight.Rana is the wife of independent MLA from Badnera, Ravi Rana, the founder of the Yuva Swabhiman Party (YSP) and is a relative of yoga guru Baba Ramdev.The judges noted that Rana's claims of belonging to the 'Mochi' caste' for obtaining a Scheduled Caste certificate itself was fraudulent and made with the intention to obtain various benefits available to a candidate from such a category despite knowing that she does not belong to that caste.Navneet Kaur is a former model and actress who fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amravati (SC-reserved) constituency defeating veteran Shiv Sena leader Anandrao Adsul. https://opinionexpress.in/seven-years-of-modi-regime The Government must concentrate on gradual but serious systemic changes to ensure reforms https://opinionexpress.in/economy-needs-a-strong-stimulus That India was a perfect growth story before 2014 would be incorrect to claim, but is it any better seven years down the line under a single-party majority? https://opinionexpress.in/vaccine-hesitancy People, especially in rural and low-income areas, are in mortal dread of getting the jab https://opinionexpress.in/making-history-not-just-writing-it The leaders of every era should leave behind some architecture that represents the ethos of that era, like the Central Vista project https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-urges-modi-to-allow-delhi-govt-to-provide-free-rations Amid the escalating political fight over the controversial 'ration at doorstep' scheme following the Centre's objections, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to draw his attention to the matter. The Centre has blocked the scheme launched by the Delhi government to help provide subsidised foodgrains at home. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-books-fci-official-in-disproportionate-assets-case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said that it has registered a case of disproportionate assets against Kishor Meena, Assistant Grade-I officer of FCI posted at Divisional Office in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and carried out searches at 13 locations. https://opinionexpress.in/bihars-unlock-process-to-begin-from-june-14 Bihar will start the process of partially easing its lockdown measures from June 14 onwards, allowing markets to remain open till 5 pm. https://opinionexpress.in/no-change-amarinder-to-remain-punjab-cm With the party panel for Punjab set to submit its reports on the political turmoil in the state, sources say that it may not recommend removal of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and he is likely to the party in the state to the next elections. https://opinionexpress.in/upgrad-to-hire-1000-people-in-india-in-next-3-months Global online higher education provider upGrad on Tuesday said it will onboard 1,000 employees in the next three months in India from more than 100 campuses, including Metros and tier 2 and 3 cities, as the pandemic hits the job market in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/kerala-hc-asks-centre-to-spell-out-its-new-vax-policy The Kerala High Court has asked the central government to spell out its new vaccine policy on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/thackeray-leads-delegation-to-pm-for-maha-issues Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday led a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss around a dozen pending issues of the state, officials said here. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-nod-for-guidelines-to-develop-e-content-for-children-with-disabilities The Centre on Tuesday approved the release of the guidelines for development of e-content for children with disabilities. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-gears-up-to-unlock-in-phases With the Covid infection rate coming down below 10 per cent and the number of daily cases hovering around 5,000, the Mamata Banerjee government is mulling lifting of restrictions imposed on in West Bengal in phases. https://opinionexpress.in/dyfi-urges-puducherry-govt-to-pay-final-year-mbbs-students-on-covid-duty Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) - the CPI(M)'s youth wing - has urged the Puducherry government to provide monthly remuneration to the final-year MBBS students, who are engaged in Covid-related works. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-vaccination-gathers-pace-in-telangana Covid-19 vaccination gathered momentum in Telangana as more than 1.65 lakh people received the doses on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/ny-to-lift-most-curbs-upon-key-vaccination-landmark New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that most of existing Covid-19 restrictions in the state would be lifted once 70 per cent of all residents receive their first dose of a vaccine against the virus. https://opinionexpress.in/unclear-if-iran-prepared-to-return-to-compliance-with-n-deal US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said hat it remained unclear if Iran is willing to take steps to return to compliance with the 2015 landmark nuclear deal. https://opinionexpress.in/us-justice-dept-recovers-23mn-paid-to-hackers-who-shut-pipeline The US Justice Department announced that federal law enforcement officials have seized $2.3 million in cryptocurrency of the ransom paid to hackers who shut down the key Colonial Pipeline last month. https://opinionexpress.in/stokes-set-to-return-to-action-with-t20-game-next-week All-rounder Ben Stokes, who is sitting out of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand due to injury but will be a key player in England's five-Test series against India in August-September, is likely to resume competitive cricket with a T20 Blast game for Durham next week. https://opinionexpress.in/poco-unveils-its-first-5g-smartphone-m3-pro-in-india In to bid to capture more users, smartphone brand POCO on Tuesday unveiled its first 5G smartphone in India -- POCO M3 Pro -- that comes in two storage variants. https://opinionexpress.in/us-govt-lab-in-2020-concluded-covid-19-leaked-from-wuhan-report The US government's national laboratory had in a 2020 report on the origins of Covid-19 concluded that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab in Wuhan, the Wall Street Journal said on Monday citing people familiar with the classified document. https://opinionexpress.in/iqoo-z3-5g-with-snapdragon-768g-chip-launched-in-india Smartphone brand iQOO on Tuesday unveiled the Z3 5G smartphone in India that is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G 5G mobile platform, 55W FlashCharge and 64MP auto focus main camera. https://opinionexpress.in/canada-condemns-targeted-killing-of-muslim-family The Canadian government has condemned the "targeted" killing of four members of a Muslim family by a pick-up driver in the city of London in Ontario province. https://opinionexpress.in/apple-opens-siri-for-third-party-devices-brands Apple has finally announced to bring its virtual assistant Siri to third-party devices as part of its major improvements via iOS 15. https://opinionexpress.in/midterm-results-point-to-continuity-of-govt-plan-mexican-prez Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador celebrated the preliminary outcome of Sunday's midterm elections, saying the results point to the continuity of his administration's national project. https://opinionexpress.in/samsung-galaxy-tab-s7-fe-tab-a7-to-arrive-in-india-next-week South Korean major Samsung is all set to launch two new tablets Galaxy Tab S7FE and Galaxy Tab A7 Lite in India next week and the devices are likely to go on sale on June 23, industry sources said on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/suvendu-adhikari-in-delhi-to-meet-amit-shah https://opinionexpress.in/when-shilpa-shetty-was-in-for-a-pre-birthday-surprise Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra celebrates her birthday on Tuesday. She was in for a surprise when the cast and crew of the dance reality show "Super Dancer: Chapter 4" organised a surprise bash for her. Shilpa is a judge on the show. https://opinionexpress.in/pfizer-moderna-vaccines-cut-infection-risk-by-91-us-cdc Taking two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna's mRNA-based vaccines, authorised by the Food and Drug Administration, can reduce the risk of coronavirus infection by 91 per cent, according to a new study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://opinionexpress.in/who-warns-against-overpriced-covid-vax The World Health Organization (WHO) warned against the danger of buying overpriced Covid-19 vaccines from intermediaries, reminding countries to buy jabs certified by the WHO and make sure to identify the origin of the product. https://opinionexpress.in/uddhav-thackeray-to-meet-pm-modi-today Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to discuss various issues including Maratha reservation and other issues concerning the state. https://opinionexpress.in/top-ios-15-features-to-elevate-your-iphone-experience-this-fall Apple has announced iOS 15, a major update with powerful features that will take the iPhone experience to a new level this fall. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-reassures-zelensky-of-continuous-support In an effort to reassure Ukraine ahead of the US-Russia summit next week, American President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington's support to Kiev in a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. https://opinionexpress.in/fb-to-show-creators-how-much-money-they-pay-to-apple-google As Apple presented its flagship WWDC21 developer conference, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the social network will show creators how much money Apple and Google are actually taking from them via their respective app stores. https://opinionexpress.in/shlokka-pandits-cat-keeps-her-busy-amid-lockdown https://opinionexpress.in/dhfl-shares-to-be-delisted-as-per-piramals-resolution-plan Equity shares of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd will be delisted from the stock exchanges going ahead, as part of the resolution plan of Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Ltd. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-govt-to-give-covid-cash-relief-to-transpeople The Tamil Nadu government will begin distributing the first instalment of the Covid cash relief of Rs 2,000 to all Trasnpersons in the state which includes those who do not have a ration card. https://opinionexpress.in/fire-breaks-out-in-a-chemical-factory-in-greater-noida A major fire broke out in a chemical company in Surajpur industrial area, Greater Noida on Tuesday morning. The fire quickly spread and became intense due to the presence of chemicals in the company. https://opinionexpress.in/at-86k-new-cases-indias-daily-count-dips-1st-time-below-1l-after-2-months India on Tuesday logged 86,498 new Covid infections in 24 hours, less than one lakh cases for the first time in past 66 days, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/day-curfew-lifted-in-all-up-districts The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has completely lifted the day curfew in all the 75 districts. https://opinionexpress.in/jessica-alba-and-cameron-diaz-has-inspired-payal-ghosh-big-time  films https://opinionexpress.in/simple-roadmap-to-mens-best-for-sexual-health   https://opinionexpress.in/uae-based-indians-delays-summer-holiday-plans   https://opinionexpress.in/us-iran-nuclear-deal-cause-of-concern-israel-counter-terror-chief   https://opinionexpress.in/transparency-inclusivity-sc-seeks-stakeholders-suggestions-on-live-streaming In a bid to begin live streamlining of court proceedings, the Supreme court's e-committee has released the draft model rules inviting inputs, feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders. https://opinionexpress.in/3rd-covid-wave-can-be-prevented-says-vk-paul NITI Aayog's Member (Health) V.K. Paul on Monday expressed hope that the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic can be prevented by following appropriate behaviour instructed by the government. https://opinionexpress.in/defence-reforms-will-make-india-global-powerhouse-in-coming-times-rajnath ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/choksi-names-indian-officers-mystery-woman-in-complaint-to-antigua-police Fugitive businessman diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who is currently in Dominica, has named mysterious woman Barbara Jabarica, and ‘Indian officers Gurmit Singh and Narindra Singh in his complaint filed with the Antigua and Barbuda Police. https://opinionexpress.in/30k-children-orphaned-abandoned-or-in-other-distress-amid-covid-sc-told The National Commission for Protection of Children's Rights (NCPCR) told the Supreme Court that as many as 3,621 children were orphaned, 274 were found abandoned and 26,176 lost either parent since April 1, 2020 and June 5, 2021, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/milkha-singh-stable-responding-to-treatment-punjab-minister Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi on Monday spoke to doctors at the PGI Hospital here to enquire about national icon and Olympian Milkha Singh's health. https://opinionexpress.in/bse-touches-milestone-of-over-7-crore-registered-users Domestic stock exchange BSE has crossed the milestone of 7 crore registered users based on Unique Client Code (UCC) on Monday (June 7).The exchange also completed the journey from 6 crore to 7 crore users in just 139 days, as compared to 241, 652 and 939 days needed for the previous milestones of 6 crore, 5 crore and 4 crore, respectively. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-pathogen-has-genetic-footprint-never-observed-in-natural-coronavirus "The Science Suggests a Wuhan Lab Leak", as per an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by two leading US experts.Steven Quay and Richard Muller say in the WSJ essay that the Covid-19 pathogen has a genetic footprint that has never been observed in a natural coronavirus. https://opinionexpress.in/free-vaccine-to-all-indians Centre announces free vacaination to 18+ to all citizens: PM Modi   https://opinionexpress.in/queen-delighted-as-prince-harry-meghan-announce-birth-of-baby-girl https://opinionexpress.in/trouble-for-kerala-bjp-chief-as-court-allows-poll-case-to-be-filed A court in Kerala's Kasargode district on Monday allowed the police to register a case under election laws on a complaint against state BJP chief K. Surendran and two other party leaders after a candidate alleged he was paid money to withdraw his nomination for the April 6 Assembly polls. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-announces-cancellation-of-class-x-xii-board-exams In a major announcement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that the Madhyamik (Class X) and Uchha Madhyamik (Class XII) board examinations will not be held this year in view of the Covid situation in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/adopt-gujarat-tech-solutions-for-power-bills-collection-assam-cm-to-officials Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked officials to adopt the Gujarat technological solutions in metering, billing, collection of electricity bills and to recover the unpaid power bills of government officials directly from their salaries. https://opinionexpress.in/exercise-caution Delhi must take all safeguards to save lives  and prevent a repeat of past mistakes https://opinionexpress.in/wrong-priorities Rather than confronting the Centre on mundane issues, the States should work with it to beat the virus https://opinionexpress.in/us-india-ties-to-take-on-china The rise of China as a major economy and military power has been a major development in the 21st century. While China’s economic clout is being felt across all the regions of the world, it has also been aggressively pursuing its military modernisation programme. Though China has been projecting its ascent as a “peaceful rise”, the truth is that Beijing has begun to redefine the prevailing power structure in its favour in Asia, leading sections of international relations experts to argue that that the rise of China must be seen in the historical context of the rise and fall of great powers. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-to-address-the-nation-at-5-pm-today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 5 p.m. on Monday at a time when there is declining trend in cases of Covid-19 in the country after a deadly second wave in April-May. https://opinionexpress.in/randeep-hooda-names-baby-horse-ahope-after-his-mother Randeep Hooda is over the moon after his mare Dream Girl gave birth to a foal, whom he has christened Hope. Talking about why he chose the name, the actor says his mother's name is Asha and it means Hope in English. https://opinionexpress.in/second-wave-to-limit-cv-volume-growth-to-23-28-crisil The intense second wave of Covid-19 afflictions and consequent lockdowns will limit growth in the domestic commercial vehicle (CV) sales volume to 23-28 per cent this fiscal, compared with 32-37 per cent expected prior to its onset, Crisil said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/antigua-launches-probe-into-choksis-possible-abduction Antigua and Barbuda police have commenced an investigation into the possible abduction of Mehul Choksi from Antigua on May 23, 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/sidhu-moose-wala-always-written-songs-based-on-life-incidents International music sensation and Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala has dropped his new album MOOSETAPE on Spotify, which includes close to 32 singles, with one new video every week. The artist collaborations in the album include those with DIVINE, Bohemia, Raja Kumari, Stefflon Don, Tion Wyne, Morrison, Blockboi Twitch and Sikander Kahlon, among others. https://opinionexpress.in/now-fir-against-suvendu-adhikari-brother-aides Police has registered an FIR against West Bengal Assembly's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and his brother Soumendu Adhkari for "stealing relief materials" from Contai municipality in East Midnapore. https://opinionexpress.in/dilip-kumar-is-stable-and-on-oxygen-support-not-on-ventilator Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar, who is admitted to Hinduja Hospital here, is on oxygen support and his condition is stable. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-yaas-may-have-actually-helped-indian-rice-growers The damaging cyclone Yaas, which brought life to a standstill in several eastern states including West Bengal and Odisha just last month has also brought cheer to many just ahead of the rice sowing season. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-issues-travel-warning-for-namibia The Israeli Ministry of Health has issued a severe travel warning for Namibia, citing the increasing Covid-19 morbidity in the southwestern African country. https://opinionexpress.in/rare-genome-proves-covid-was-made-in-chinese-lab-us-experts Covid-19's rare genome shows that the virus was developed in a Chinese laboratory, two US experts have claimed in an essay, amid growing speculation that the coronavirus leaked from China's infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology, the media reported on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/g-7-summit-reality-and-expectations The upcoming G7 Summit in Cornwall, UK from June 11 to 13 is perhaps the first international event, in the backdrop of the continuing Covid pandemic, when the leaders from the worlds wealthiest countries -- the US, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Canada -- will be meeting with leaders from India, Australia, South Africa and South Korea face to face for the first time in the last one-and-a-half year. https://opinionexpress.in/kohli-doesnt-get-rattled-stays-with-own-shots-rashid India skipper Virat Kohli is special since he follows his own process religiously even under pressure, not resorting to any shot which is not his strength, said Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-urged-to-ensure-optimum-milieu-for-medical-staff The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his intervention to resolve the long pending pleas of the council and to ensure "optimum milieu" for medical professionals without mental and physical fear. https://opinionexpress.in/mahua-dares-bengal-guv-dhankar-to-sue-her Ruling Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Maitra has challenged West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to sue her for disclosures of 'extensive nepotism' at the Kolkata Raj Bhavan. https://opinionexpress.in/1-out-of-2-smartphones-to-support-5g-by-2022-end-globally With the average selling prices (ASP) likely to continue declining by double-digits in the near future, it is expected that one out of every two smartphones sold globally will support 5G by the end of 2022, a new report showed on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-recovery-improves-to-9908-in-gurugram The recovery rate of Covid-19 in Gurugram district is constantly improving and on Monday it was 99.08 per cent as compared to 98 per cent during the week, according to the district health department. https://opinionexpress.in/shahi-imam-bukhari-writes-to-pm-seeks-help-to-repair-jama-masjid The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid in Delhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with regard to the damage of the minarets of the historic monument. The minarets of the Jama Masjid have been damaged due to the ferocious storm that hit the national Capital recently. https://opinionexpress.in/tata-steel-mining-declared-successful-resolution-applicant-for-rohit-ferro-tech In yet another acquisition for Tata Steel under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, its wholly owned subsidiary, the Committee of Creditors (CoC) of Rohit-Ferro Tech Ltd has declared Tata Steel Mining as the successful resolution applicant for the insolvent ferro alloy manufacturing company. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-price-rise-for-2nd-straight-day-takes-it-to-new-highs Fuel price rise in the country continued on Monday with oil marketing companies (OMCs) increasing the the pump rate of both petrol and diesel for the second consecutive day. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-to-launch-super-follows-tool-for-users-with-10k-followers Twitter is set to soon launch the Super Follows feature that will enable some users with at least 10,000 followers to charge for providing exclusive additional content like extra tweets, joining a community group or receiving a newsletter. https://opinionexpress.in/debina-bonnerjee-a-diehard-srk-fan-wishes-to-work-with-ranveer-singh Actress Debina Bonnerjee says she is "a forever Shah Rukh Khan fan" and that Ranveer Singh would be an interesting actor to collaborate with. She regrets that her wish of working with the late National Award-winning filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh will remain unfulfilled. https://opinionexpress.in/mexico-votes-in-historic-mid-term-elections Mexicans voted in the historic midterm electionsy, with tens of thousands of candidates vying to fill more than 20,000 public posts, according to authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/prisoner-goes-missing-from-up-jail-housing-mukhtar-ansari A prisoner from the high security Banda District Jail has been reported missing, Circle Officer (CO) City, Rakesh Singh, said here on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-to-vaccinate-all-nilgiri-advasis-by-june-end The Tamil Nadu government is planning to vaccinate all 21,493 Adivasis or tribals in the Nilgiri district by the end of this month. https://opinionexpress.in/mow-it-a-bit-give-it-a-roll-williamson-on-wtc-final-pitch New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson wants less grass on Southampton pitch for the World Test Championship (WTC) final from June 18 since he feels there is plenty of rain around already. He termed Indian bowling attack, which his side will face in WTC final, as 'fantastic' and one with 'depth'. https://opinionexpress.in/merkels-party-leads-in-state-election-exit-poll German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led its rivals in the election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, a big boost of morale for the conservatives ahead of the September polls. https://opinionexpress.in/french-open-zverev-beats-nishikori-to-enter-quarters Sixth seed Alexander Zverev thrashed Kei Nishikori in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 to enter French Open quarter-finals here at Roland Garros late on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/elon-musk-says-teslas-model-s-plaid-plus-car-is-cancelled After announcing that Tesla will hold an event for the first Model S Plaid deliveries last week, its CEO Elon Musk on Monday said the new electric car will not arrive at all. https://opinionexpress.in/no-admin-work-for-up-doctors-yogi Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered that doctors in hia state should be deployed only for clinical and medical duties and not for administrative or management tasks. https://opinionexpress.in/police-advisory-no-vax-no-opening-of-shops A public announcement made over loudspeakers said that vaccination was now mandatory for traders above 45 years who want to open shops. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-unlocks-metro-passengers-break-rules-on-day-1 On the very first day Delhi Metro rail services resumed its operations after nearly a month of complete suspension due to the raging second wave of Covid -19 pandemic, commuters on Monday were seen breaking norms put in place. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-trade-marginally-higher-auto-stocks-rise The key Indian equity indices traded marginally higher on Monday morning with healthy buying in auto, capital goods and metal stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/over-1-lakh-covid-cases-in-india-lowest-spike-since-april-5 India on Monday logged 1,00,636 new Covid infections in 24 hours, which were 13,824 less than the day before. It is also the lowest number of cases since April 5 when the country logged 96,982 new cases. https://opinionexpress.in/yediyurappa-to-stay-says-joshi   https://opinionexpress.in/30-killed-in-pakistan-train-collision   https://opinionexpress.in/ready-to-quit-if-bjp-high-command-wants-yediyurappa   https://opinionexpress.in/mrunal-thakur-i-never-choose-films-thinking-i-will-be-a-star   https://opinionexpress.in/stpi-to-launch-12-centres-of-excellence   https://opinionexpress.in/sunny-leone-shares-hidden-birthday-video Actress Sunny Leone put up a fun birthday video on her social media account on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/mahika-sharma-these-days-it-has-become-very-easy-to-degrade-an-artist Actress Mahika Sharma, who has been part of the show "F.I.R" as well as the films "Mr Joe B. Carvalho" and "Mardaani", feels that controversies are part and parcel of showbiz. https://opinionexpress.in/if-pizza-can-be-delivered-at-home-why-not-ration-says-kejriwal If Pizza, Burger, Smart phones, clothes etc can be delivered at home, why not ration, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, alleging that the Centre is "blocking" Delhi government's "ration at home" scheme again. https://opinionexpress.in/corona-curfew-lifted-in-all-up-districts-except-four The Uttar Pradesh government, on Sunday, lifted Covid-imposed curfew from all districts barring Lucknow, Meerut, Saharanpur and Gorakhpur, as active cases in these four districts are still above 600. https://opinionexpress.in/un-report-nails-pakistan-again-reveals-al-qaeda-leadership-resides-in-af-pak-region A United Nations Security Council report released earlier this week has once again established that a significant part of the leadership of Al Qaeda resides in the Afghanistan and Pakistan border region and that the terrorist organization, founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden, and like-minded militants continue to celebrate developments in Afghanistan as a victory for the Taliban's cause and thus for global radicalism. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-19-growing-evidence-supports-wuhan-lab-leak-theory Amid the clamour for an in-depth investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, an Indian scientist couple have supported the lab-leak theory. https://opinionexpress.in/hospital-withdraws-notice-against-use-of-malayalam-after-outrage Delhi's Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER) has withdrawn its order released a day ago directing all nursing staff to use only Hindi and English language for communication at the premises of the healthcare facility. https://opinionexpress.in/abhishek-banerjee-i-am-not-my-wifes-favourite-actor Actor Abhishek Banerjee says his wife Tina Noronha's joy knew no bounds when he was roped in for the film "Bhediya". https://opinionexpress.in/be-atmanirbhar-for-vax-as-govt-fighting-for-blue-tick-rahul Taking a dig at the Government-Twitter faceoff, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that the government is fighting for blue tick while people have no choice but to become self dependent for vaccines. https://opinionexpress.in/dorseys-firm-square-to-invest-5m-for-solar-powered-bitcoin-mining Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey-run financial services company Square is investing $5 million to build an open-source, solar-powered Bitcoin mining facility with blockchain technology provider Blockstream Mining. https://opinionexpress.in/security-bill-of-g7-summit-likely-to-exceed-99mn The security cost of hosting the G7 summit this week in the UK is likely to exceed 70 million pounds ($99 millio), according to the media. https://opinionexpress.in/would-rather-be-in-nadal-djokovics-shoes-now-federer Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer conceded after his French Open third-round win that he would prefer to be in world No. 1 Novak Djokovic or world No. 3 Rafael Nadal's shoes right now where they are playing really well and winning their matches. https://opinionexpress.in/can-india-suspend-twitter-if-it-fails-to-comply-with-it-rules As India takes its fight with Twitter over non-compliance of the new IT rules to the final round, can the country go ahead and block or suspend the platform the way Nigeria has done? https://opinionexpress.in/light-intensity-earthquake-felt-in-jk A light intensity earthquake occurred in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, although no report of any casualty or damage has been reported from anywhere so far. https://opinionexpress.in/dilip-kumar-hospitalised-due-to-breathlessness Legendary actor Dilip Kumar was admitted to a hospital here on Sunday morning after experiencing breathlessness, his wife and veteran actor Saira Banu said. https://opinionexpress.in/g7-agrees-on-global-minimum-tax-rate-of-at-least-15 US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the G7 nations have agreed to support new rules that will achieve a global minimum tax rate of at least 15 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-unlock-at-level-3-local-trains-yet-off-limits-for-common-people Restaurants, shops selling Non-essential items and public places are set to reopen from Monday in Mumbai which is categorised under level 3 of the 'unlock' plan of the Maharashtra government but malls, theatres and multiplexes will continue to remain shut. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-govt-starts-special-women-booths-for-vaccinations To remove vaccine hesitancy among women, the Uttar Pradesh government, has started 150 women special booths under Mission June. https://opinionexpress.in/over-114l-covid-cases-in-india-lowest-spike-in-59-days India on Sunday logged 1,14,460 new Covid infections in 24 hours, the lowest since April 6 when the country saw a rise of 1,15,736 cases in a day. During the same time span, 2,677 more people succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/dmk-and-allies-raise-the-pitch-on-tamil-pride After M.K. Stalin assumed office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 7 along with 33 cabinet colleagues, people of the state were waiting with bated breath as to what line the DMK scion would adopt on his party's return to power after 10 years. https://opinionexpress.in/green-tea-might-help-tackle-covid-19   https://opinionexpress.in/may-gst-collections-beat-pandemic-blues-remain-over-rs-1l-cr-mark ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/uncontrolled-diabetes-improper-steroid-use-major-factors-for-black-fungus In the first evidence-based multi-centre study on mucormycosis (black fungus) in India, doctors at the PGIMER here said on Saturday that uncontrolled diabetes and improper use of steroid were the major factors for its emergence. https://opinionexpress.in/2-indian-institutes-sign-mou-to-boost-medicinal-plants-production The National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) and the National Botanical Research Institute(CSIR-NBRI) have signed an MoU for extending joint collaborative efforts to boost the cultivation and production of medicinal plants and herbs in India. https://opinionexpress.in/world-environment-day-brands-and-their-sustainability-initiatives fashionEnvironmental sustainability has become the buzzword now and everybody in the fashion industry is talking about reuse, reduce, rework and recycle. Fashion brands have initiated various projects making a commitment to move towards being more sustainable. https://opinionexpress.in/oman-cricket-in-talks-with-bcci-after-icc-approaches-for-t20-wc International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are in talks with Oman Cricket over hosting of some of the T20 World Cup matches later this year in the gulf nation, a top Oman Cricket official has confirmed. https://opinionexpress.in/belarusian-airlines-banned-from-eu-airspace-after-journos-arrest Starting from Saturday, Belarusian air carriers' will be banned from flying over the European Union (EU) airspace and also using runways in response to the forced diversion of a Ryanair flight and detention of a dissident journalist and his girlfriend last month.The 27 countries are obliged "to deny permission to land in, take off from or overfly their territories to any aircraft operated by Belarusian air carriers", the bloc announced on Friday after member states envoys in Brussels formally signed off the move. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-expert-body-not-in-favour-of-conducting-board-exams The expert committee formed by the Mamata Banerjee government to assess the possibility of conducting the board exams, is likely to give their opinion against any kind of exam during the pandemic situation.The six-member committee that has already submitted the report to state Education Secretary Manish Jain has opined strongly against taking the examination of 12 lakh Madhyamik (Class 10) students but suggested that the government may evaluate the 7.5 lakh Higher Secondary students through assessment, assignments and examinations from home. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-un-lockdown-restrictions-to-remain-till-june-14 ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/soft-state-on-the-path-of-strength Prime Minister Narendra Modi has successfully pulled the nation out of the morass of corruption and several other ills plaguing it thus far https://opinionexpress.in/wages-of-labour A committee set up to care for daily wage earners must not let them down, especially post-pandemic https://opinionexpress.in/our-environment-build-back-better The political-industrial complex is more to blame than any other group https://opinionexpress.in/building-a-world-that-is-covid-capable Practices that are now seen as routine were brought about through our drastic behaviour change in the past to curb the spread of infection and even the plague https://opinionexpress.in/kohlis-india-team-not-a-patch-on-windies-australia-at-their-peak Current Indian team's back-to-back Test series wins in Australia has led to its comparison with world-conquering West Indian and Australian teams of past even though Virat Kohli's men are yet to prove themselves dominant on foreign soil. https://opinionexpress.in/ekta-kapoor-says-she-has-the-evidence-to-prove-that-pearl-v-puri-is-innocent Producer Ekta Kapoor on Saturday expressed support for actor Pearl V. Puri, who has been arrested by Palghar police in Maharashtra for allegedly molesting and raping a child. Ekta says she has voice notes and messages of the alleged victim's mother claiming that the rape and molestation charges are stories created by her husband in order to keep their child by proving that a working mother cannot take care of a kid. https://opinionexpress.in/youth-cong-stages-protest-over-soaring-petrol-diesel-prices The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Saturday staged a protest over the rising prices of petrol and diesel, saying the government has thrown the country's economy into disaster. https://opinionexpress.in/anita-hassanandani-woke-up-to-some-nonsensical-news-about-pearl-puri-it-is-not-true Television actress Anita Hassanandani took to social media on Saturday to express her shock and disbelief over the news of "Naagin 3" co-star Pearl V. Puri being arrested for allegedly molesting and raping a minor. https://opinionexpress.in/neet-ug-2021-application-form-to-be-out-soon-check-documents-required-to-apply The National Testing Agency (NTA) will soon release the application form for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2021. The official website, neet.nta.nic.in and ntaneet.nic.in have the link activated. The official website displays that the application form will be available soon. https://opinionexpress.in/mercury-to-rise-3-4-c-in-nw-india-imd Temperatures are likely to rise by three to four degrees Celsius over most parts of northwest India in the next three days due to increase in moisture and variable wind direction, said India Meteorological Department (IMD). https://opinionexpress.in/govts-last-notice-to-twitter-warns-of-penal-action The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT has sent its final notice to Twitter over non-compliance of the new IT rules and has again warned of penal action in case the US-headquartered social media platform fails to comply to the norms. https://opinionexpress.in/ethanol-among-indias-major-priorities-of-21st-century-pm Announcing that India is focusing on production and usages of Ethanol for agriculture use, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said a roadmap for development in this sector has begun as it has become one of the major priorities of 21st century India. https://opinionexpress.in/jacqueline-fernandez-sizzles-in-teaser-of-badshahs-paani-paani The teaser of Badshah and Astha Gills new song "Paani Paani", featuring Jacqueline Fernandez, has been unveiled. The song is set to launch on June 9. https://opinionexpress.in/akshay-kumar-chiranjeevi-back-ficci-corona-awareness-drive Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar along with filmstars from different regions come together to be part of a social campaign to create awareness of Covid appropriate behaviour, importance of vaccination etc. https://opinionexpress.in/tv-actor-pearl-v-puri-arrested-for-allegedly-raping-5-year-old "Naagin 3" actor Pearl V Puri has been arrested by Palghar police in Maharashtra in connection with an alleged molestation and rape case of a child, officials said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-markets-to-open-on-odd-even-basis-from-monday-metro-to-run-at-50-pc-capacity-kejriwal The Delhi Metro will operate at 50 per cent capacity and markets and malls in the national capital will open on an odd-even basis from June 7, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday as he announced further relaxations in lockdown. https://opinionexpress.in/court-ruling-imminent-on-eu-astrazeneca-dispute A court in Brussels is expected to announce its verdict "as soon as possible" on the ongoing spat between the European Union (EU) and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca over shortfalls in deliveries of its coronavirus vaccine to the bloc. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-slams-govt-for-declaring-false-victory-over-covid Congress General secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday once again slammed the government for declaring early victory over Covid, asking -is Prime Minister's new residence and new Parliament building more important than health facilities? https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-ceo-jack-dorsey-now-plans-a-bitcoin-wallet Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has announced to consider making a hardware wallet for Bitcoin for the customers of its digital payments services company Square. https://opinionexpress.in/nigeria-suspends-twitter-over-presidents-deleted-tweet Nigeria's government said Friday it was suspending Twitter indefinitely in Africa's most populous nation, a day after the company deleted a controversial tweet President Muhammadu Buhari made about a secessionist movement. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-price-rise-goes-for-a-pause-again Fuel price rise in the country went for a pause as oil marketing companies (OMCs) kept the pump rates of petrol and diesel unchanged on Saturday after increasing it on the previous day. https://opinionexpress.in/israelis-see-new-government-as-beginning-of-a-new-era Israelis across the political spectrum see the formation of a new government after four failed attempts as the beginning of a new era, which will, in all likelihood, mark the end of Benjamin Netanyahus ultra-long political tenure in office. https://opinionexpress.in/hotel-occupancy-rates-to-take-a-hit-for-2-3-months-more-icra The resurgence of Covid-19 will adversely impact the occupancy rates of India's hotel industry for another two-three months, ratings agency ICRA said. https://opinionexpress.in/russia-us-must-mend-ties-putin Russia and the US must try to find ways to mend the tense bilateral relations, which are currently at an extremely low level, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. https://opinionexpress.in/yami-gautam-shares-photos-from-her-mehendi-ceremony Actress Yami Gautam took to Instagram on Saturday to share photographs of her mehendi ceremony. Yami has tied the knot with "Uri: The Surgical Strike" director Aditya Dhar in a hush hush wedding ceremony and the couple announced the news on social media on Friday evening. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-reports-highest-daily-covid-case-surge-in-over-2-months The UK has reported the highest single-day coronavirus case surge in more than two months, according to official figures. https://opinionexpress.in/ios-14-now-installed-on-85-of-compatible-iphones-apple Apple has released new iOS adoption statistics, indicating that iOS 14 is now installed on 85 per cent of all iPhones and 90 per cent of devices released in the last four years. https://opinionexpress.in/half-of-maharashtra-to-open-up-from-monday After nearly two months of strict lockdown-type restrictions, the Maharashtra government has decided to cautiously initiate a five-phased Unlock 2.0 from Monday (June 7), starting with 18 of the state's 36 districts, officials said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021s-resumption-suffers-first-casualty-as-cummins-pulls-out Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 suffered a setback months before its resumption in UAE in September when franchises' worst fears regarding availability of foreign players started to come true with pullout of Australia pacer Pat Cummins from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-imposes-stay-at-home-order-in-more-towns Myanmar's Health and Sports Ministry imposed a stay-at-home order in four more towns of Chin state, state-run media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-cm-stalin-extends-lockdown-for-one-more-week Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday announced the extension of lockdown by another week till June 14 with some relaxations. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-12l-covid-cases-in-24-hrs-lowest-since-april-7 India on Saturday logged 1,20,529 new Covid infections in 24 hours, the lowest since April 7. During the same time span, 3,380 more people succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/asim-riaz-opens-up-on-journey-from-main-tera-hero-to-back-to-start Asim Riaz gained major fandom on "Bigg Boss 13", but he actually started off as a model and featured in the Varun Dhawan film "Main Tera Hero" before that. He recalls his initial days and tags them as experiences with many downfalls. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-restores-verified-blue-tick-of-vice-prezs-personal-handle Microblogging social media site Twitter on Saturday removed the blue verified tick badge from the personal handle of India's Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu for a few hours. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-govt-announces-one-day-state-mourning-for-ex-mauritius-president   https://opinionexpress.in/megha-ganne-storms-into-shared-lead-at-us-womens-open   https://opinionexpress.in/advocate-lekharj-mehta-at-100-attends-virtual-hearings courts https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-to-bank-on-hindutva-national-pride-development-for-2022-up-polls   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-on-not-axing-pre-arrest-bail-in-rape-case ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/yami-gautam-ties-the-knot-with-uri-director-aditya-dhar Actress Yami Gautam announced on Friday that she has tied the knot with "Uri" director Aditya Dhar in a private ceremony.The wedding took place on Friday. Yami shared a picture from their wedding venue and said they were both private people and preferred to get married in presence of family and close friends." https://opinionexpress.in/rbis-special-credit-window-for-hotels-saloons-starts-monday The on-tap liquidity window of contact-intensive sectors including travel and tourism, hotels, parlours and event organisers, announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), will be operational from Monday.The facility will be open till March 31, 2022, said an RBI statement.In its statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies on Friday, the central bank announced to open a separate liquidity window of Rs 15,000 crore with tenors of up to three years at the repo rate till March 31, 2022 for certain contact-intensive sectors.The sectors are hotels and restaurants; tourism - travel agents, tour operators and adventure/heritage facilities; aviation ancillary services - ground handling and supply chain; and other services that include private bus operators, car repair services, rent-a-car service providers, event/conference organisers, spa clinics, and beauty parlours/saloons.All banks eligible under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) can participate in the scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/delta-variant-of-covid-19-predominant-in-varanasi-study ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/choksi-slips-away-from-indias-clutch-again After a Dominican High Court adjourned the hearing in fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi's case, the eight member team of CBI, ED and MEA are now en route to India, without the diamond jeweller that duped millions in the PNB multi-crore fraud. https://opinionexpress.in/whats-the-point Ayurveda or allopathy, isn’t the basic idea to save lives? https://opinionexpress.in/stay-together Amid the pandemic, let’s all group together and stop finding faults with one another https://opinionexpress.in/apolitical-soldiers-tire-of-bombast The ‘nation-is-the-strongest-when-it-is-united’, as said by US President Joe Biden, holds true for all nations. The thought matters! https://opinionexpress.in/making-peace-with-nature-to-address-environmental-emergencies Nature provides the foundation for human existence and prosperity, but humanity is waging war on it resulting in planetary crises, among others, (a.o), the climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and COVID-19. The Nature, Natural systems and the Natural resources are interlinked, interdependent, and are nested, occupying the biggest space by nature, medium level space by natural systems and small space by natural resources. They are also interchangeably referred to in this paper. https://opinionexpress.in/the-family-man-2-binge-therapy The Family Man 2 (series on Amazon Prime); Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Samantha Akkineni, Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, Ashlesha Thakur, Vedant Sinha, Sharad Kelkar, Dalip Tahil, Ravindra Vijay, Abhay Verma, Sunny Hinduja, Uday Mahesh, Srikrishna Dayal, Seema Biswas; Created by: Raj and DK; Rating: * * * and 1/2 (three and a half stars https://opinionexpress.in/pm-chairs-meeting-of-csir-society Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Society via video conference. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-caps-trade-margin-on-o2-concentrators-to-70 The government has capped trade margin on oxygen concentrators at 70 per cent and the NPPA will inform revised MRPs within a week. https://opinionexpress.in/nz-further-extends-travel-bubble-suspension-with-aus-state New Zealand on Friday further extended the suspension of its quarantine-free travel with Australia's Victoria state for an additional six days, with a further review due on June 9, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-cricket-teams-enter-quarantine-in-southampton-confirms-bcci The Indian team entered quarantine phase on arrival at the Ageas Bowl, the Indian cricket board announced on its twitter handle on Friday. While Wriddhiman Saha, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah had already tweeted their pictures from Ageas Bowl on Thursday soon after arrival, the official confirmation has come a day later. https://opinionexpress.in/olympic-bound-wrestler-malik-fails-dope-test Olympic-bound wrestler Sumit Malik has failed dope test conducted by United World Wrestling (UWW) during the May 6-9 World Olympic qualifiers held in Sofia, Bulgaria. https://opinionexpress.in/biden-offers-tax-concession-in-infrastructure-talks-with-republicans US President Joe Biden has offered to take the proposed corporate tax increase off the table during infrastructure talks with Republicans, local media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/over-24-crore-vaccine-doses-provided-to-states-uts-so-far-centre The central government on Friday said that more than 24 crore vaccine doses have been provided to the states and Union Territories so far. https://opinionexpress.in/defence-ministry-clears-navys-mega-deal-for-submarine-procurement The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday cleared the issuing of a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Indian Navy's mega deal to procure six submarines under Project-75I through a strategic partnership route worth over Rs 45,000 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-to-take-call-on-curfew-extension-on-june-6-cm The Goa government will review the Covid scenario in the state before deciding on extension or tweaking of the ongoing curfew in the state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/chicago-to-fully-reopen-on-june-11 Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the third largest US city will fully reopen on June 11, in line with the date of reopening of the state of Illinois ordered by Governor J.B. Pritzker. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-announces-rs-16k-cr-spl-liquidity-for-sidbi In a move to support small and medium businesses in their credit requirements, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a special liquidity facility of Rs 16,000 crore for Small Industries Development Bank of India(SIDBI). https://opinionexpress.in/us-private-sector-adds-978000-jobs-in-may Private companies in the US added 978,000 jobs in May, which marked the biggest gain in 11 months and indicated a continued labour market recovery amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-provides-flexibility-to-rrbs-in-liquidity-mgmt-by-issuing-cds To provide greater flexibility in raising short term funds by regional rural banks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday decided to permit RRBs to issue Certificates of Deposit (CDs). https://opinionexpress.in/kajal-aggarwal-signs-new-film-uma Actress Kajal Aggarwal will play the female protagonist in a new film titled "Uma". https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-raises-exposure-limit-under-resolution-framework20-to-rs-50cr The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the exposure threshold to benefit under its Resolution Framework 2.0 to Rs 50 crore. https://opinionexpress.in/world-bank-imf-urge-action-on-covid-vax-access The World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have called on countries anticipating excess Covid-19 vaccine supplies in the coming months to release their surplus doses as soon as possible to developing nations. https://opinionexpress.in/pfizer-jab-produces-less-antibodies-against-delta-variant-lancet People fully vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are likely to have more than five times lower levels of neutralising antibodies against the Delta variant (B16172) when compared to the original strain, according to new laboratory data that supports Pfizer's plans to deliver booster shots in Autumn. https://opinionexpress.in/no-explosive-device-found-aboard-air-france-flight No explosive device was found on board an Air France flight which had been isolated after landing at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris following a bomb alert, Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin announced. https://opinionexpress.in/realme-x7-max-5g-stellar-mid-ranger-amplifying-experiences-247 As the country slowly returns back to normal after facing a lethal second Covid wave, customers who shelved their plans and were looking for an ideal mid-range smartphone now has realme X7 Max 5G with MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G processor to try on. https://opinionexpress.in/aparshakti-khurana-wife-expecting-first-child Bollywood actor Aparshakti Khurana and his wife Aakriti are expecting their first child. Aparshakti made the announcement on Instagram, with a black and white picture where the actor is seen kissing his wifes baby bump.  https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-projects-retail-inflation-for-fy22-at-51 The Reserve Bank of India has projected India's retail inflation for the current financial year at 5.1 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/google-to-soon-warn-chrome-users-for-risky-downloads In a bid to help Chrome users against phishing attempts while browsing, Google is launching new safety features along with a new scanning tool for risky downloads. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-allows-24x7-bulk-payment-system-for-uninterrupted-dbt In order to ensure seamless and uninterrupted transfer of government subsidies to beneficiaries, the RBI on Friday permitted availability of National Automated Clearing House (NACH) on all days of the week. https://opinionexpress.in/nasa-spacex-dragon-launches-7300lb-of-cargo-to-space-station NASA has launched SpaceX's Dragon resupply spacecraft with more than 7,300 pounds of science experiments, new solar arrays, and other cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). https://opinionexpress.in/tn-yet-to-decide-on-pending-class-12-board-exams The Tamil Nadu government has said that it has not taken any decision yet on Class 12 board examinations, as some teachers and parents in the state have been pulling in different directions on the conduct of the exams. https://opinionexpress.in/b16172-covid-variant-now-dominant-in-uk The B.1.6172 coronavirus variant, also known as Delta, has become the "dominant" strain in the UK, according to the Public Health England (PHE). https://opinionexpress.in/biden-expands-ban-on-chinese-surveillance-firms-doing-biz-in-us Expanding a Donald Trump-era ban on Chinese surveillance companies with alleged ties to the military, US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that increases the number of restricted Chinese firms from 48 to 59. https://opinionexpress.in/money-heist-part-5-first-official-images-released The first images of the much-hyped finale of "Money Heist" (originally titled "La Casa de Papel") were released on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/fpi-boost-banks-to-provide-them-margin-for-g-sec-purchase The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed authorised dealer banks to provide margin money facility to Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) for their transactions in Government Securities (G-Sec). https://opinionexpress.in/us-sending-covid-vaccines-to-india-harris-tells-modi US Vice President Kamala Harris has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the US will be sending Covid-19 vaccines to India, following which Modi thanked her for the support from the US government and the Indian diaspora, in what was likely their first interaction. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-cuts-growth-forecast-for-fy22-to-95 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lowered its growth projection for the current financial year to 9.5 per cent from the previous estimate of 10.5 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/tapering-covid-rbi-retains-rates-accommodative-stance The Reserve Bank of India has retained its key short-term lending rates along with the growth-oriented accommodative stance during the second monetary policy review of FY22. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-trades-flat-post-rbis-decision-to-keep-rates-unchanged The Reserve Bank of India's decision to the policy rates unchanged failed to cheer the stock market as the key Indian equity shed gains and traded flat post the RBI Governor's announcement. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-up-clocks-all-time-low-positivity-rate Uttar Pradesh has clocked an all-time low case positivity rate of 0.3 per cent on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/rs-20k-cr-covid-package-for-kerala Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal on Friday announced a Rs 20,000-crore-Covid package for the state that has seen nearly 26 lakh cases and over 9,200 deaths so far. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-132l-cases-2713-covid-deaths India on Friday logged 1,32,,364 new infections in 24 hours as 2,713 more succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/2-boats-might-have-played-major-role-to-bring-mehul-choksi-to-dominica Even as fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case is facing charges of illegally entering Dominica, documents show that two boats may have been used in the operation involving his entry into the island nation. https://opinionexpress.in/amateur-investigators-claim-to-break-wuhan-lab-secrets   https://opinionexpress.in/mandatory-cooling-off-period-for-staff-joining-pvt-sector-post-retirement   https://opinionexpress.in/majority-approves-govts-decision-to-cancel-class-xii-board-exams   https://opinionexpress.in/suneeta-rao-wouldnt-mind-her-songs-being-remade   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-for-protecting-journalists-against-sedition-unless-reports-incite-violence   https://opinionexpress.in/gambhirs-foundation-guilty-of-unauthorized-stocking-of-covid-medicines The Gautam Gambhir Foundation has been found guilty of unauthorisedly stocking, procuring and distributing Fabiflu medicine to COVID-19 patients, the Delhi High Court was informed by the Delhi government's drug controller on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/validity-of-tet-certificates-extended-to-lifetime-education-minister The validity of the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) qualifying certificates has been extended from seven years to lifetime, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" announced on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/no-rift-in-punjab-congress-manish-tewari Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari after meeting the Congress panel on Punjab, said that there is no rift in the state unit of the party. https://opinionexpress.in/hk-cargo-ship-fire-doused The fire aboard a cargo ship off the Hong Kong coast has been largely put out on Thursday after erupting a day earlier, with no casualties reported. https://opinionexpress.in/terror-operative-eliminated-in-kashmir A terror operative has been eliminated in a joint operation by the army, police and CRPF at police component complex at Tral in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-quashes-fir-against-journalist-vinod-dua The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed an FIR registered by Himachal Pradesh Police against senior journalist Vinod Dua in connection with his comments critical of the government's handling of COVID-19 lockdown on his YouTube channel. https://opinionexpress.in/yogi-cancels-class-12-up-board-exams-in-view-of-pandemic The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) has cancelled the UP Class 12 board exams 2021, due to the Covid pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/deserving-students-must-be-allocated-grades-on-basis-of-yearly-performance Educationalists across the sector have welcomed the announcement that Class XII examinations for 2021 were being cancelled. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-students-teachers-demand-cancellation-of-12th-boards Students, teachers, parents and academicians in Tamil Nadu have requested the M.K. Stalin government to cancel the Class 12 board examinations taking a cue from the central government's decision cancelling both the CBSE and ICSE exams. https://opinionexpress.in/amitabh-bachchan-shares-photos-with-jaya-bachchan-on-wedding-anniversary Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday expressed gratitude towards fans for wishing him and wife, actor-politician Jaya Bachchan on their 48th wedding anniversary. https://opinionexpress.in/anupam-kher-dreams-of-making-saaransh-2-as-an-action-thriller If "Saaransh", his debut film of 1984 had a sequel, veteran actor Anupam Kher would want it to be an action film high on thrills. https://opinionexpress.in/happy-class-12-board-exams-cancelled-sc-seeks-assessment-criteria-in-2-weeks The Supreme Court on Thursday said, it is happy that the board exams have been cancelled and emphasized that the interest of students will be protected, as it asked the Centre to submit the objective criteria to assess Class XII students in two weeks. https://opinionexpress.in/serum-institute-asks-dcgi-to-manufacture-vaccine-sputnik-v The Serum Institute of India (SII) has applied to the DCGI seeking permission to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in the country, sources said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/why-govt-delayed-emergency-approval-to-covid-vax-chidambaram Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday accused the central government of needlessly delaying approval to Coronavirus vaccines in the country for many months except in the case of Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V. https://opinionexpress.in/monsoon-to-hit-kerala-today-conditions-perfect-imd The Southwest monsoon will hit Kerala on Thurday later, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said considering the favourable conditions for its onset that has already been delayed by a few days. https://opinionexpress.in/134-lakh-covid-cases-2887-deaths-in-india-in-24-hrs India on Thursday again witnessed a slight increase in Covid numbers with 1,34,154 new infections reported in 24 hours and 2,887 more people succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-arrests-rjd-rs-member-ad-singh-in-fertilizer-scam-case In a surprise move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday morning arrested Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP A.D. Singh in connection with a Fertilizer scam case. https://opinionexpress.in/nifty-record-run-continues-sensex-cross-52k The Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange continued to hit new highs and touched a fresh record high of 15,693.15 points on Thursday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/ib-cbi-income-tax-police-debarred-from-publishing-material-without-consent   https://opinionexpress.in/no-clinical-trials-required-in-india-for-global-covid-19-vaccines Globally available Covid 19 vaccines can now be launched in India without the requirement of post approval clinical trials and testing every batch of the vaccine. https://opinionexpress.in/infighting-alliance-key-to-congress-defeat-says-panel The Congress committee formed to analyse debacle in recently concluded elections in five states has submitted its report to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. https://opinionexpress.in/it-was-terrifying-upsetting-warner-on-stay-in-india-during-ipl Australia opener David Warner said watching Indians struggle for oxygen and seeing people a couple of times line up on streets to cremate family members hit visiting players hard during Indian Premier League (IPL). https://opinionexpress.in/shreya-ghoshal-shares-first-photo-of-son-devyaan Playback singer Shreya Ghoshal took to Instagram on Wednesday to introduce her newborn son to the world. Shreya, who has named her son Devyaan Mukhopadhyaya, also shared his first photograph. https://opinionexpress.in/after-46-days-rajasthan-starts-gradual-unlocking-from-wednesday Nearly 46 days into lockdown forced by the second wave of Covid-19, the Rajasthan government on Wednesday started its partial unlocking process with several shops allowed to reopen between 6am and 11am as per the guidelines issued by the authority. https://opinionexpress.in/living-a-life-of-hopes-and-dreams-while-shredding-barriers-one-adventure-at-a-time Back in 1984, in the sweltering heat of Dholpur (Rajasthan), Anamika Tomar would run on the edge of a hillock, in love with the idea that the warm loo winds would sweep her right up. She successfully managed to fall off this hillock, however, and tried again the next day, and the day after. And now she has a wonderful story that speaks volumes about her sparkly-eyed dynamic self. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-urges-citizens-to-raise-voice-for-free-covid-vaccination-for-all Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appealed to the citizens of the nation to raise their voice in support of free Covid vaccination for all, as he underlined that the vaccine provides strongest protection against the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/bbc-tops-chart-of-global-panic-superspreaders-amid-indias-covid-waves The BBC, Washington Post and New York Times repeatedly used absolute numbers of Covid positive cases in India or in some Indian city, to declare it the worst hit by the pandemic, says Shantanu Gupta, author and policy commentator. https://opinionexpress.in/moderna-applies-to-us-fda-for-full-nod-to-its-covid-vax US-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna has sought the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for full approval for its mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine for use in people 18 and older. https://opinionexpress.in/australias-melbourne-extends-lockdown-as-covid-19-cases-escalate Health authorities in the Australian state of Victoria extended a lockdown in the capital of Melbourne as the latest outbreak of Covid-19 active cases rose to 60 by Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/1-killed-16-injured-as-tornado-hail-hit-ne-china One person was killed and 16 others were injured as tornado and hail lashed northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Tuesday, local authorities said Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/zoom-posts-191-quarter-growth-in-remote-work-learning-era Video chat and collaboration app Zoom on Wednesday reported another strong quarter with a 191 per cent growth in sales (on-year) in its first quarter of fiscal year 2022, as remote work and learning continue in the pandemic times https://opinionexpress.in/govts-target-to-vax-1b-people-in-2021-not-possible-icmr Experts from the ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research and the Indian Council of Medical Research, on Wednesday, slammed the government for poor planning of the home-grown vaccine production and deployment, as a result of which "India doesn't have enough vaccines to go around". https://opinionexpress.in/biden-announces-measures-to-narrow-racial-wealth-gap US President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a series of measures aimed at narrowing the wealth gap among racial groups in a speech commemorating the 100th anniversary of Tulsa massacre, one of the most atrocious racial violence in US history. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-burgers-arriving-as-musks-ev-firm-plans-restaurant-chain Elon Musk is gearing up to launch his own drive-in food chain at Supercharger locations as his electric car company Tesla has applied for a new trademark for its brand under restaurant services. https://opinionexpress.in/t20-world-cup-icc-gives-india-a-month-eyes-options-in-west-asia The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has given India a month's time to show its readiness to host T20 World Cup in the country later this year. https://opinionexpress.in/india-launches-global-initiative-for-clean-energy-innovation India on Wednesday launched the Mission Innovation CleanTech Exchange, a global initiative, that will create a network of incubators across member countries to accelerate clean energy innovation. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-receives-495l-doses-of-covid-vax-to-continue-inoculation Tamil Nadu, which had announced the suspension of vaccination drive from Wednesday, is to continue inoculating people after it received 4.95 lakh vaccines from the central government on Tuesday night. https://opinionexpress.in/gst-was-notified-with-horrendous-rates-of-tax-chidambaram Congress leader P. Chidambaram has slammed the union government for converting the GST to a bad law, saying it was notified with horrendous rates of tax. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-down-300-points-banking-stocks-fall The key Indian equity indices declined on Wednesday morning with the BSE Sensex losing over 300 points. https://opinionexpress.in/132l-cases-3207-covid-deaths-in-24-hrs A day after reporting lowest cases since April 8, India witnessed a slight increase in Covid numbers with 1,32,788 new infections reported in 24 hours and 3,207 more people succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/cbse-class-xii-board-exams-cancelled-for-this-year   https://opinionexpress.in/rock-n-mob-embellishing-the-music-industry Rock-n-Mob is the Russian Army of Rock who started off its journey from Moscow in 2016 and has blossomed in Macedonia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Mexico, and Malaysia. From veridical to virtual performances, it has not only gained wide popularity but has also melted everyone’s hearts. R-n-M is well known for providing a stage to beautiful ordinary souls which not only sets it apart but also adds an emotive flavour to the music. Here is the list of reasons which will propound why R-n-M is a rising star in the music industry(?) https://opinionexpress.in/live-telecast-of-supreme-court-proceedings-will-be-a-landmark-reform-to-bring-transparency-oe Chief Justice of India N V Ramana is panning a landmark solution to bring transperancy in the judicial system by stating - he is “actively considering the proposal to telecast live the proceedings of the Supreme Court”, but “before initiating concrete steps in this regard”, he plans “to seek general consensus among… colleagues in the court”. https://opinionexpress.in/vision-unlimited It is hard to typecast or describe Bandana Sondhi, a Model, Brand Influencer, in logistics for WLM India, stylist and now Designer for her very own new brand called 'Supergirl@ttitude'. Bandana is a total fashion buff since she was a child. https://opinionexpress.in/beauty-personified-in-an-entrepreneur-package-oe Mary Radenkovic is a Serbian born entrepreneur and fashion designer. She grew up in Greece in the Mediterranean. Mary has been in the fashion industry since the age of 15. She initially worked as a model for beachwear, make-up and hair products and was a face of several European brands. She graduated with a BSc in Art and Poetry and has worked a designer of women’s clothes. She is currently working on her own luxury London based swimwear brand Lavishly Appointed. She is the founder and designer of a luxury resort wear brand Lavishly Appointed. https://opinionexpress.in/ninth-sikh-guru-tegh-bahadur-led-a-dharmic-path-oe In Indian history, Guru Shri Tegh Bahadurs personality shines resplendent like a bright constellation. He was born in Amritsar to Guru Hargobindji and Nankiji on Krishna Panchami in the Baisakhi month. As per the Nanakshahi calendar, Guru Tegh Bahadurs 400th birth anniversary falls on May 1 this year. https://opinionexpress.in/vienna-talk-need-to-think-about-more-than-nuclear-weapons-oe Shuttle diplomatic effort of the European intermediaries in Vienna talk to reinvigorate the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA) by persuading USA for returning into the deal and Iran for ensuring full compliance has presented the major breakthrough in this way. Iran’s previous demand of nothing less than lifting all sanction has been a major restraint in this progress. But Vienna talk has opened a path, from where deadlock can be dismantled through negotiations and renegotiations. Although Iranian nuclear deal concentrates particularly on non-proliferation of nuclear weaponization, but a number of other strategic issues are inherent in it. https://opinionexpress.in/balknisation-of-china-by-2027-oe Afghan war broke USSR. The Wuhan virus will balkanise China. https://opinionexpress.in/5g-is-our-only-chance-to-grow-oe Everyone talks of China overtaking the USA in GDP and 5G (in a digital world with multiplying 5G usages). Indians have always been ahead in the digital and mobile technologies, till of course, regulations and crony capitalism blocked growth. What is so special about 5G? Is it just a communication technology? 5G is the new global wireless standard after 1G to 4G networks, much faster and having lower latency, packing density etc. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices, both static and moving, and like everything in new technologies, evolving and changing fast. 4G Broadband earlier delivered deep web functionality to our latest technology Smartphones. 5G also requires new kind of regulation internalizing content and pricing regulation. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-black-money-in-white-western-banks-oe The United Kingdom holds the distinction of being the dubious money laundering capital of the world. India’s financial fraudsters find safe haven and sanctuary to park the looted booty in the British little Island as the corrupt British regime continues breaking International laws by helping fraudsters to salvage their sagging economy https://opinionexpress.in/indias-concern-and-situation-in-afghanistan-after-proposed-us-and-nato-troops-withdrawal-oe The US President Joe Biden’s announcement regarding the complete withdrawal of American and NATO forces from Afghanistan by 20th anniversary of 9/11 has prompted the discussions on the subsequent security vacuum as well as changing geostrategic situation in India’s contiguous neighbor as well as strategic partner Afghanistan. India has been supporting Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process as India’s foreign minister S. Jaishankar has reiterated in the Raisina dialogue on the theme “Junction Kabul: the Road to Peace” held on 16th April. In which, Iranian Foreign minister Javad Zarif has argued that the US decision should be taken in the light of the reality of the region that foreign forces has never contributed to peace and stability to the region and their removal will lead to at least less chances for violence. Pointing out the opportunities for Afghan forces to take full control, Afghanistan’s NSA Hamdullah Mohib has claimed that Afghan Taliban is possessing no religious legitimacy and nationalistic causes due to its relentless attack’s overs $900 million dollars’ worth of national infrastructure annually. https://opinionexpress.in/biological-weapons-and-biosecurity-lessons-from-the-covid-19-war-oe In the first of a two-part series on how the COVID-19 pandemic has raised consciousness about the dangers of biological warfare Ambassador Puri writes on how bioweapons and biosecurity have overtaken violent conflict as the primary global security concern. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-wave-has-shaken-the-indian-government-apparatus Modi government incompetence is largely responsible for India’s pandemic disaster, as infections and deaths mount at a terrifying pace in India, the prime minister’s team culpability for the crisis has become startlingly clear. A literate leader might have saved India from this manmade disaster? https://opinionexpress.in/indian-policymakers-have-failed-the-nation-in-covid-19-pandemic-oe Modi government and several state governments incompetence is largely responsible for India’s pandemic disaster, as infections and deaths mount at a terrifying pace in India, the prime minister’s team culpability for the crisis has become startlingly clear. A literate leader might have saved India from this manmade disaster. https://opinionexpress.in/nifty-turns-flat-after-touching-new-high The Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gave up initial gains to turn flat after touching a new record high on Tuesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/why-only-formalities-and-not-treatment-of-black-fungus-rahul-oe Amid rising cases of black fungus, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the government for not providing proper treatment to patients suffering from the disease. https://opinionexpress.in/mehul-choksi-case-8-member-india-team-in-dominica-oe Even as a private jet from Qatar landed in Dominica with documents related to fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, wanted in the PNB loan fraud case, sources on Tuesday said members of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and Ministry of External Affairs are camping in the island nation. https://opinionexpress.in/azam-khan-tests-covid-negative-but-remains-critical Senior Samajwadi Party MP, Mohd Azam Khan, has tested negative for Covid-19 but he continues to be on oxygen support in the Lucknow Medanta hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/ram-jethmalanis-son-mahesh-jethmalani-nominated-to-rajya-sabha rajya sabha https://opinionexpress.in/covid-casualty-indias-yoy-fy21-gdp-plunges-73   https://opinionexpress.in/last-years-policy-can-be-adopted-this-year-too-sc-on-12th-board-exam The Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to give reasons if the government is departing from the decision taken last year, amid the Covid pandemic, in connection with the class XII board exams. The top court suggested that the policy adopted last year can also be adopted this year. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-csecy-row-mamata-writes-to-pm On the day when West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay was asked to report to the 'Department of Personnel and Training' in New Delhi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, confirming that the state is not going to release Bandopadhyay. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-price-rises-again-after-hitting-century-mark-in-mumbai After a day's pause, fuel prices increased once again on Monday reaching new highs across the country with petrol crossing Rs 100 per litre mark in several cities. https://opinionexpress.in/intel-unveils-fastest-chip-for-laptops-5g-product-for-pcs-oe Chip giant Intel on Monday announced a pair of new 11th Gen U-series chips, one of which marks the first 5GHz clock speed for thin and light laptops. https://opinionexpress.in/ied-detected-in-jks-pulwama-oe Security forces on Monday detected an improvised explosive device (IED) in J&K's Pulwama district. https://opinionexpress.in/central-vista-of-national-importance-delhi-hc-junks-plea-against-it The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to stay the ongoing construction activities in connection with the Central Vista redevelopment project in the backdrop of recent surge in Covid cases. https://opinionexpress.in/nifty-at-record-high-crosses-15500-for-the-first-time The Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange recorded a new high on Monday as it crossed the 15,500 mark for the first time in its history. https://opinionexpress.in/no-vaccine-no-liquor-rule-in-etawah-to-promote-vax-drive The Etawah administration in Uttar Pradesh has found a novel idea to promote the Covid vaccination drive. https://opinionexpress.in/2-dead-over-20-injured-in-florida-club-shooting Two people were killed and at least 20 others injured after three gunmen opened fire into a crowd at a club in the US state of Florida, authorities said. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-issues-severe-travel-warning-for-10-more-nations The Israeli Ministry of Health has issued a severe travel warning for 10 additional countries, citing their high coronavirus morbidity. https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-military-extends-non-operation-period The Myanmar military announced the extension of its non-operation period against ethnic armed groups to the end of June. https://opinionexpress.in/bdesh-extends-lockdown-restrictions-till-june-6-oe The Bangladeshi government has extended the ongoing nationwide lockdown restrictions till June 6 to curb the recent Covid-19 resurgence. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-last-mile-delivery-to-become-6b-profitable-market-by-2024-oe Indias last mile delivery market is set to touch a market size of $6-7 billion by 2024, moving in a similar direction to markets like China and the US where the penetration has reached more than 10 per cent, a new report said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/at-152l-india-reports-lowest-covid-cases-since-april-9-oe India logged less than 2 lakh Covid-19 cases third day in a row, with 1,52,734 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, when 3,128 more succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-lockdown-cut-exercise-by-40-tripled-depression-risk-study   https://opinionexpress.in/majority-expects-no-improvement-in-living-standard-for-another-year   https://opinionexpress.in/lics-holding-at-all-time-low-on-profit-booking   https://opinionexpress.in/7-criminal-blunders-in-7-years-says-congress   https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-junta-kills-rebel-outfits-second-in-command   https://opinionexpress.in/vaccination-in-pvt-hotels-must-be-stopped-centre-to-states Taking congnisance of reports regarding some private hospitals giving package for Covid-19 vaccination in collaboration with luxury hotels, the Centre directed states to stop the violation of guidelines and take action against such institutions. https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-extends-preventive-measures-till-june-30 Myanmar's Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment for Covid-19 has announced extension of the period for preventive measures against the pandemic until June 30. https://opinionexpress.in/taapsees-dose-of-happy-hormones Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu has shared a post workout selfie saying that she is loading her dose of happy hormones. https://opinionexpress.in/nasas-mars-curiosity-rover-snaps-shining-clouds-on-red-planet NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has captured shining clouds on the Red Planet, which arrived earlier and formed higher than expected. https://opinionexpress.in/allu-arjun-pens-bday-note-to-brother-for-biggest-moral-support Telugu star Allu Arjun has penned a heartwarming birthday note on Sunday for his actor brother Allu Sirish, whom he called his biggest moral support. https://opinionexpress.in/hong-kongs-4th-covid-wave-ends-expert Yuen Kwok-yung, a government adviser and professor of the University of Hong Kong, said that after reviewing some recent confirmed Covid cases, it is believed that the fourth wave of the pandemic in the city has ended. https://opinionexpress.in/b1617-covid-variant-could-become-a-big-problem-in-uk The B.1.617 coronavirus variant could "pick up speed and become a big problem" in the UK as the country further eases its lockdown, an expert has warned. https://opinionexpress.in/veggie-prices-in-chennai-suburbs-soar-as-supply-reduces With Tamil Nadu extending lockdown till June 7, people are wary of the shortage of vegetables and sharp rise in prices. https://opinionexpress.in/climate-actions-had-to-be-halted-in-the-wake-of-the-pandemic It was in appreciation of Pradip Shah's technical help following a talk in the US, that an Israeli ratings agency honoured him by planting a garden of 100 trees. This eco-cultural gesture was the beginning of a social entreprise that has planted over 87 lakh trees back home, weaving personal and corporate greetings into the act of social and environmental good. https://opinionexpress.in/5g-to-grow-strongly-despite-radio-component-shortages-report-oe The market for radio components used in cellular user equipment grew in 2020 despite the pandemic and will continue to grow 8 percent per year through 2025, according to a new report. https://opinionexpress.in/new-pictures-of-mehul-choksi-emerge-show-injury-marks-oe , May 30 (IANS) Pictures of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi have surfaced on social media which showed several marks of bruises on his face and shoulders, even as a private jet landed in Dominica from Qatar. https://opinionexpress.in/india-sent-private-jet-to-dominica-carrying-choksi-deportation-documents-antiguan-pm-oe India sent a private jet to Dominica carrying documents related to the deportation of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, wanted in a Rs 13,500 crore bank loan fraud case, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne told a radio show in his country. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-faces-vaccine-shortage-seek-central-govts-support Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramaniam in a statement on Sunday said that the state is running out of vaccines and has sought the help of the Central government to overcome this crisis. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-165l-covid-cases-lowest-since-april-12 India reported less than 2 lakh Covid-19 cases third day in a row, with 1,65,553 fresh cases recorded in the last 24 hours. In the same time span, 3,460 patients succumbed to the coronavirus, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-pm-weds-fiance-in-secret-ceremony-report UK PM Boris Johnson has married his fiance Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony at the Westminster Cathedral in front of about 30 close friends and family members, a media report said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/raje-asserts-by-running-parallel-programmes-to-saffron-party-in-rajasthan   https://opinionexpress.in/guwahatis-cycling-community-turns-relief-riders-amid-covid-by   https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-an-opportunity-for-bigger-business-between-uk-and-india   https://opinionexpress.in/majority-believe-corporates-benefited-economically-from-modi-govts-works   https://opinionexpress.in/revocation-of-article-370-biggest-achievement-of-modi-20-survey  NDA II Report Card https://opinionexpress.in/new-england-asian-american-coalition-standwithindia-oe The Covid Crisis in India has affected millions and has severely stressed the health services. The New England Asian American Coalition (NEAAC) has pledged to raise $1 million to support NGOs that are working to help India during this difficult time. The coalition has members of different Ethnic Asian American Groups including, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and others. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-records-around-900-new-covid-19-cases-in-24-hours-oe Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the national capital recorded around 900 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and stressed that if new infections continue to decline, more activities will be allowed to open up in the city. https://opinionexpress.in/pratik-gandhi-reveals-his-go-to-food Actor Pratik Gandhi likes to experiment with his palette but "ghar ka khana" his go-to food. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-recovery-crosses-90-active-caseload-slides-to-22l India's Covid-19 recovery rate has gone up to 90.80 per cent and the active caseload slid down to 22,28,724 -- a positive sign amid the second wave of the deadly pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/nz-leave-for-london-after-warming-up-at-wtc-final-venue After spending 10 days getting used to Southampton where they will encounter India in World Test Championship (WTC) final next month, New Zealand are travelling to London on Saturday for two-Test series against England that begins at Lord's from June 2, the day India check in to Southampton. https://opinionexpress.in/friends-reunion-trending-amongst-gen-z From September 1994 to May 2004, Courtney Cox, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry starred in the wildly popular sitcom, 'Friends', little did they know that they weren't just shooting a show but were building a universal 'happy place' for generations to come. https://opinionexpress.in/aussies-yet-to-find-a-wicketkeeper-for-t20-wc-ponting-oe Australia are yet to find a wicketkeeper-batsman for T20 World Cup later this year, said former skipper Ricky Ponting who also added that his personal preference for the role is not among 23 players picked for white-ball series in the West Indies. https://opinionexpress.in/whatsapp-wont-limit-functions-if-you-dont-accept-new-policy-oe In a U-turn, WhatsApp has said that it will not limit functionalities for users who do not accept the new privacy policy that went into effect on May 15. https://opinionexpress.in/sanjana-sanghi-trying-to-zone-in-creatively-is-a-challenge-in-these-times-oe Actress Sanjana Sanghi says trying to concentrate on work has been challenging at a time when the country battles the second wave of Covid-19. Work, she adds, is not top priority in her mind and focusing has been a challenge. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-breaches-rs-100-per-litre-mark-in-mumba-oe Mumbai has become the first metro city that is selling petrol at over Rs 100 per litre to consumers. Maintaining the price rise momentum, oil companies raised the price of petrol and diesel again on Saturday by 25-30 paise per litre. With this, petrol prices rose 25 paise per litre in Mumbai taking up retail price there from Rs 99.94 per litre a day earlier to Rs 100.19 per litre on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-recommends-pfizer-biontech-vax-for-12-15-yr-olds-oe The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-extends-travel-ban-to-7-nations-until-june-13 The Israeli government has extended an ongoing travel ban to seven countries, including India, until June 13, according to a joint statement. https://opinionexpress.in/merkel-calls-for-ramping-up-global-vax-production-oe German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for ramping up Covid-19 vaccine production across the world while addressing the Global Solutions Summit 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-173l-new-covid-cases-lowest-spike-since-april-13-oe India on Saturday reported 1,73,790 fresh Covid-19 cases while 3,617 patients succumbed to the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-troops-on-high-alert-at-lac-keeping-eye-on-chinese-activities-army-chief  border dispute https://opinionexpress.in/jaishankar-meets-blinken-affirms-strong-us-ties   https://opinionexpress.in/covid-raises-heart-attack-risk-in-people-with-high-cholesterol   https://opinionexpress.in/indian-american-nominated-for-key-commerce-dept-job   https://opinionexpress.in/sunny-leone-posts-video-of-prank-gone-wrong Sunny Leone took to Instagram on Friday to post a video of a prank going wrong on the sets of her show "Splitsvilla". https://opinionexpress.in/plea-in-delhi-hc-against-twitters-non-compliance-with-new-it-rules A plea has been moved in the Delhi High Court against the non-compliance by Twitter India and Twitter Inc with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021). https://opinionexpress.in/gunfight-breaks-out-in-south-kashmirs-shopian-oe An encounter began between terrorists and security forces in South Kashmir's Shopian district on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/its-time-for-pm-to-become-a-leader-stop-blame-game-rahul-gandhi-oe Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing a virtual press conference on Friday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second wave of Covid-19 and said that it is time for the Prime Minister to become a leader and stop the blame game. https://opinionexpress.in/2246-crore-vaccine-doses-provided-to-statesuts-govt Amid attacks by the Opposition, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday said more than 22.46 crore vaccine doses have been provided to the states and union territories, and 1.84 crore doses are still available with the states/UTs to be administered while 3,20,380 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the states/UTs within the next 3 days. https://opinionexpress.in/cabinet-expansion-soon-in-rajasthan-says-cong-chief   https://opinionexpress.in/china-blames-britain-for-indias-troubles-in-kashmir   https://opinionexpress.in/ncb-arrests-ssrs-flatmate-sidharrth-pithani-in-drug-case   https://opinionexpress.in/amid-covid-wave-gst-council-meet-begins-may-consider-duty-cuts The 43rd meeting of the GST Council, the first this year in the midst of second wave of Covid pandemic, begun on Friday morning through video conferencing. https://opinionexpress.in/wtc-final-to-have-reserve-day-joint-winners-after-draw-or-tie-icc India and New Zealand will end as joint winners in case of a draw or a tie in World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will also have a reserve day to make up for any lost time during regular days of the final, the International Cricket Council announced on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/deepika-padukone-features-in-seven-happy-women-list Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has featured in the 'Seven Happy Women' list by Chopard under its 'Happy Diamond' campaign. The other names in the list include Aja Naomi King, Jung Ryeo-Won, Sadie Sink, Anne Nakamura, Dorra Zarrouk and Yang Zi. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-to-hold-review-meeting-with-mamata-on-yaas Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the impact of cyclone Yaas, at Kalaikunda Air Force Station, on Friday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-186l-new-covid-cases-lowest-since-april-14 India on Friday reported 1,86,364 fresh Covid-19 cases while 3,660 patients succumbed to the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/ileana-dcruz-you-just-want-people-to-like-watching-you   https://opinionexpress.in/karnataka-government-a-three-party-coalition-claims-minister   https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-trying-to-dictate-terms-undermine-indias-legal-system-it-ministry   https://opinionexpress.in/cbdt-gets-new-members-namely-anu-j-singh-jb-mohapatra-and-anuja-sarangi   https://opinionexpress.in/raw-chief-ib-director-get-one-year-extension   https://opinionexpress.in/hand-over-biotechs-vaccine-plant-to-tn-on-lease-stalin-to-modi   https://opinionexpress.in/impact-duration-of-covid20-biggest-risks-to-growth-estimates-rbi   https://opinionexpress.in/deporting-choksi-to-india-directly-may-not-be-easy Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said that fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who was captured in Dominica after going missing for three days "needs to return to India" where he can face the criminal charges levelled against him. https://opinionexpress.in/huma-qureshi-moving-from-delhi-to-mumbai-changed-my-life Actress Huma Qureshi says playing the protagonist Rani Bharti in the upcoming web series "Maharani" was exciting because it involved 'forgetting' a lot of what she knows, in order to become the character. She says moving from Delhi to Mumbai to be an actress was an experience that in some way helped her understand Rani. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-owes-answer-to-people-on-vax-shortage-priyanka-oe Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday slammed the Narendra Modi-led Central government over the Covid vaccine shortage in the country, wondering why India is facing a shortage despite being one of the leading manufacturers of vaccines, adding the government owes an answer to the people on this issue. https://opinionexpress.in/spl-covid-teams-for-western-southern-tn The Tamil Nadu government has formed a special surveillance team focussing only on rural areas of the western part of the state, especially Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur districts to prevent spread of the Covid-19 virus. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-takes-astrazeneca-to-court-for-alleged-contract-breach An ongoing spat between the European Union (EU) and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca over the latter's alleged contract breach over the distribution of Covid vaccines is being decided at a Brussels court. https://opinionexpress.in/england-batsmen-dont-read-deliveries-from-my-hand-patel India left-arm spinner Axar Patel has said England batsmen don't read deliveries from his hand and have only sweep and reverse-sweep shots to counter spin. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-cm-to-conduct-aerial-survey-of-affected-areas West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will make an aerial survey of the affected areas on May 28 and May 29 to have an overview of the damages caused by very severe cyclone 'Yaas'. https://opinionexpress.in/asim-riaz-on-himanshi-khurana-we-are-lucky-for-each-other Asim Riaz fell in love with Himanshi Khurana while they were housemates on "Bigg Boss 13". He says they are lucky for each other and recording a track together is a way to take their bond to the next level. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-pays-tributes-to-nehru-on-his-death-anniversary Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday paid tributes to the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 57th death anniversary. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-211l-new-cases-3847-covid-deaths , May 27 (IANS) India on Thursday reported 2,11,298 fresh cases as 3,847 more patients succumbed to the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/andy-jassy-to-become-amazon-ceo-on-july-5-bezos   https://opinionexpress.in/fugitive-diamantaire-mehul-choksi-captured-in-dominica-report Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who is wanted by the CBI and the ED in connection with the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has reportedly been taken into custody in Dominica, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-suggested-regime-to-find-originators-of-messages-citing-cases-of-violence-drugs   https://opinionexpress.in/respond-asap-on-compliance-status-to-new-norms-govt-to-social-media-platforms   https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-appeals-to-tamil-diaspora-for-financial-aid-to-fight-covid   https://opinionexpress.in/islamabad-rejects-pentagon-claim-of-access-to-pak-airbases  Airbase https://opinionexpress.in/subodh-jaiswal-takes-charge-as-new-cbi-chief IPS officer Subodh Kumar Jaiswal on Wednesday took charge as the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-yaas-begins-landfall-with-wind-speed-of-130-140-kmph The landfall process of Very severe cyclonic storm Yaas began at 9 am on Wednesday near the Dhamra port in Odisha's Bhadrak district, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-previews-new-collaborative-app-tools-for-teams Microsoft has made it super easy for developers to build collaborative apps for Teams and Microsoft 365. https://opinionexpress.in/vaccines-give-protection-from-severe-illness-against-covid-variants-study Vaccines have been found to be effective in combating mutated variants and protect the vaccinated individual from severe illnesses, hospitalization, or death, reveals a study conducted by a Delhi-based Hospital. https://opinionexpress.in/tusshar-kapoor-my-parents-indulge-my-son-the-most Like in any other household, actor Tusshar Kapoor says even in his house it is his parents who indulge his son Laksshya the most. Laksshya will turn five in June and it seems he loves dancing -- just like his grandfather, yesteryears dancing superstar Jeetendra. https://opinionexpress.in/yaas-22-ndrf-sdrf-teams-deployed-in-bihar As Super Cyclone Yaas hit coastal areas of Odisha on Wednesday morning, Bihar government deployed 22 teams of NDRF and SDRF in districts adjoining to Jharkhand and West Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-appeals-to-world-leaders-to-come-together-to-defeat-terror Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to world leaders to come together in fight against forces trying to spread hate, terror and mindless violence. https://opinionexpress.in/decision-on-ipls-remaining-games-on-may-29-uae-likely-to-host Indian cricket board will take a decision on holding remaining Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 matches at special general meeting on May 29, in which entire domestic cricket schedule for 2021-22 will be discussed. https://opinionexpress.in/rashami-desai-urges-fans-to-stay-safe-stay-healthy Actress Rashami Desai took to Instagram on Tuesday to encourage fans to stay safe and healthy, as the country fights Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/homegrown-micro-blogging-app-koo-raises-30m Homegrown micro-blogging platform Koo on Wednesday said it has raised $30 million in Series B funding, led by Tiger Global. https://opinionexpress.in/wrestler-murder-case-4-associates-of-sushil-kumar-arrested In a major breakthrough in the murder of Sagar Dhankar, Delhi Police has arrested four associates of two time olympic medallist Sushil Kumar. All the arrested are members of Kala Asauda and Neeraj Bawana gang. https://opinionexpress.in/yaas-begins-landfall-likely-to-cross-odisha-bengal-in-3-hours The landfall process of very severe cyclonic storm Yaas has commenced and it would cross North Odisha-West Bengal coasts to the south of Balasore within next three hours with wind speed of 130-140 kmph gusting to 155 kmph. https://opinionexpress.in/4157-die-in-24-hrs-as-india-logs-208l-covid-cases A day after recording less than two lakh cases of Covid, India on Wednesday once again breached the mark with 2,08,921 fresh cases while 4,157 fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/travel-and-tourism-are-inherent-traits-of-humankind International travel is likely to remain affected for quite some time but domestic tourism may witness a surge in the near future https://opinionexpress.in/different-boats-in-the-same-storm How the global pandemic reinforced the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' https://opinionexpress.in/the-system-that-has-failed-us-all The Congress leadership had time and again tried to impress upon the PM the need to take timely and cogent steps, but the suggestions weren’t heeded https://opinionexpress.in/wise-up As the farmers’ stir completes six months today, it’s high time that it was simply called off https://opinionexpress.in/upmanship Ramdev’s attempts to run down other streams of medicine are not in good taste https://opinionexpress.in/foreboding-future-for-minorities-in-af-pak Pakistan has bequeathed its cancerous approach onto the terror groups in Afghanistan, and the future of minorities there is dark and foreboding https://opinionexpress.in/mild-covid-19-induces-antibody-protection-lasting-lifetime   https://opinionexpress.in/tn-assembly-will-pass-resolution-against-3-farm-laws-stalin  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Wednesday said the government will bring a resolution in the state Assembly asking the Union government to withdraw the three farm laws. https://opinionexpress.in/whatsapp-sues-indian-govt-over-chat-traceability  Taking the user privacy war to the court over new IT rules, Facebook-owned WhatsApp on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Delhi High Court, saying that user privacy is in its DNA and requiring messaging apps to "trace" chats undermines people's right to privacy. https://opinionexpress.in/subodh-jaiswal-appointed-new-cbi-chief IPS officer Subodh Kumar Jaiswal was on Tuesday named the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). https://opinionexpress.in/mass-vaccination-during-pandemic-historical-blunder-nobel-laureate   https://opinionexpress.in/anti-pak-sentiments-fuel-afghan-protesters-in-london   https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-can-act-against-mamata-bengal-minister-sc   https://opinionexpress.in/mehul-choksi-is-missing-says-gitanjali-chairs-lawyer   https://opinionexpress.in/working-hard-to-meet-indian-it-rules-for-social-media-facebook With the deadline to comply with the new IT rules meant for big social media platforms in India ending on Tuesday, Facebook said that the company aims to comply with the provisions of the new intermediary guidelines and is working towards it. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-government-for-ban-of-family-man-2-series Tamil Nadu Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mano Thangaraj has written to Union minister for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javedkar to immediately ban or stop the screening of "Familyman-2" web series on OTT platform Amazon Prime throughout the country. https://opinionexpress.in/odisha-cm-urges-people-on-coasts-to-shift-to-cyclone-shelters As cyclone "Yaas" is likely to have its most impact on Odisha making a landfall somewhere near Balasore on Bengal-Odisha border, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik urged the residents of coastal regions to cooperate with local administration and shift to cyclone shelters. https://opinionexpress.in/us-advises-against-travel-to-japan-due-to-covid-19 The United States on Monday advised its citizens against traveling to Japan due to Covid-19 risk, two months before the start of the Tokyo Olympics. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-and-diesel-get-dearer-retail-prices-rise-by-25-pl A day after holding back a hike, the oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Tuesday increased the pump price of petrol and diesel across the country with global oil showing signs of firming amidst reports that Iranian oil may not hit the markets soon. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-yaas-320-km-away-from-paradip Severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' has moved north-northwestwards with a speed of about 10 kmph over the past six hours and lay centred on early Tuesday over east central and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/jayant-chaudhary-set-to-take-over-as-rld-chief Former MP Jayant Chaudhary is all set to take over the reins of Rashtriya Lok Dal. https://opinionexpress.in/toolkit-row-truth-remains-unafraid-says-rahul-gandhi A day after the Delhi Police's Special Cell reached the doorsteps of Twitter India offices in Delhi and Haryana's Gurugram in connection with alleged Congress toolkit probe, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a potshot at the government saying, "truth remains unafraid". https://opinionexpress.in/140-tonnes-of-o2-sourced-from-singapore-to-reach-tn-today The Indian Oil Corporation has sourced 140 tonnes of oxygen from Singapore which will reach the state on Tuesday. The containers carrying oxygen are being moved from Vishakapattanam port and are likely to reach Chennai and Salem by Tuesday, according to a statement from the Indian Oil Corporation. https://opinionexpress.in/mehul-choksi-goes-missing-in-antigua-says-report Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who is wanted by the CBI and the ED in connection with the Punjab National Bank fraud case, has reportedly gone missing in Antigua and Barbuda, media reports said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-196l-covid-cases-lowest-since-april-14 India's daily coronavirus cases fell below 2-lakh mark for the first time since April 14. The country reported 1,96,427 fresh Covid cases on Tuesday and 3,511 fatalities, Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-facebook-may-not-be-able-to-operate-in-india-from-may-26 The deadline to comply with the new legal rules meant for big social media platforms, which were issued by the government three months ago, is ending on Tuesday, threatening the operations of the likes of Twitter in India. https://opinionexpress.in/a-wake-up-call-for-delhis-health-infrastructure The city Government must heed warnings and ensure that no life is lost due to systemic failures or misplaced priorities https://opinionexpress.in/rein-in-methane-emissions-now The rising levels of methane gas have the potential to add to patients’ misery https://opinionexpress.in/supply-chain-strategies-to-manage-vaccination Yes, there are problems but there are also solutions that can be leveraged to add order to the campaign, mitigate bottlenecks and increase supply & distribution https://opinionexpress.in/oli-garchy Thanks to Oli’s mismanagement, Nepal is looking at fresh elections in November https://opinionexpress.in/pandemonium It is the Centre’s duty to make available the anti-COVID jabs to all the States https://opinionexpress.in/do-the-states-have-any-responsibility Several COVID patients have tragically died, either due to the depletion in oxygen supply at hospitals or for other reasons, across 14 States https://opinionexpress.in/pfizer-to-explore-pneumococcal-jab-with-3rd-booster-of-covid-vax   https://opinionexpress.in/meeting-to-discuss-new-cbi-chief-ends-hc-awasthi-emerges-as-front-runner-ld   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-to-centre-states-benefits-must-reach-migrant-workers The Supreme Court on Monday said its main concern is that benefits which are meant for migrant workers must reach them and stressed the process of their registration is woefully slow. The top court said the Centre and state governments must expedite registration of migrant workers and also those working in the unorganised sectors. https://opinionexpress.in/shah-interacts-with-odisha-wengal-andhra-cms-on-yaas-preparedness Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday took stock of preparedness with Chief Ministers of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal to deal with cyclonic storm Yaas (pronounced as 'Yass') in the Bay of Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/leprosy-must-not-be-forgotten-amid-the-pandemic Today, we can see parallels in discrimination and hostility between the COVID-19 patients and those affected by leprosy https://opinionexpress.in/seeking-direction-in-rushing-waters Many protocols in these testing times are at different stages of evolution https://opinionexpress.in/the-challenge-is-the-missing-compassion There were no lessons learnt from the first wave of the pandemic. Now, though we remain united in grief, the hollowness of several institutions stands exposed https://opinionexpress.in/coronas-cost Inconvenience, rising prices, job and revenue losses are the byproducts of the continuing lockdown https://opinionexpress.in/hasty-decision Our vaccination drive is sputtering, and now there are doubts over the time gap between the doses https://opinionexpress.in/the-genesis-of-the-israel-hamas-scuffle The various sides claiming to be the rightful owners of the land of Palestine, or Judea, have their sharp arguments at the ready https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-shuts-400-vax-centres-for-18-44-group-as-stock-dries-up At a time when vaccines are necessary to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, people between 18-44 age groups in Delhi will not be administered vaccines at any government-run centres on Monday as the administration claimed no stock left for youth. https://opinionexpress.in/raghav-juyal-appeal-to-friends-critics-to-adopt-villages-that-need-help Dancer, choreographer and actor Raghav Juyal has been working hard to help people especially in rural Uttarakhand amid the ongoing second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-sc-seeks-reply-on-uniform-policy-guidelines-for-death-certificates The Supreme Court on Monday suggested there must be a uniform policy and also some guidelines for issuance of death certificates for those affected with Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-develops-unified-command-to-combat-yaas 'Very severe cyclonic storm' Yaas is presently located around 630 kilometres away from Digha coast and is likely to make a landfall on Tuesday evening somewhere between Digha in East Midnapore district in West Bengal and Paradeep in Odisha. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-and-nick-jonas-set-mercury-soaring-at-bbma Celebrity couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas took the style quotient high with their red carpet look at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles. https://opinionexpress.in/china-develops-uav-with-plateau-ops-capabilities-to-deploy-at-lac China has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with plateau operations capabilities and plans to deploy it at Line of Actual Control with India in Kailash mountain range, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-challenges-house-arrest-of-trinamool-bigwigs-in-sc The CBI has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta High Court order allowing the house arrest of Trinamool Congress' four heavyweights in the Narada bribery case. https://opinionexpress.in/when-sunny-leones-army-battled-to-zip-her-up Sunny Leone uploaded a funny video on her social media page, where her team struggles to fit her into a beautiful yellow gown.The video is from the set of her reality show "MTV Splitsvilla", and Sunny is getting ready for a shot. https://opinionexpress.in/vijayan-begins-his-fresh-term-as-lot-of-firsts-in-new-assembly On his 76th birthday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote himself into assembly records when he took oath as a legislator in the floor of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/new-cases-drop-to-months-lowest-as-covid-deaths-cross-3l With 4,454 new deaths due to Covid-19, India on Monday crossed three-lakh mark of fatalities due to the coronavirus infections, thus becoming world's third country after the US and Brazil to cross three-lakh deaths. https://opinionexpress.in/cong-ups-the-ante-against-bjp-in-mp-after-bypoll-win https://opinionexpress.in/yaas-likely-to-intensify-into-cyclonic-storm-today-ndrf-on-alert https://opinionexpress.in/its-time-bjp-rethinks-andhra-strategy   https://opinionexpress.in/future-govt-should-remove-plaque-on-central-vista-sibal   https://opinionexpress.in/chhgarh-police-issues-notice-to-patra-to-join-probe-on-toolkit-issue Chhattisgarh Police has issued notice to BJP national spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra for allegedly spreading fake news over 'toolkit' issue. https://opinionexpress.in/two-time-olympic-medallist-wrestler-sushil-arrested-near-jalandhar India's two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who was on the run for over a fortnight for alleged links with the murder of former international wrestler Sagar Dhankar, was arrested by Delhi Police on Saturday, according to a source. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-govt-extends-lockdown-till-may-31 Although the Covid positivity rate in the national capital has declined to 2.5 per cent and the single-day cases also reduced to around 1,600, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that the ongoing lockdown has been extended to May 31. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-prioritises-vaccination-for-vulnerable-segment-in-age-group-of-18-44 The Tamil Nadu government has prioritised some segments of the population for the vaccination in the age group of 18-44. A government order said that newspaper boys, auto rickshaw and taxi drivers, bus drivers and conductors and construction workers, staff of essential services, street vendors, pharmacy and grocery shop staff, workers in e-commerce, all government staff, all school and college staff and all media persons will be given priority. https://opinionexpress.in/health-fraternity-now-concerned-with-covid-induced-white-fungus As India grapples with alarmingly rising cases of the Black Fungus (Mucormycosis disease) after battling severe oxygen shortage amidst the second wave of the pandemic, the heath fraternity is now concerned with White Fungus which is being reported among Covid-recovered patients who are on long-term steroid use and suffer from severe uncontrolled diabetes, among other conditions. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-24l-covid-cases-3741-deaths-in-24-hrs With 2,40,842 fresh cases of Covid-19, India on Sunday witnessed the lowest rise in infection since April 21, even as 3,741 people died due to the pandemic in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-govt-reviews-preparedness-for-cyclone-yass-issues-alert The state government is all prepared to take on the cyclonic storm Yass that is likely to make a landfall along Bengal-Odisha coastline on May 26 morning. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-bbc-chief-resigns-from-national-gallery-over-diana-interview Former BBC Director-Deneral Tony Hall announced that he has resigned as the National Gallery's chairman after an inquiry into the British broadcaster's 1995 interview with the late Princess Diana. https://opinionexpress.in/sunil-grover-while-choosing-a-project-i-choose-stuff-that-wont-let-me-sleep Actor Sunil Grover shed almost 8.1 kilos for his role in "Sunflower", a thriller series that drops soon. https://opinionexpress.in/make-daily-vaccination-district-wise-for-public-chidambaram Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday demanded that government should put out a daily statement of the number of vaccines administered district-wise as there is a huge shortage in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/chhgarh-cm-removes-surajpur-collector-for-slapping-youth Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel removed Surajpur Collector Ranbir Sharma after a video of him surfaced in which he c0an be seen hitting a youth for violating lockdown rules. The incident was followed by an uproar on the social media. https://opinionexpress.in/ramdev-deserves-to-be-prosecuted-for-trashing-modern-medicine-ima   https://opinionexpress.in/five-member-bench-formed-to-hear-narada-sting-case   https://opinionexpress.in/yc-modi-asthana-behura-in-race-for-top-cbi-post   https://opinionexpress.in/yuvraj-upset-at-not-getting-regular-chances-in-test-cricket Former India batsman Yuvraj Singh took a dig at the team management of his time for ignoring him and not giving opportunities to play Test cricket regularly. https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-daily-covid-positivity-rate-reduces-to-35-below-5-mark Delhi reported around 2,200 fresh Covid cases and a daily positivity rate of 3.5 per cent in the last 24 hours, giving relief to the people in the national capital who have been fighting the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-government-announces-1-week-tightened-lockdown Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Saturday announced lockdown for a week starting from May 24 further tightening some of the relaxations to break the chain of coronavirus infection. https://opinionexpress.in/sunny-leone-is-in-the-mood-to-play-peekaboo Green is in for Sunny Leone, as she gets into the mood for random peekaboo with fans in her new social media post on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-reports-8848-mucormycosis-cases-23k-more-amphotericin-vials-allocated India has so far reported approximately cases of 8,848 mucormycosis or black fungus, one of the rapidly spreading infections observed in those recovering from Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/lockdown-pays-off-in-bengal-positive-signs-witnessed The Mamata Banerjee government imposed a 'nearly lockdown condition' in the state on May 16 for 15 days and after seven days the restriction imposed in West Bengal have started showing signs of improvement. https://opinionexpress.in/british-airways-flight-carrying-18-tonnes-of-aid-arrives-in-india British Airways on Saturday said that another one of its relief flight has touched down in India for the second time in two weeks as the crisis continues to grip the country. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-writes-to-pm-over-scarcity-of-black-fungus-drugs After the government asked the states to declare Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) an epidemic, Congress Parliamentary party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the scarcity of Liposomal Amphotericin-B injection and the disease not being covered under Ayushman Bharat scheme. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-to-decide-on-conducting-class-12-exams-on-sunday To reduce uncertainty among students, the Central government will take a decision on Sunday over proposals for the conduct of exams for Class 12th and entrance examinations for professional courses. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-to-get-only-8-lakh-jabs-for-june-vaccination-for-youth-halted-kejriwal Vaccination for the youth (aged between 18-44 years) in Delhi has been halted from Saturday, except in a few centres, since no stocks of the anti-Covid vaccine for the age group now remain with the Delhi government. https://opinionexpress.in/centre-asks-social-media-to-remove-content-referring-to-indian-covid-variant The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked all social media platforms to immediately remove all content that refers to or implies "Indian variant" of coronavirus. https://opinionexpress.in/coronas-evil-cousin-black-fungus-claims-100-in-maha-tope  As with the Covid-19 scourge, Maharashtra leads in the number of deaths and cases of the dreaded dark cousin of Coronavirus -- Mucormycosis, or commonly known as 'Black Fungus'. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-cm-proposes-2-week-complete-covid-19-lockdown Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday proposed complete lockdown without any relaxations in the state for two weeks to bring down the Covid-19 infection. https://opinionexpress.in/base-effect-recovery-boosts-indias-engineering-goods-exports-in-april-eepc-india India's engineering goods exports to 23 key markets, including the US, China and Germany recorded positive year-on-year growth in April 2021, EEPC India said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-hits-out-at-govt-for-black-fungus-epidemic Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the BJP government saying due to the mismanagement of Modi system there is now an epidemic of black fungus along with Covid infections in India. https://opinionexpress.in/uk-pm-very-concerned-with-bbc-over-princess-diana-interview UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he was "obviously very concerned" about the findings of the inquiry into the BBC's 1995 interview with the late Princess Diana, which said that the broadcaster "fell below its high standards of integrity and transparency". https://opinionexpress.in/62-magnitude-quake-jolts-indonesia An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia's East Java province, authorities said, adding that there were minor damages but no casualties. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-us-envoy-discuss-cooperation-to-tackle-covid Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Daniel B. Smith, the US Charge D'Affaires to India, on Friday held a discussion on working together to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-daily-covid-cases-drop-to-257l With 2,57,299 fresh cases of Covid-19, India on Saturday witnessed the lowest rise in infection since April 21, even as 4,194 people died due to the pandemic in last 24 hours, according to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/us-officials-rushed-to-defend-amazon-biz-practices-in-india   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-upholds-ibc-provisions-on-corporate-debt-recovery-from-personal-guarantors   https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-president-dissolves-house   https://opinionexpress.in/lady-gaga-recalls-trauma-of-being-raped   https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-pays-floral-tribute-to-dad-rajiv-gandhi-on-30th-death-anniversary Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday paid tributes to former Prime Minister and his father Rajiv Gandhi here on his 30th death anniversary. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-searches-several-locations-tied-to-navneet-kalra Two days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) booked businessman Navneet Kalra in the alleged black marketing of oxygen concentrator case, the financial probe agency on Friday carried out searches at several locations, sources said. https://opinionexpress.in/black-fungus-claims-13-lives-in-up The deadly black fungus -- Mucormycosis -- has claimed six more lives in the Uttar Pradesh capital in the past 24 hours while 34 more patients were admitted to hospitals. https://opinionexpress.in/1000-employees-urge-apple-to-support-palestinian-people Nearly 1,000 employees at Apple have written a letter to CEO Tim Cook, calling for the company to support the Palestinian people, as a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, following 11 days of escalating tension between the two sides on the Gaza Strip. https://opinionexpress.in/snapchat-hits-500m-monthly-users-india-sees-100-user-growth Popular social media platform Snapchat has reached over 500 million monthly active users, with roughly 40 per cent of its community located outside of North America and Europe. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-price-inches-closer-to-century-mark-in-mumbai The repeated rise in fuel prices in May is all set to take the retail price of petrol to historic high levels of Rs 100 per litre in Mumbai. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-completion-bcci-requests-ecb-to-advance-test-series The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to advance the start of the five-match Test series between England and India by a week so that a window could be created in September to finish the postponed Indian Premier League (IPL) season. https://opinionexpress.in/superstar-mohanlal-celebrates-61st-bday Versatile actor, Superstar Mohanlal, on Friday turned 61 as wishes poured in from all corners for Kerala's most popular son. https://opinionexpress.in/us-wants-crypto-transfers-over-10k-to-be-reported-to-irs Calling for stricter cryptocurrency rules, the US Treasury Department has said that any cryptocurrency transfer worth $10,000 or more has to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-up-600-points-nifty-reclaims-15000-mark The key Indian equity indices traded in the green on Friday morning with the BSE Sensex surging around 600 points to reclaim the 50,000 mark. https://opinionexpress.in/13-maoists-killed-in-mahas-gadchiroli-encounter At least 13 Maoists are reported to have been killed by security forces in a fierce gunbattle in the forests near Etapally, officials said here on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/iaf-pilot-killed-in-mig-21-bison-crash-in-punjab A MiG-21 aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Moga in Punjab early Friday in which the pilot was killed, IAF officials said. The IAF aircraft was on a routine training sortie when the accident happened. https://opinionexpress.in/at-259l-india-records-lowest-daily-cases-in-a-month Only 24 hours after recording less than 4,000 deaths, India on Friday once gain breached the grim milestone as daily fatalities due to Covid-19 rose to 4,209, according to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, even as new cases dropped to its lowest at 2,59,551 in exactly a month. https://opinionexpress.in/goa-court-acquits-tarun-tejpal-of-rape-charges Former editor-in-chief of Tehelka Tarun Tejpal was on Friday acquitted of rape charges, filed by a junior colleage who had alleged that the senior journalist had sexually assaulted her in a five-star resort in Goa in 2013. https://opinionexpress.in/the-coronavirus-pandemonium There’s an urgent need to look at the pandemic in retrospect and, drawing lessons, to plan steps for the future. We must not let our discipline flag https://opinionexpress.in/young-people-at-high-risk-of-chronic-fatigue-post-covid-19   https://opinionexpress.in/indian-army-chief-reviews-operation-preparedness-along-china-border   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-further-extends-tax-compliance-timelines-to-sept-30   https://opinionexpress.in/before-the-family-man-2-we-never-were-the-sequel-kind-of-people-raj-and-dk The second season of their popular web series "The Family Man" sure marks a first for the filmmaker duo of Raj and DK. https://opinionexpress.in/we-have-a-fair-idea-of-new-zealand-bowling-attack-pujara India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said that New Zealand bowling attack won't present a challenge for India batsmen in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in Southampton since the match will be played on neutral venue and the Indians have a fair idea of the opposition attack. https://opinionexpress.in/sirajs-deceptive-swing-ability-to-bowl-long-spells-special-laxman India pace bowler Mohammed Siraj's ability to bowl long spells is being acknowledged by former India stars. After former captain Sunil Gavaskar praised him a day back, another former India batsman VVS Laxman termed him a 'dangerous bowler due to his ability to maintain speed, bounce and movement for long period'. https://opinionexpress.in/7-gw-of-unsigned-psas-pose-risk-to-re-targets-crisil Delays in power supply agreements (PSAs) for 7 GW of the bid out renewable energy projects is one of the main reasons that may lead to 35 per cent shortfall in 160 GW renewable energy capacity target set for calendar 2022-end, ratings agency Crisil said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/amid-whatsapp-row-in-india-telegram-vouches-for-user-privacy As WhatsApp struggles to meet the requirements set by the Indian government over its controversial user privacy policy, its archrival Telegram on Thursday reiterated that unlike many other messaging apps, it is not dependent on a third-party platform to store its user data that leads to an additional layer of security, thus eliminating the possibilities of a back-door access. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-condoles-demise-of-ex-rajasthan-cm-jagannath-prahadia Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Jagannath Pahadia who died due to Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/road-caves-in-house-collapses-due-to-rain-in-delhi Due to incessant rain in Delhi, a portion of the road caved in and a house collapsed near a metro construction site in Najafgarh area in South West District on Thursday. However, the authorities said no casualty was reported so far. https://opinionexpress.in/trolls-begin-after-hearing-sivankutty-as-new-kerala-edu-minister The social media is abuzz with hectic activity after hearing that V. Sivankutty will be the new Education Minister of Kerala and trolls are coming thick and fast. https://opinionexpress.in/tauktae-weakens-likely-to-move-to-up-in-next-24-hours Remnant of the extremely severe cyclonic storm "Tauktae" has weakened further into a well-marked low-pressure over east Rajasthan and adjoining west Madhya Pradesh, and it is very likely to move further northeastwards to Uttar Pradesh during the next 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-determined-to-continue-gaza-operation-netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was determined to continue its fight against the Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip after US President Joe Biden called for "a significant de-escalation". https://opinionexpress.in/biden-urges-significant-de-escalation-in-call-with-netanyahu During a phone call, US President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he expected "a significant de-escalation" of the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip, the White House said. https://opinionexpress.in/ap-budget-session-begins-guv-says-welfare-delivery-not-impacted The budget session of the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly began here on Thursday. In his address, delivered in virtual mode from the Raj Bhavan, to members of both Houses, governor Biswabhushan Harichandan expressed his sympathies for the victims of Covid. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-phasing-out-its-controversial-image-cropping-algorithm Facing allegations of bias, Twitter is phasing out its image cropping algorithm after a deeper research, as it looks into accusations from the public that its image system was biased. https://opinionexpress.in/india-2nd-to-us-in-asking-facebook-for-user-data-in-h2-2020 India with 40,300 requests was second to the US in terms of asking Facebook to provide user data in the second half of 2020, and the social network restricted access in India to 878 items in response to directions from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). https://opinionexpress.in/dont-leave-people-in-distressing-time-priyanka-to-yogi Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday wrote to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and urged him not to leave the people in distressing time. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-covid-tally-rises-by-276l-cases-3874-deaths After recording over 4,000 deaths in the last four days, India on Thursday witnessed a decline in number of fatalities due to Covid-19. The country reported 3,874 deaths due to the virus infection, according to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-tauktae-arabian-sea-barge-tragedy-toll-rises-to-37 The death toll in the barge tragedy near Bombay High Fields increased to 37 with 11 more bodies recovered and brought to shore, officials said here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/singapore-academics-paean-to-monarch-xi-jinping   https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-health-minister-brings-fresh-idea-to-curb-covid-in-villages   https://opinionexpress.in/ed-books-navneet-kalra-for-money-laundering-in-oxygen-concentrator-case   https://opinionexpress.in/cbi-books-iffco-md-awasthi-others-in-graft-case-raids-12-locations   https://opinionexpress.in/many-mla-from-pilot-camp-are-turning-vocal-against-raj-govt   https://opinionexpress.in/centre-lashes-out-at-kejriwal-for-his-irresponsible-tweet-on-singapore The Central government on Wednesday lashed out at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for his irresponsible allegations against Singapore over the virulent variant of Coronavirus that has hit India. https://opinionexpress.in/anti-farmers-cong-attacks-govt-over-feritilizer-price-hike Describing the price rise of fertilizers as "unfortunate", the Congress on Wednesday slammed the government saying that its DNA is anti-farmer and the price rise will lead to additional burden of Rs 20,000 crore on the farmers of the country. https://opinionexpress.in/unseasonal-rain-in-delhi-ncr-as-weak-tauktae-approaches Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed overcast sky and continuing drizzle on Wednesday with the weather department forecast of more rain as a weakened Tauktae approached. https://opinionexpress.in/vax-drive-for-18-and-above-from-thursday-in-tamil-nadu The vaccination drive for those in the age group of 18-44 years will start in Tamil Nadu from Thursday. Auto Rickshaw drivers will be given preference in the vaccination drive, according to the state health minister Ma Subramaniam. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-in-red-amid-volatile-trade The key Indian equity indices traded in the negative territory on Wednesday morning a largely volatile trade. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-records-highest-covid-cases-in-country Tamil Nadu has recorded the highest number of fresh Covid-19 cases in the country in the last 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/tauktae-is-to-weaken-further-in-next-12-hours Cyclone "Tauktae" is very likely to move north-eastwards and weaken gradually into a well-marked low-pressure area during next 12 hours, the India Meteorological Department said. https://opinionexpress.in/search-on-for-89-missing-from-barge-during-cyclone-tauktae The Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) continued their search for missing 89 personnel from a barge with 273 people which went adrift and later sank near the Bombay High Fields unable to withstand the fury of Cyclone Tauktae, officials said here on Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/with-4529-covid-deaths-india-sets-another-grim-record India broke its own previous record of Covid deaths in 24 hours after the the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said the nation recorded 4,529 deaths -- the highest number of fatalities from Covid infection. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-daily-recoveries-exceed-4l-for-the-1st-time In a big achievement, India has recorded daily recoveries of more than four lakh Covid patients in a single day for the first time. https://opinionexpress.in/let-law-take-its-own-course-delhi-hc-on-navneet-kalras   https://opinionexpress.in/spl-grant-of-rs-10l-to-punjab-villages-for-100-vaccination To incentivise villages to give up vaccine hesitancy, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced a special development grant of Rs 10 lakh to every village that achieves 100 per cent vaccination target.Appealing to the sarpanches and panches across the state to lead their villages in the fight against Covid-19, the Chief Minister urged them to motivate the people to undergo testing even in case of mild symptoms, and to get themselves vaccinated. https://opinionexpress.in/pre-registrations-for-pubgs-indian-version-now-live-on-play-store South Korean video game developer Krafton on Tuesday announced that the pre-registration for PUBG's Indian version "Battlegrounds Mobile India" is now live on Google Play Store for fans in India. https://opinionexpress.in/madan-mitra-sovon-chatterjee-admitted-to-sskm Among the four heavyweight leaders who were sent to judicial custody in connection with Narada case following a Calcutta High Court order, former minister and MLA Madan Mitra and former mayor Sovon Chatterjee were rushed to SSKM hospital on Tuesday morning after they complained of breathlessness. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-wants-change-of-governor-writes-to-pm-president West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to President and Prime Minister demanding a change of Governor in the interest of "good governance " in the state . https://opinionexpress.in/india-consumer-internal-ssd-market-surges-to-record-high-in-q1 The consumer internal SSD market shipments recorded 34 per cent growth (quarter on quarter) in the first quarter of 2021 while on an annual basis, the overall market registered remarkable 172 per cent growth in Q1, a new report showed on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/raga-hopes-modi-system-will-wake-up-for-kids-sake Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed concern over the Narendra Modi government's preparedness and plans as experts forecast a likely Covid3.0, which could prove deadly for children. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-fallout-navy-rescues-146-from-barge-near-bombay-high The Indian Navy (IN) has managed to rescue at least 146 of the 273 personnel of the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) from the drifting Barge P-305 near the Bombay High Fields, and augmented its efforts by dispatching a helicopter, officials said here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-witnesses-worst-covid-toll-as-4329-die-in-a-day With 4,329 deaths in last 24 hours, India on Tuesday recorded highest fatalities from Covid infection, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.However, there was a bright side as well, as 2,63,533 new cases reported i the same duration -- were the lowest in 26 days. On Monday, the number of Covid cases has come down below the three-lakh- mark for the first time since April 21.On May 12, India recorded 4,205 Covid deaths, while on May 7, the country had recorded its highest ever cases of 4,14,188.While Maharashtra continues at the top with the highest deaths so far, the western state has been surpassed by Karnataka for largest number of cases being reported last week.India's overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,52,28,996 with 33,53,765 active cases and 2,78,719 deaths so far.According to the Health Ministry, a total of 4,22,436 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, with 2,15,96,512 being cured from Covid till date.The Health Ministry said that a total of 18,44,53,149 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 15,10,418 who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours.According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 31,82,92,881 samples have been tested up to May 17 for Covid-19. Of these 18,69,223 samples were tested on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/indian-viewpoint-on-israel-palestine We proudly state that India is a secular State, but are we actually not communal? https://opinionexpress.in/rise-of-religions-and-decline-of-the-west In an increasingly globalised world, there is greater civilisational, social and ethnic self-consciousness. But cultural identity is what is most meaningful to most people https://opinionexpress.in/ready-go Are we on the right path to addressing the pandemic? Do we have the right people on our right side? https://opinionexpress.in/india-is-very-much-a-democracy-18-may-2021 ontrary to what the critics might say, we have a nation that is strong enough to accommodate all the viewpoints https://opinionexpress.in/governor-asks-mamata-to-follow-rule-of-law ( Courtesy - IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/narada-case-cbi-arrests-tmcs-firhad-subrata-madan-sovon-mamta-banejee-stages-dharna   https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-tauktae-rajasthan-on-alert-mode Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has appealed to the people to stay cautious in wake of the MeT Department's warning on Cyclone Tautkae affecting some of the Rajasthan districts as well. https://opinionexpress.in/genocide-of-hindu-sikhs K S Raju Legal Trust to move UN to recognize genocide of Hindus and Sikhs, Kerala Governor, Chief Minister Punjab, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Addl Chief Secretary Tamil Nadu Dr Jagmohan Raju, and filmmaker Harvinder Sikka address https://opinionexpress.in/new-covid-cases-drop-below-3l-first-time-after-april-21 Covid numbers brought a heave of relief as the daily figures dropped below the 3-lakh mark for the first time in nearly a month. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-starts-dharna-at-cbis-kolkata-office West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has started a sit-in in CBI's Kolkata office to protest the arrest of four of her Trinamool Congress leaders, provoking an unusual Centre-state confrontation of sorts. https://opinionexpress.in/drdos-anti-covid-drug-2-dg-launched The first batch of DRDO-developed anti-Covid drug 2-DG (2-deoxy-D-glucose) was launched on Monday to treat patients suffering from the deadly disease. The medicine comes in powder form and can be taken with water. https://opinionexpress.in/narada-case-cbi-arrests-trinamools-firhad-subrata-madan-sovon The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested two Trinamool Congress ministers -- Firhad Hakim and Subrata Mukherjee, apart from former Trinamool Minister and present MLA Madan Mitra and former Kolkata Corporation Mayor Sovon Chattopadhyay in the Narada sting tapes cases where several politicians and a high-ranked police officer were allegedly found accepting cash bribes in exchange for providing unofficial favours to the company. https://opinionexpress.in/one-terrorist-killed-in-kashmir-encounter One terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Khanmoh on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-board-wanted-bill-gates-to-resign-amid-alleged-affair Some of the Microsoft board members last year wanted Bill Gates to step down amid an internal investigation into his alleged affair with an employee, The Wall Street Journal reported. https://opinionexpress.in/rakul-preet-singh-im-a-walking-talking-time-table Rakul Preet Singh is gearing up for the release of her new film "Sardar Ka Grandson". The actress relates to Radha, her character in the film, saying she is a walking talking time table. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-up-500-points-banking-finance-stocks-surge The key Indian equity indices rose on Monday morning with the BSE Sensex gaining over 500 points. https://opinionexpress.in/death-toll-in-gaza-climbs-to-181 Tensions between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip have continued unabated for a seventh consecutive day, as the death toll in the coastal enclave climbed to 181, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/tauktae-to-reach-guj-coast-monday-evening-imd-issues-orange-alert Cyclonic storm "Tauktae" is very likely to reach Gujarat coast on Monday evening and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) during early hours on Tuesday as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained surface wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph. https://opinionexpress.in/tauktae-around-1l-people-evacuated-from-guj-coastal-areas The Gujarat administration has evacuated around 1 lakh people from the coastal areas following the possibility of Cyclone Tauktae arriving Tuesday morning. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-tauktae-threat-shuts-mumbai-airport-for-3-hrs Owing to the potential threats created by the raging Cyclone Tauktae, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai has shut all operations for 3 hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-tauktae-storms-over-mumbai-razes-trees-damages-homes Cyclone Tauktae hit Mumbai with full fury bringing heavy rains, strong gales of over 60-75 km/hr, which wreaked havoc by uprooting scores of trees, damaged some homes, and disrupted road traffic, though there are no human casualties, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/nadal-beats-djokovic-for-10th-rome-open-title-2nd-lead World No. 3 Spaniard Rafael Nadal on Sunday won his 10th Italian Open title, after overcoming a second set comeback from No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final to triumph 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours and 50 minutes.The victory gave second seeded Nadal the 36th ATP Masters 1000 crown, equalling top seeded Djokovic's all-time record, since the series was established in 1990.In the 57th meeting of the ATP Tour's one of the most prolific rivalries, Djokovic was facing second seed Nadal, winner of 20 Grand Slam singles title winner, for the ninth time at the Foro Italico. https://opinionexpress.in/corona-some-real-though-some-hype Somehow, the States and the Union Government are passing on the impression that it has been unable to meet the challenge of the virus https://opinionexpress.in/keep-going Despite reverses, the nation needs to keep reminding of the goal ahead: Keep ourselves healthy https://opinionexpress.in/the-sinking-of-a-paper-boat-monday In these pandemic times, do we remember that we had a time filled with the zest for life, ambitions and hope? Where is it now? https://opinionexpress.in/gunfight-erupts-on-outskirts-of-srinagar A gunfight erupted between terrorists and security forces at Khanmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday, officials said.The firefight took place after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-tauktae-heavy-rains-claim-human-lives-in-karnataka-kerala-goa   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-ready-to-defend-illegal-enforcement-action-if-pursued-by-cairn   https://opinionexpress.in/kohli-is-someone-i-will-always-remember-paine   https://opinionexpress.in/who-asks-rich-countries-to-delay-child-vax-donate-jabs ( Courtesy - IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/militants-trigger-ied-blast-in-jks-shopian Militants on Sunday triggered a low intensity blast in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district although no damage was caused by the explosion, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-311-lakh-new-covid-cases-4077-deaths Witnessing a decline in the last 24 hours, India on Sunday reported 3,11,170 new Covid-19 cases, and 4,077 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/covaxin-demonstrates-protection-against-new-variants Peer-review publication, Clinical Infectious Diseases, has noted that Covaxin demonstrates protection against the new Covid-19 variants. https://opinionexpress.in/lockdown-extended-till-may-24-in-delhi-kejriwal The Delhi government has extended lockdown period for one more week, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclonic-tauktae-very-likely-to-intensify-in-next-24-hrs The Severe Cyclonic Storm "Tauktae" (pronounced as Tau'Te) over east central Arabian Sea is likely to intensify further in the next 24 hours. https://opinionexpress.in/chidambaram-questions-govt-on-fall-in-daily-vax-jabs Former Union minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday questioned the Narendra Modi government on the decline in the numbers of daily vaccination while taking a jibe at Health Minister Harsh Vardhan over the shortage of vaccines. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-tauktae-tn-cm-reviews-preparedness-with-officials The Tamil Nadu government has directed to take necessary precautions as Cyclone Tauktae is likely to intensify further. It has asked the authorities to summon back fishermen who are in the sea. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-nuclear-and-space-sectors-contributes-for-fight-against-covid-19 Financing the setting up of the oxygen delivery infrastructure/oxygen beds and air conditioned mortuary in hospitals, supply of oxygen concentrators, designing ventilators, oxygen concentrators and supplying oxygen are some of the ways the two strategic sector players - NPCIL and ISRO- are contributing to the nation's fight against coronavirus.The NPCIL-Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd is the only atomic power generator in India while the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the country's sole space agency."We have seven nuclear power generation sites. https://opinionexpress.in/india-to-become-major-production-hub-for-acc-batteries-icea ( Courtesy - IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/healthcare-policy-needs-a-booster The disparity among the masses makes the downtrodden people more vulnerable https://opinionexpress.in/time-to-embrace-the-biological-revolution It is an inevitable, irreversible fact. Also, it hides within itself the potential of biological research and its unique opportunities for humanity https://opinionexpress.in/the-endgame-in-afghanistan There’s a host of implications emanating from the withdrawal of American troops from that country, and India needs to watch out https://opinionexpress.in/high-and-dry Herd immunity is one thing; India needs to do a lot more to protect its people from the pandemic https://opinionexpress.in/maharashtra-braces-for-cyclone-tauktae-onslaught As the Cyclone Tauktae whirls towards the Gujarat coast, Maharashtra is preparing to grapple its impact on the coastal Konkan and some interiors which are likely to be affected with heavy rains and gusty winds, officials said here on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-reports-less-than-7k-new-covid-cases-lowest-since-april Delhi reported 6,500 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the lowest since April 7, the day when the city reported 5,506 cases in a day. https://opinionexpress.in/o2-shortage-claims-13-more-lives-in-goa-75-dead-in-4-days Thirteen Covid patients died at Goa's apex government hospital, the Goa Medical College, in the early hours of Friday owing to oxygen mismanagement, even as the death toll of patients who died between 2 am and 6 am at the premier facility in the last four days reached 75. https://opinionexpress.in/making-fun-of-indias-culture-is-tharoors-favourite-pastime-bjp The BJP slammed former Union Minister and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for questioning the progress the country made in recent years. The saffron party leaders said that making fun of the country is Tharoor's favourite pastime. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-cumulative-vaccination-coverage-exceeds-18-cr The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 18 crore on Saturday under the Phase-3 of the nationwide vaccination drive. https://opinionexpress.in/scotland-police-frees-2-indians-from-detention-van-after-protests Police in Scotland have freed two Indian nationals, who were held inside a detention van, after protesters surrounded the vehicle demanding their release, according to a media report. https://opinionexpress.in/washington-state-to-reopen-on-june-30 Washington Governor Jay Inslee has announced that the US state will reopen on June 30, after witnessing a steady decline in Covid-19 trends. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-gaza-violent-tensions-continue-unabated Tensions between Israel and the Islamic Hamas movement, the worst since 2014, have continued unabated in the Gaza Strip with no sign of any ceasefire between the two sides to end te violence. https://opinionexpress.in/over-326l-new-covid-cases-3890-deaths-in-india-in-24-hrs Witnessing a decline, India on Saturday reported 3,26,098 new Covid cases and 3,890 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-holds-key-meeting-on-covid-crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial meeting on Saturday to review the Covid-19 situation and vaccination progress across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/harsh-vardhan-to-hold-video-meet-with-4-cms-on-covid Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will be holding a meeting with Health Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat on Covid-19 situation and progress on vaccination drive in these states later on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-takes-potshot-at-modi-over-dead-bodies-in-ganga After several decomposed bodies were found floating in the river Ganga in several cities of Uttar Pradesh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday indirectly took a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the one who said that Mother Ganga has called him, has made it cry. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-kkr-pacer-gurney-decides-to-retire-from-cricket Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and England left-arm speedster Harry Gurney has decided to retire from cricket following a shoulder injury. https://opinionexpress.in/palestine-says-8-killed-in-west-bank-clashes-with-israeli-forces Eight Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/recoveries-outnumber-daily-covid-cases-3rd-time-in-4-days Recoveries from Covid-19 registered at 3,44,776 in the last 24 hours, on Friday outnumbered India's daily new Covid cases for the third time in the last four days.India's cumulative recoveries surpassed two crore (2,00,79,599) on Friday pushing the national recovery rate to 83.5 per cent. https://opinionexpress.in/cyclone-tauktae-to-hit-guj-maha-kerala-coasts-in-96-hrs With a low pressure area rapidly developing over the Lakshadweep Isles and the Arabian Sea, a powerful cyclonic storm is expected to manifest by Sunday and likely to hit the coasts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Kerala in the next four days, the IMD said on Friday.The IMD has already put Mumbai and Thane under a Yellow Alert, signifying isolated heavy rains accompanies by strong winds, while an Orange Alert and Red Alert has been issued for several districts of Gujarat and Kerala.Cyclone Tauktae, currently developing over Lakshadweep Isles and the Arabian Sea, will intensify into a full-fledged cyclonic storm on Sunday, causing heavy rains, accompanied by gusty winds, in southern and western coastal parts of the country https://opinionexpress.in/malerkotla-declared-23rd-district-of-punjab ( Courtesy - IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-reports-below-10k-cases-1st-time-since-april-10 Delhi reported 8,500 new Covid infections in the last 24 hours, the first time in over a month when daily cases came below 10,000 as the positivity rate camr down to 12 per cent, on Friday.On April 10, the city had reported 7,897 cases in a day. https://opinionexpress.in/an-appeal-covid-ups-and-downs It’s time for all of us to come together and fight the pandemic selflessly https://opinionexpress.in/did-vaccine-maitri-unfriend-indians As India reels under the impact of the second wave of COVID-19, the sense of anger and helplessness among the nation’s citizens is only growing https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-slips-into-deeper-crisis Having failed to prove majority in Parliament, the Oli-led Government has shoved the country into the throes of uncertainty https://opinionexpress.in/the-vaccine-hydra The Government would do well to centralise the vaccination project and make it free for all citizens https://opinionexpress.in/6-persons-detected-with-black-fungus-in-patna While corona wreaks havoc in Bihar, cases of Black Fungus have also been detected in Patna. https://opinionexpress.in/senate-republicans-to-make-infrastructure-counter-offer-biden US President Joe Biden said that Senate Republicans will give him a revised infrastructure offer next week as the two sides seek compromise on the issue. https://opinionexpress.in/unsc-to-hold-open-meeting-on-israel-palestine-violence The UN Security Council will hold an open meeting on Sunday to discuss the escalation of tensions between Israel and Palestine. https://opinionexpress.in/67-magnitude-quake-strikes-off-indonesia An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scaled rocked Indonesia's North Sumatra province on Friday, but did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami, the meteorology and geophysics agency said here. https://opinionexpress.in/jio-comes-up-with-special-initiatives-for-jiophone-users-amid-pandemic Jio has come up with special initiatives for the pandemic period including free 300 minutes of outgoing calls per month for the entire period of the pandemic, to JioPhone users who have not been able to recharge due to the ongoing pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/icc-considering-expanding-t20-world-cup-to-20-teams-report The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly considering expanding the T20 World Cup to 20 teams from its current number of 16. https://opinionexpress.in/1st-sputnik-dose-given-in-hyd-priced-at-rs-948gst Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Friday announced that the first consignment of imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine that landed in India on May 1 received regulatory clearance from the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli, on May 13. https://opinionexpress.in/friends-the-reunion-to-premiere-on-may-27 The much-awaited Friends reunion special will be premiering on May 27. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-343l-covid-cases-4k-deaths-in-24-hrs Witnessing a decline, India on Friday reported 3,43,144 new Covid cases and 4,000 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-releases-8th-instalment-of-rs-19000-cr-for-pm-kisan-scheme Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday released the eighth instalment of financial benefits worth Rs 19,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme to benefit more than 9.5 crore farmers that includes first-time beneficiaries in West Bengal. https://opinionexpress.in/60-magnitude-quake-jolts-japans-fukushima An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck off Japan's Fukushima prefecture on Friday, according to authorities. https://opinionexpress.in/asim-riaz-drops-debut-rap-song-back-to-start-on-eid "Bigg Boss 13" star and model Asim Riaz dropped his debut track as a rapper on the occasion of Eid on Friday. Titled "Back to start", Asim has written his debut song besides singing it. https://opinionexpress.in/prez-pm-greet-nation-on-eid President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his sister and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday greeted the nation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-rahul-condole-demise-of-times-group-chairperson-indu-jain Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday condoled the demise of Times Group chairperson Indu Jain. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-has-adequate-beds-oxygen-now-fix-uniform-rate-for-vaccines-aap-to-centre The Delhi government said on Thursday that while the national capital has adequate ICU beds and medical oxygen stock in the government-run hospitals and private healthcare centers, the Centre should fix a uniform rate for vaccines. https://opinionexpress.in/drive-in-vaccination-for-2nd-shot-of-covishield-for-45-in-gurugram In collaboration with Park Plus and DLF City Centre Mall, the health department of Gurugram administration will organise a day-long 'drive-in vaccination' programme to administer the second dose of Covishield to the 45+ age group at the DLF City Centre Mall on MG Road on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/andhra-floats-global-tender-to-procure-covid-vaccine ( Courtesy IANS ) https://opinionexpress.in/how-to-draw-a-corona-virus Lessons have come riding the second wave but accompanied by too much melancholy https://opinionexpress.in/how-the-bjp-lost-the-plot-in-bengal Limiting the aggressive polarisation on the ground and being able to consolidate the subaltern Hindu vote was the turning point https://opinionexpress.in/maharashtra-lockdown-restrictions-extended-till-june-1 On anticipated lines, the Maharashtra government on Thursday announced that ithas decided to extend the ongoing stringent lockdown-type restrictions across the state till June 1.The move by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government comes amid rising Covid-19 cases and fatalities in many districts in the state, though Mumbai and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are currently in a better shape.As per the new directives, Mumbai suburban trains will not permit regular commuters but only those engaged in essential services and other pre-notified categories.At the cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday, all ministers belonging to Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress supported the need to extend the lockdown.Following the cabinet nod, Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte issued the official notification this afternoon extending the lockdown provisions from 7 a.m. on May 15, till 7 a.m. on June 1.The state also made it mandatory for any persons entering the state by any mode of transport to carry a Covid-19 negative report which is issued within 48 hours prior to his/her arrival.The government has directed the local Disaster Management Authorities to keep tight vigils over rural markets and APMCs to ensure covid appropriate behavior and if rules are not complied, they can shut these down or impose further restrictions on a case-to-case basis. https://opinionexpress.in/radhe-salman-khans-chaos-of-set-pieces Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai https://opinionexpress.in/burmese-beauty-queen-is-rebel-queen-now   https://opinionexpress.in/mumbai-court-slaps-notice-to-attach-diamantaire-nirav-modis-assets   https://opinionexpress.in/delhis-positivity-rate-falls-to-14-o2-demand-also-down The national capital has reported 10,400 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the lowest since April 20, when the city had reported 28,395 cases, health officials said here on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-raps-up-govt-after-hcs-stinging-comments Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday slammed the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh, saying the truth of fighting Covid has been exposed in the High Court and reiterated that the pandemic can only be fought with more testing and availability of medical services. https://opinionexpress.in/ethereum-founder-donates-114bn-in-crypto-to-covid-hit-india Vitalik Buterin, the Russia-based co-founder of the world's second largest cryptocurrency Ethereum, has donated 500 coins and over 50 trillion SHIB meme coin worth around $1.14 billion to the India Covid-Crypto Relief Fund, as the country grapples with the lethal second wave of the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/delaying-2nd-covid-vax-dose-in-under-65-may-cut-deaths-study A team of US researchers has found that delaying the second dose of Covid-19 vaccines, at least for people aged under 65, could result in up to 20 per cent lower mortality, but only under certain conditions. https://opinionexpress.in/india-clocks-362l-fresh-cases-4120-covid-deaths India on Thursday reported 3,62,727 new Covid cases and 4,120 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/priyanka-chopra-over-14000-good-samaritans-helped-us-raise-1mn Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared that over 14,000 contributors have helped raise $1 million, to help India amid the second wave of Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/dcgi-allows-phase-ii-iii-clinical-trial-of-covaxin-on-2-to-18-years-old The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has accorded permission to conduct the Phase II-III clinical trial of Covaxin (Covid vaccine) in the age group of two to 18-years-old to its manufacturer Bharat Biotech Ltd, Union Health Ministry said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/navneet-kalra-denied-anticipatory-bail-in-o2-concentrator-case A Delhi court on Thursday declined to grant anticipatory bail to businessman Navneet Kalra in connection with the oxygen concentrator black marketing case registered by Delhi Police. https://opinionexpress.in/pollard-was-stunned-by-1st-contract-offered-by-mi-bravo Dwayne Bravo revealed the role he played in Mumbai Indians (MI) signing Kieron Pollard in 2010. Bravo played for MI between 2008 and 2010 and the team was searching for a replacement after the Trinidadian left for Chennai Super Kings. https://opinionexpress.in/us-engaging-with-india-on-protecting-minorities-official A senior State Department official dealing with religious freedom, said the US is regularly engaging with Indian officials on protecting the rights of minorities and the government has opportunities to address the concerns of civil society groups. https://opinionexpress.in/eu-economy-rebounds-42-growth-projected The economy of the 27-member European Union (EU) will grow by 4.2 per cent in 2021 and 4.4 per cent in 2022, higher than previous estimates, the European Commission said in its Spring Forecast. https://opinionexpress.in/un-concerned-over-most-serious-escalation-between-israel-palestine A UN envoy has expressed concerns over "the most serious escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in years", adding that the ground situation continues to deteriorate. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-applies-brakes-on-bitcoin-for-vehicle-purchases After less than two months of going bullish on Bitcoin, Tesla on Thursday applied brakes on the popular cryptocurrency as a payment mode to buy its electric vehicles, citing environmental harm. https://opinionexpress.in/vijayan-to-take-oath-on-may-20-cabinet-still-not-clear Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will finally take oath of office on May 20, when Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will read out the oath, but what's yet to emerge is the composition of the cabinet. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-cm-to-hold-all-party-meet-on-covid-today Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will hold a meeting of leaders of all legislature parties at the Secretariat on Thursday evening, according to an official release. The meeting is scheduled at 5 p.m. https://opinionexpress.in/like-o2-covid-vax-pm-modi-also-missing-raga Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying like vaccines, oxygen and medicines, the PM also is missing being only available on pictures here and there. https://opinionexpress.in/12-oppn-leaders-write-to-pm-modi-demand-free-mass-vaccination-suspension-of-central-vista-project Leaders of 12 opposition parties Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a free mass vaccination campaign against coronavirus, and suspending the central vista revamp project and utilise that money in fighting the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-reports-13287-new-covid-cases-positivity-rate-below-18 The national capital on Wednesday reported 13,287 new Covid-19 cases, while 300 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, according to the health bulletin issued by the Delhi government.Delhi had reported 12,481 cases on Tuesday while on Monday it reported 12,651 cases.The daily positivity rate in the national capital remained below 18 per cent for the second consecutive day at 17.03 per cent. The positivity rate in Delhi had remained above the 20 per cent-mark since April 17, before starting to gradually come down in the past few days.As per the health bulletin, Delhi presently has 82,725 active cases, of which around 50,000 people are under home isolation.Delhi's overall Covid tally stands at 13,61,986, while as many as 20,310 people have fallen prey to the dreaded disease since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year.Meanwhile, as many as 14,071 people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to over 12.58 lakh, according to the health bulletin.Of the 23,202 hospital beds for coronavirus patients in the city, 4,469 are vacant now, it said. https://opinionexpress.in/7400-office-leases-of-90-mn-sq-ft-up-for-renewal-in-top-6-cities   https://opinionexpress.in/managing-the-world-order-amid-covid-19 The India-EU summit has aimed to address contiguity issues among the member nations https://opinionexpress.in/driven-to-extinction-scientists-favour-reintroduction-of-jaguars   https://opinionexpress.in/francophobic-in-land-of-the-pure Incited by an ultra-religious outfit, Pakistan is protesting France’s views on the freedom of speech and radical Islam https://opinionexpress.in/govts-mega-push-for-positivity-is-like-burying-ones-head-in-the-sand-rahul Former Congress President Rahul Gabdhi on Wednesday slammed the government over its mega push for positivity to fend off criticism nationally and internationally as "burying one's head in the sand" and a betrayal of citizens. In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said, "The false assurance of 'positive thinking' is a joke on those families and health workers who have lost their loved ones and are suffering a crisis of oxygen, hospitals and medicines. Burying one's head in the sand is not positive - it is a betrayal of our citizens." He also attached a news report in Hindi with the tweet. On the same day, poll strategist Prashant Kishor also slammed the government, describing as "disgusting attempts to push "propaganda" in the name of spreading positivity. "In the face of a grieving nation and tragedies unfolding all around us, the continued attempt to push falsehood and propaganda in the name of spreading positivity is disgusting! For being positive we don't have to become blind propagandist of the government," Kishor said in a tweet. The remarks came amid reports of a new strategy of the government, the ruling BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to fight massive national and international criticism of the Narendra Modi government's handling of the Covid second wave. On Wednesday, India recorded 4,205 deaths, the highest so far in a day with 3.48 lakh cases of Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/its-time-to-stand-together-and-not-to-criticise-sibal After war of words erupted between Congress and the BJP over the handling of the pandemic, Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said, its time to stand together and not a time to criticise. https://opinionexpress.in/youtube-to-distribute-100m-among-top-shorts-creators In a bid to bring more engagement on its platform that is similar to TikTok, YouTube said that it plans to pay $100 million to creators who use YouTube Shorts. https://opinionexpress.in/allahabad-hc-makes-scathing-comment-on-ec-govts In a scathing attack on the Election Commission, the higher courts and the government, the Allahabad High Court has said that they "failed to fathom the disastrous consequences" of permitting elections in a few states and the panchayat election in Uttar Pradesh. https://opinionexpress.in/nepal-plunges-into-political-crisis-as-chinas-gambit-flops Chinas desperate attempts to bring about a patch-up between the two warring factions of the Nepal Communist Party have come a cropper, plunging the Himalayan country into a political crisis at a time when the deadly Covid-19 pandemic has also peaked in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/indias-coronavirus-variant-spread-to-44-countries-who The Indian coronavirus variant (B1617), which has now been declared a "variant of global concern" has spread to 44 countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. https://opinionexpress.in/israel-gaza-violence-spirals-as-netanyahu-vows-to-intensify-attacks Hundreds of rockets were fired upon Israel from Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip throughout Tuesday, as Israel pummelled the tiny coastal territory with airstrikes and the death toll mounted on both sides. https://opinionexpress.in/sometimes-miss-dhonis-guidance-kuldeep-yadav Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has admitted that he misses the guidance he used to get from MS Dhoni when the latter kept wickets. Kuldeep has seen his international appearances nosedive since the end of 2019, which was also the year that Dhoni played his last match for India. https://opinionexpress.in/roads-go-deserted-as-lockdown-begins-in-telangana Roads wore a deserted look in Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana on Wednesday morning as the 10-day lockdown began across the state to check the spread of Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/floating-bodies-cremated-in-up-districts All the bodies recovered from the Ganga river in Ghazipur and Ballia districts were cremated and investigations have been initiated to find out where the bodies had been immersed in the river. https://opinionexpress.in/urvashi-rautela-tried-adding-bollywood-elements-to-her-international-album-versace-baby Actress Urvashi Rautela, who has shot her debut international music album "Versace Baby" with Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan, says she has tried to add a lot of Bollywood elements to the song, and also tried to ensure an element of Indianness about it. https://opinionexpress.in/allu-arjun-tests-negative-for-covid-19 Telugu star Allu Arjun on Wednesday shared that he has tested negative for Covid-19 after 15 days of quarantine. https://opinionexpress.in/tension-between-israel-gaza-militants-threatens-to-further-escalate The tit-for-tat trade of fire between militant groups in the Gaza Strip and Israel has been mounting on Tuesday, leaving 28 Palestinians and three Israelis killed and dozens of others wounded from both sides. https://opinionexpress.in/fuel-prices-rise-for-third-day-closing-on-rs-100lt-in-mumbai Maintaining its rising trend, fuel prices increased for the third day in a row on Wednesday as state-owned fuel retailers hiked rates of petrol and diesel by 25 paise per litre each in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/3rd-express-with-64t-o2-reaches-hyderabad The third Oxygen Express from Angul in Odisha to Telangana reached Hyderabad on Wednesday, South Central Railway officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-down-400-points-banking-oil-gas-stocks-fall The key Indian equity indices declined on Wednesday morning with the BSE Sensex losing over 400 points. https://opinionexpress.in/at-4205-india-reports-record-covid-deaths-in-a-day India on Wednesday recorded 4,205 deaths due to Covid, highest till date with 3,48,421 fresh cases, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/un-forecasts-indias-economy-to-grow-75-in-2021-but-warns-situation-fragile   https://opinionexpress.in/dr-reddys-to-manufacture-baricitinib-for-covid-treatment   https://opinionexpress.in/un-report-predicts-stronger-world-economic-growth   https://opinionexpress.in/govt-ready-for-another-cut-in-import-duty-on-steel-to-tame-prices   https://opinionexpress.in/nadda-slams-ragas-conduct-for-duplicity-pettiness-amid-covid BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda in a letter to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi lashed out at her party and said that in the fight against the pandemic the conduct of topmost Congress leaders, including their former President Rahul Gandhi will be remembered for its "duplicity and pettiness". https://opinionexpress.in/anupam-kher-wife-son-keep-me-grounded Actor Anupam Kher says he is grateful to have his wife, actress Kirron Kher, and son Sikandar Kher by his side, as they give him honest feedback about his work. https://opinionexpress.in/ed-books-ex-maha-hm-anil-deshmukh-under-pmla The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case of money laundering against former Maharashtra Home Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh in connection with alleged corruption and misuse of office case. https://opinionexpress.in/country-needs-a-helping-hand-in-these-distressing-times-raga Amid the raging pandemic the Congress has initiated a campaign #SpeakUpToSaveLives to strengthen the fight against Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/disha-patani-salman-khan-dances-like-no-ones-watching-him Disha Patani is paired with Salman Khan in the upcoming action thriller "Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai", scheduled to drop digitally for pay-per-view watch on Eid. Disha, who has worked with Salman in the 2019 drama "Bharat" earlier, says it is always a pleasure seeing the superstar dance. https://opinionexpress.in/pappu-yadav-arrested-for-flouting-lockdown-rules-in-bihar Patna police on Tuesday arrested former MP and Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) president Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav for flouting lockdown rules. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-falls-500-points-banking-metal-stocks-in-red The key Indian equity indices declined on Tuesday morning with heavy selling pressure on banking, finance and metal stocks. https://opinionexpress.in/india-logs-329l-covid-cases-3876-deaths-in-24-hrs Witnessing a sharp decline, India recorded 3,29,942 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours with 3,876 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said here on Tuesday. https://opinionexpress.in/chidambaram-slams-bjp-for-justifying-central-vista-project Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday countered the BJP raising the issue of Central Vista project. https://opinionexpress.in/bharat-biotech-begins-covaxin-supplies-to-14-states Bharat Biotech has started direct supplies of its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to 14 states. https://opinionexpress.in/3-terrorists-killed-in-anantnag-encounter Two more terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter at Vailoo, Kokernag in South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday, taking the toll of terrorists killed in the encounter to three, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/adhir-writes-to-prez-seeks-parliament-session-to-discuss-covid Describing the Covid situation in the country as grave, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written to President Ram Nath Kovind for convening an urgent session of Parliament to discuss it. https://opinionexpress.in/gave-some-financial-aid-for-covaxin-covishield-trials-not-rd-govt The Centre has told the Supreme Court that no governmental aid, assistance or grant was made either for research or development of either Covaxin or Covishield vaccines but some financial assistance was given for conducting clinical trials. https://opinionexpress.in/indians-need-to-look-within-to-fix-their-broken-ethical-compass Sadly, people all over the country are facing extortion and being forced to make large payments to get essential medication, oxygen, ambulances and so on https://opinionexpress.in/moo-t-point If cow urine is really beneficial against Corona, the Govt hasn't done a great job propagating it https://opinionexpress.in/fair-deal In an indication of the future, the BJP uproots the popular Sonowal from the Assam CM's chair https://opinionexpress.in/the-pandemics-the-epidemics Starting from bubonic plague, there has been a series of pandemics. Corona is only the 12th to have hit the human race so severely https://opinionexpress.in/telugu-anchor-actor-tnr-passes-away-due-to-covid Well-known YouTube anchor, journalist and actor Thummala Narsimha Reddy on Monday passed away due to Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-wishes-assam-cm-himanta-expects-momentum-to-ne-development Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on taking oath as a new chief Minister of Assam and other Ministers, wishing the new team will add momentum to the development journey of the hilly state. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-should-intervene-in-vax-policy-jaiveer-shergill After the central government had submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court, defending its Covid vaccination policy, which has been criticised for differential pricing, shortage of doses and slow rollout, the Congress has slammed the Centre's move and also sought the top court's intervention. https://opinionexpress.in/wilful-patronage-of-super-spreader-events-allowed-for-partisan-gains-sonia In her opening remark in the CWC meeting, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi said the Covid-19 situation has become even more catastrophic and alleged that wilful patronage of super-spreader events were allowed for partisan gains and the government has priority like the Central Vista. https://opinionexpress.in/kohli-gets-shot-of-covid-19-vaccine India captain Virat Kohli on Monday announced that he has got a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and urged his followers to get inoculated as soon as they can. https://opinionexpress.in/himanta-biswa-sarma-sworn-in-as-15th-assam-cm Himanta Biswa Sarma was on Monday sworn-in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam, a day after he was named as the leader of the newly-elected BJP legislators in the state. https://opinionexpress.in/74-new-covid-cases-reported-in-10-states-maha-ktaka-on-top Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are among the top 10 states that accounted for 73.91 per cent new Covid-19 cases registered in the last 24 hours, said Union Health Ministry's data on Monday. https://opinionexpress.in/india-sees-dip-in-infections-records-366l-cases-3754-deaths Witnessing a decline, India on Monday recorded 3,66,161 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours with 3,754 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-slams-centre-over-foreign-aid-amid-pandemic Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the union government over the foreign aid to India amid pandemic and alleged that the government did not do its job properly. https://opinionexpress.in/look-out-notice-against-navneet-kalra-in-o2-concentrators-case Moving ahead in its probe into the recovery of over 500 oxygen concentrators from several famous eateries in Lutyens Delhi, the Delhi Police has issued look out notice against the owner of Khan Chacha restaurant and businessman Navneet Kalra, who has been absconding. https://opinionexpress.in/vax-policy-no-judicial-interference-needed-trust-wisdom-of-executive   https://opinionexpress.in/sc-notice-to-punjab-on-prashant-kishors-appointment-as-cms-advisor   https://opinionexpress.in/as-vaccines-exported-for-image-building-india-saw-1l-deaths-sisodia Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday accused the Centre of seeking to "buid its image" on the international stage with vaccine exports, instead of saving those dying in the country due to Covid. https://opinionexpress.in/dos-and-donts-in-home-isolation-the-aiims-guidelines The AIIMS has given guidelines on Covid management in home isolation at a recent training session for 14 experts from tertiary care centres across the country. https://opinionexpress.in/third-disgruntled-congress-leader-secures-bjp-cm-post   https://opinionexpress.in/myanmar-junta-approves-15-huge-chinese-project   https://opinionexpress.in/himanta-biswa-sarma-is-the-next-assam-cm   https://opinionexpress.in/up-govt-extends-lockdown-till-may-17 The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to extend the lockdown till May 17 in the state to break the chain of coronavirus infections, the government said here on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/senkaku-new-flashpoint-in-east-china-sea The current crisis over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea is just the tip of the iceberg. Xi’s massive expansion plan in the form of BRI or CPEC threatens peace and tranquillity in and around the region. Further, long suppression of democratic rights in Hong Kong, Taiwan’s continued claim for sovereignty, Tibetan’s long drawn war for the recognition of their uniqueness, the torture on the Uighur Muslim minorities and other ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and finally, a contested claim of many neighbours over the South China Sea are the permanent sore points for Beijing https://opinionexpress.in/s-korea-to-clamp-down-on-cryptocurrency-phishing-activity South Korea said on Sunday it will strengthen its monitoring system against cryptocurrency-related phishing websites by working with the National Police Agency amid recent surges in prices of virtual money. https://opinionexpress.in/1-in-9-adults-struggled-with-mental-health-amid-covid One in every nine adults consistently had very poor or deteriorating mental health during the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new research. https://opinionexpress.in/kareena-shares-taimurs-picture-with-baby-brother-on-mothers-day Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan treated her fans on Sunday with a picture of her two boys and wish them a Happy Mother's Day . https://opinionexpress.in/out-of-control-chinese-rocket-falls-over-indian-ocean A 100-foot-tall, 22-metric-tonne Chinese rocket re-entered the Earth and has come down over the Indian Ocean near the Maldives. https://opinionexpress.in/bumrah-can-take-400-test-wickets-if-he-stays-fit-ambrose India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah can cross 400 Test wickets if he can maintain his fitness for a long period, said West Indies pace legend Curtly Ambrose. https://opinionexpress.in/blinken-admits-some-us-actions-undermine-intl-order   https://opinionexpress.in/aly-goni-gets-jammu-house-renovated-for-mom-on-mothers-day Actor Aly Goni is getting his house in Jammu renovated as a gift for his mom this Mother's Day. The actor says that work has already begun. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-advances-grant-of-rs-89238-cr-to-panchayats-for-covid-relief The Finance ministry has released an amount of Rs 8,923.8 crore to 25 States as grants to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs). https://opinionexpress.in/coimbatore-hospitals-stop-admission-fearing-oxygen-shortage Many of the hospitals in Coimbatore are turning away patients with breathing difficulties as they are expecting a shortage of Oxygen even as these hospitals have beds with Oxygen supply at present. https://opinionexpress.in/musk-promoted-dogecoin-crashes-as-he-appears-on-snl-tv-show As Tesla CEO Elon Musk hosted the Saturday Night Live show on TV (US time), Dogecoin which is fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market value and promoted by Musk fell sharply early on Sunday. https://opinionexpress.in/probe-widened-into-recovery-of-oxygen-concentrators-from-lutyens-eateries   https://opinionexpress.in/dont-crowd-markets-ahead-of-lockdown-goa-cm Even as Goa's market places and general stores witnessed a rush, a day ahead of the 14-day state level curfew, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant urged people to not rush out for panic shopping, saying all stores selling essential goods would be open every day from 7 am to 1 pm during the curfew period. https://opinionexpress.in/decongest-jails-sc-orders-re-release-of-all-eligible-prisoners In the backdrop of an unprecedented Covid-19 crisis prevailing in the country, the Supreme Court on Saturday passed a slew of directions to decongest prisons and ordered forthwith release of all those prisoners who were granted bail or parole last year due to the pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/mayawati-attacks-kejriwal-on-migrants-fleeing-from-delhi Taking a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday said that he is doing exactly the same drama that he did last year when he urged the migrants not to flee from Delhi. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-assembly-convened-on-may-11 The 16th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has been summoned to meet for its first session on May 11 at the Omandurar Government Estate here. https://opinionexpress.in/pm-modi-hails-maha-cms-covid-measures Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called up Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to get an overview of Maharashtra's war against the Coronavirus, an official said. https://opinionexpress.in/canadian-city-lights-up-for-india-as-3000-ventilators-sent-to-delhi Authorities in Canada's Ontario province dispatched 3,000 locally made ventilators to New Delhi, even as the Indian-dominated city of Brampton illuminated its city hall with the Tricolour in solidarity with the people of India. https://opinionexpress.in/wake-up-from-slumber-mitigate-covid-challenges-ima-to-health-ministry The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday slammed the Union Health Ministry, saying it is "astonished to see the extreme lethargy and inappropriate actions" from the department in combating the agonizing crisis caused by the devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-extends-restrictions-on-millath-co-op-bank-by-3-months The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the restrictions on Karnataka-based Millath Co-operative Bank by three months, till August 8, 2021. https://opinionexpress.in/double-mutant-variant-shows-enhanced-host-cell-entry-immune-evasion Double-mutant variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2 -- B.1.617 -- that has emerged in India, entered certain types of lung and intestine cells with slightly increased efficiency compared with the original wild-type strain, say researchers. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-reportedly-shelves-windows-10x-report Microsoft reportedly won't be bringing its Windows 10X operating system variant to market as it has now been shelved, in favour of improving Windows 10 instead. https://opinionexpress.in/tn-govt-will-decide-on-free-bus-ride-for-transgenders Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Saturday said the government would deliberate and decide on allowing free bus rides for transgenders. https://opinionexpress.in/google-brings-youtube-tv-to-main-app-on-roku A week after streaming media player Roku removed the YouTube TV app for new users, Google is countering by bringing the cord-cutting service to the main YouTube client. https://opinionexpress.in/vivo-v21-5g-stylish-yet-powerful-mid-range-phone Aiming to offer top-notch smartphones for its mid-premium segment users in the country, Vivo recently launched a new smartphone Vivo V21 5G in the India market, that is currently witnessing a plethora of options in this price range. https://opinionexpress.in/accept-privacy-policy-or-lose-functions-in-some-weeks-whatsapp Facing criticism over its upcoming privacy policy, WhatsApp has said that its users will not immediately lose their accounts or face curtailed functionalities on the platform on May 15, but they will have to eventually go through limited functions if they fail to accept the new norms in the due course of time. https://opinionexpress.in/williamson-co-move-to-maldives-after-entry-in-england-delayed New Zealand Test players Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner and Kyle Jamieson, who were playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have opted to spend extra days in Maldives instead of India after their entry in England was delayed by a week. https://opinionexpress.in/kkr-batsman-seifert-tests-positive-for-covid-stranded-in-india Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batsman Tim Seifert has tested positive for Covid-19 and is not travelling with New Zealand's IPL players back home, a statement from the country's cricket board said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/impact-of-covid-19-brexit-on-studying-or-working-in-the-uk For many Indians, the UK has been the among the most popular destinations for higher education and settling abroad. https://opinionexpress.in/shehbaz-sharif-barred-from-flying-to-uk Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has been barred from flying to the UK on Saturday by the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), a day after the Lahore High Court (LHC) removed his name from the 'blacklist'. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-gears-up-for-mass-vax-kejriwal-says-3-cr-vaccines-needed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the state administration has geared up for mass vaccination across the capital and it would need around 80,000 to 85,000 vaccine doses per day. https://opinionexpress.in/imran-saudi-crown-prince-salman-commit-to-ties Visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Saturday have affirmed their commitment to fortify the 'upward trajectory' in bilateral relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Islamabad said. https://opinionexpress.in/raveena-tandon-delhi-is-almost-gasping-for-breath Actress Raveena Tandon says she is disturbed by the oxygen shortage in the capital amid the second wave of Covid, and has taken it upon herself to send oxygen cylinders to the city. https://opinionexpress.in/modis-actions-in-attempting-to-stifle-criticism-during-crisis-inexcusable-lancet  At times, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has seemed more intent on removing criticism on Twitter than trying to control the Covid-19 pandemic, medical journal The Lancet has said in an editorial. https://opinionexpress.in/the-kissing-booth-author-beth-reekles-decodes-the-right-way-to-recreate-a-book-on-screen Beth Reekles was a teenager when she penned the teenybopper rom-com "The Kissing Booth", which went on to become a hit film and also spawned a successful sequel for OTT. A third instalment is in post-production. https://opinionexpress.in/tesla-admits-musks-full-self-driving-claim-not-feasible-yet Despite tall claims made by Elon Musk over Twitter about the full self-driving technology, electric car-maker Tesla has privately admitted that such claims do not match up with the engineering reality. https://opinionexpress.in/doorstep-refill-of-o2-cylinder-in-hry In an initiative to stop black marketing and streamline oxygen supply across the state, the Haryana government will soon start a door-to-door oxygen cylinder refill provision for its people. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-announces-two-week-lockdown-starting-may-10 A day after he and his council of Ministers were sworn in, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday announced total lockdown in Tamil Nadu between May 10-24 to prevent spread of coronavirus, while exempting essential services. https://opinionexpress.in/states-uts-to-get-53l-more-vax-doses-in-3-days Over 53 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be provided to states and Union Territories (UTs) within next three days, which will be an addition to more than 84 lakh vaccine doses currently available with them, Union Health Ministry said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-gandhi-questions-gst-on-covid-vaccines Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed the government over the goods and services tax (GST) on vaccines, saying the lives of can be lost but the Prime Minister's tax collection should not be lost. https://opinionexpress.in/meeting-starts-in-delhi-to-discuss-next-govt-in-assam Six days after victory in Assam assembly polls, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday reached the national capital to discuss the leadership issue of the next government. https://opinionexpress.in/record-4187-covid-deaths-in-india-as-fresh-cases-mount-to-401l India has recorded 4,187 deaths due to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours -- the highest so far, along with 4,01,078 fresh cases, taking the total number of cases in the country to 2,18,92,676, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday. https://opinionexpress.in/kangana-tests-covid-positive-says-its-small-time-flu-which-got-too-much-press Kangana Ranaut on Saturday shared the news that she has tested positive for Covid-19 and has quarantined herself. The actress posted the health update on Instagram, along with a picture that shows her performing Sukhasana. https://opinionexpress.in/whats-next-for-podcasts-in-2021   https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-working-with-indian-payments-providers-for-tip-jar Twitter is testing a new Tip Jar feature globally including in India where iOS and Android users can send money directly to their favourite accounts with substantial followers. https://opinionexpress.in/my-values-not-in-consonance-with-ec-poll-panel-counsel-resigns-in-sc Advocate Mohit D. Ram, who was on the Panel Counsel for the Election Commission before the Supreme Court has tendered his resignation from the position. https://opinionexpress.in/kejriwal-calls-for-meeting-to-review-covid-situation-in-delhi Hours after the Supreme Court directed the Centre to ensure that Delhi gets 700 metric tonnes (MT) of oxygen supply every day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called for a meeting to review the Covid situation in the national capital. https://opinionexpress.in/bjp-slams-hemant-soren-for-his-remark-about-modi The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit out at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for his remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not listen to him during a phone call over the Covid-19 situation. https://opinionexpress.in/congress-poll-performance-unfortunate-disappointing-sonia Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday termed her party's performance in the state assembly elections "unfortunate, disappointing and unexpected". https://opinionexpress.in/t20-wc-shouldnt-be-held-in-india-if-it-drains-resources-cummins Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has said that the 2021 T20 World Cup should be held in India only if it is not going to be a drain on the country's resources in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/nation-sinking-under-the-weight-of-modi-govts-indifference Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Narendra Modi government, saying that the country's system has not failed but the government has been unable to constructively channelize the country's strengths and resources. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-crisis-poses-economic-risk-in-q1-fy22-muted-impact-likely-finmin As states take to lockdowns amid the severe Covid crisis, the Finance Ministry in a report has said that second wave of the Covid-19 poses downside risk to economic activities during April-June, although the impact is expected to be muted compared to that in the first wave. https://opinionexpress.in/england-county-clubs-express-interest-to-host-ipl-report England's county cricket clubs have reportedly offered to host the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL). The tournament, which was being held amid the raging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, was postponed earlier this week after multiple positive cases of the coronavirus came up in the tournament's bio-bubble. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-orders-rs-2000-corona-relief-milk-price-slashed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday ordered payment of Rs 2,000 as first instalment to all ration card holders eligible to get rice as coronavirus impact relief. https://opinionexpress.in/chidambaram-slams-modi-harsh-vardhan-over-covid-situation Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan for "not owing responsibility", saying the Covid-19 pandemic in the country has turned to worse from bad. https://opinionexpress.in/anushka-virat-start-covid-fundraiser-contribute-rs-2cr Celebrity couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have started a fundraiser campaign to help people deal with the Covid crises at hand. https://opinionexpress.in/drop-in-some-food-prices-will-push-cpi-inflation-down-to-40-in-april A high base and an unseasonal drop in some food prices will push CPI inflation down to 4.0 per cent in April, Barclays said in a research report on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/ril-to-fly-in-israeli-experts-for-detection-of-covid-cases Reliance Industries (RIL) has sought permission to fly a team of experts from Israel to India to train and install a rapid Covid-19 identification solution, a source who spoke on assurance of anonymity said. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-liquidity-window-can-augment-healthcare-infra The Rs 50,000 crore liquidity window offered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to banks under priority-sector lending to augment Covid-19 healthcare infrastructure will help raise treatment capacity, and availability of medicines and medical equipment, in India, Crisil said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/5-friends-turn-their-luxury-rides-into-emergency-hospital-to-supply-o2  Five friends in education city Kota have turned their three luxury cars into an 'emergency hospital' and have been providing oxygen to critical patients in these vehicles. https://opinionexpress.in/ktaka-hc-order-on-1200-mt-oxygen-reasonable-sc-tells-centre The Supreme Court on Friday said the Karnataka High Court order for the supply of 1,200 MT oxygen is reasonable and the High Court cannot remain silent when people are dying in the state. The top court declined to entertain Centre's plea challenging the High Court order. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-writes-to-modi-criticises-govts-covid-vax-strategy Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying his government's lack of a clear and coherent Covid and vaccination strategy, as well as its hubris in declaring premature victory as the virus was exponentially spreading, has placed India in a highly dangerous position. https://opinionexpress.in/microsoft-ditching-its-windows-95-era-icons   https://opinionexpress.in/centre-has-to-supply-700-mt-oxygen-to-delhi-daily-says-sc The Supreme Court on Friday said the Centre has to supply 700 MT of oxygen to Delhi every day till further orders. https://opinionexpress.in/central-vista-project-a-criminal-wastage-says-rahul Calling the Central Vista project a "criminal wastage", former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged the Narendra Modi government to focus more on people's lives. https://opinionexpress.in/india-records-414l-new-covid-cases-3915-deaths India has recorded 4,14,188 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours -- the highest so far, along with 3,915 fatalities, taking the total number of cases in the country to 2,14,91,598, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-to-be-sworn-in-as-cm-with-33-ministers-on-friday   https://opinionexpress.in/bangladesh-foils-radical-islamists-parliament-attack-plan   https://opinionexpress.in/indian-american-bodies-mobilise-resources-for-covid-relief-in-india   https://opinionexpress.in/mhas-4-member-team-to-look-into-bengal-post-poll-violence The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent a four-member team led by an additional secretary-level officer to West Bengal to look into incidents of violence after the declaration of Assembly election results. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-takes-jibe-at-govt-over-fuel-price-hike Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a dig at the Central government over the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, saying "elections over, robbery started again". https://opinionexpress.in/covid-patients-in-home-isolation-can-book-oxygen-online-delhi-govt Covid infected patients living in home isolation in Delhi would now find life saving oxygen cylinders through online booking. Amid surge in demand of oxygen cylinders across the national capital, the Delhi Government said on Thursday that it has set up a new system to ensure the smooth availability of cylinders. https://opinionexpress.in/sonia-to-hold-meeting-with-cong-mps-on-covid-situation Amid the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi will hold a meeting with the party MPs on Friday, sources said on Thursday. https://opinionexpress.in/now-total-lockdown-in-kerala-from-saturday-till-may-16 On expected lines with the Covid positive cases continuing its surge like never before, the office of the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday announced a total lockdown from Saturday till May 16. https://opinionexpress.in/sensex-pares-gains-to-turn-flat-auto-stocks-up The key Indian equity indices traded on a flat note on Thursday morning giving up their initial gains. https://opinionexpress.in/3-terrorists-killed-one-surrenders-in-shopian-encounter Three terrorists were killed and another surrendered on Thursday morning after an encounter in South Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said. https://opinionexpress.in/rahul-priyanka-condole-death-of-ajit-singh Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday condoled the death of former Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Chaudhary Ajit Singh, who passed away due to Covid. https://opinionexpress.in/new-high-of-412l-cases-3980-deaths-in-india With 4,12,262 fresh cases and 3,980 deaths in last 24 hours, India on Thursday recorded maximum fresh cases and fatalities in a day, another grim record, taking the total caseload in the country to 2,10,77,410, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/ex-union-minister-ajit-singh-passes-away-due-to-covid   https://opinionexpress.in/third-wave-of-covid-inevitable-warns-govts-scientific-advisor   https://opinionexpress.in/sonu-sood-to-those-who-couldnt-save-loved-ones-you-didnt-fail-we-did Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood said anyone who has lost a loved one due to scarcity of oxygen or injection has not failed. https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-to-face-water-shortage-from-may-6-to-8-djb Amid the surge in Covid-19 cases and severe shortage of oxygen, many parts of the national capital are also likely to witness water shortage from May 6 to May 8 due to an alarming dip in raw water supply through the Yamuna. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-provided-17-cr-vax-to-statesuts-free-of-cost-centre The union government on Wednesday said that it has so far provided more than 17.02 crore vaccine doses to States and Union Territories free of cost, out of which more than 94.47 lakh doses are still available with them to be administered. https://opinionexpress.in/can-imagine-what-citizens-are-going-through-sc-on-o2-crisis The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that the judges of the top court are also based in Delhi, and they can imagine what the citizens of the capital are going through due to shortage of medical oxygen. https://opinionexpress.in/corona-curfew-in-up-extended-till-may-10-morning The ongoing 'closure' in Uttar Pradesh has been extended till May 10, according to UP additional chief secretary Navneet Sehgal. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-eases-kyc-compliance-extends-video-kyc-to-new-customers The Reserve Bank of India did not stop at providing liquidity enhancement measures to tackle the current economic strain unleashed by the resurgence of a Covid-19 wave. It also rationalised certain compliance matters to provide ease of doing business for consumers. https://opinionexpress.in/mahatma-gandhis-personal-secretary-kalyanam-passes-away Ninety nine year old V.Kalyanam, the former Personal Secretary of Mahatma Gandhi has died here due to old age related illness. https://opinionexpress.in/vaccination-of-18-plus-begins-in-mp A campaign began in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday to vaccinate people above 18 years. The vaccination of people between 18-44 years was scheduled to begin from May 1 but due to non-availability of vaccines, the drive was postponed to Wednesday. https://opinionexpress.in/2-oxygen-plants-funded-by-pm-cares-set-up-at-aiims-rml In a significant development, two medical oxygen plants funded by PM-CARES have been set up at AIIMS and RML Hospital in the national capital within a week. https://opinionexpress.in/call-on-extending-lockdown-post-pms-address-yediyurappa Karnataka Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that the decision on whether to enforce complete or partial lockdown in the state will be taken only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation in the evening. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-congratulates-mamata-after-she-takes-oath-as-bengal-cm Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on taking oath as West Bengal Chief Minister for the third consecutive time. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-lying-on-oxygen-shortage-chidambaram Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has accused the government of lying on the oxygen shortage in the country. https://opinionexpress.in/bengal-guv-urges-cm-to-handle-law-and-order West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar sounded the war bugle on the day mamata Banerjee took oath for a third term as chief minister and asked her to rise above partisan attitude and work for the people of the state. https://opinionexpress.in/stalin-stakes-claim-to-form-next-govt-in-tn A day after he was elected as the party's Leader of the Legislature Party, DMK President M.K. Stalin on Wednesday met Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and staked claim to form the next government. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-is-lioness-of-east-ghulam-nabi-azad After Mamata Banerjee took oath for the third time as Chief Minister of West Bengal, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the TMC Supremo as "Lioness Of East". https://opinionexpress.in/delhi-govt-sets-up-oxygen-cylinder-pool-at-dtc-bus-depots Amid increased demand of oxygen supply due to surge in Covid-19 cases in the national capital, the Delhi government has decided to set up oxygen cylinders storage at Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) depots. https://opinionexpress.in/trump-launches-his-own-social-media-platform-as-wordpress-blog Banned on Facebook and Twitter, former US President Donald Trump has launched a new so-called social media platform, which is actually just a WordPress blog on his own website. https://opinionexpress.in/dell-fixes-5-bugs-in-millions-of-computers-going-back-to-2009 Dell has issued a security patch for millions of its computers dating back to 2009, after cybersecurity research firm SentinelLabs found five serious bugs in Dell and Alienware software that allow hackers to gain full permissions in Windows on the devices. https://opinionexpress.in/petrol-diesel-rise-sharply-for-2nd-day Petrol and diesel prices in the country rose again sharply by 19 paise and 21 paise per litre respectively on Wednesday as Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) continued to cover for their losses on holding back price rise for past 18 days due to state elections. https://opinionexpress.in/mamata-banerjee-takes-oath-as-bengal-cm-3rd-time Mamata Banerjee after taking her oath as West Bengal CM for the third consecutive time in an unembellished function at the 'Throne Room' in Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Wednesday morning announced that handling the Covid situation in the state and tackling post poll violence and the overall law and order situation in the state will be her priority. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-announces-rs-50k-cr-liquidity-window-for-covid-related-health-services As the county's healthcare system reels under the severe Covid crisis, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced a liquidity window of Rs 50,000 crore wherein vaccine makers, hospitals, oxygen suppliers among other healthcare stakeholders would be able to get loans at the repo rate till March 31, 2022. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-dedicated-drdo-hospital-opens-in-lucknow The crisis of hospital facilities in Lucknow will ease to an extent on Wednesday when the 500-bed makeshift Covid hospital set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Awadh Shilpgram on Shaheed Path becomes operational. https://opinionexpress.in/covid-jabs-for-kids-pfizer-to-seek-approval-in-sep Pharmaceutical major Pfizer will likely seek the US Food and Drug Administration's emergency authorisation to administer its coronavirus vaccine among children between the ages of 2 and 11 in September, the media reported. https://opinionexpress.in/modi-sarkar-has-failed-to-save-people-rahul-gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the Modi government has failed to provide relief to the public. https://opinionexpress.in/randeep-hooda-pitches-in-to-provide-oxygen-concentrators Actor Randeep Hooda on Tuesday posted an Instagram video announcing that he has teamed up with an NGO to arrange oxygen concentrators. https://opinionexpress.in/rbi-unleashes-liquidity-support-to-suppress-covid-induced-turbulence India's Reserve Bank will initiate measures to combat economic turbulence unleashed by the resurgence of Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/sc-quashes-maha-law-granting-reservation-to-maratha-community The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the Maharashtra law granting reservation in jobs and admissions to Maratha community. The top court said it did not find any exceptional circumstance to justify exceeding the 50 per cent cap set by Indra Sawhney judgment. https://opinionexpress.in/equity-indices-in-green-as-rbi-guv-announces-liquidity-measures The key Indian equity indices traded on a positive note on Wednesday as the RBI Governor announced few measures to counter the impact of the second wave of Covid on the economy and businesses. https://opinionexpress.in/country-facing-health-emergency-not-a-time-to-discuss-poll-outcomes-kapil-sibal After the dismal performance of the Congress in recent Assembly elections in five states/UT, party leader Kapil Sibal said on Tuesday that this is not the right time to discuss such issues when the nation is in the grip of pandemic. https://opinionexpress.in/highest-covid-deaths-of-3780-in-india-382l-cases-in-24-hrs India on Wednesday recorded 3,780 deaths, maximum in a day and 3,82,315 fresh cases of Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours, taking the total caseload in the country to 2,06,65,148, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. https://opinionexpress.in/zomato-emerges-most-trusted-brand-during-pandemic-survey   https://opinionexpress.in/doubts-looms-over-t20-world-cup-in-india   https://opinionexpress.in/you-are-close-to-a-contempt-case-delhi-hc-to-centre   https://opinionexpress.in/rss-for-introspection-over-bjps-bengal-poll-debacle   https://opinionexpress.in/we-stand-by-228-cr-voters-who-believed-in-us-bjp Amid reports of violence against its supporters allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers, the BJP on Tuesday pledged that the party will stand with those who believed in it. https://opinionexpress.in/govt-must-deploy-all-resources-in-saving-lives-priyanka Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday slammed the government over Central Vista project, saying that people are struggling for hospital beds and scarcity of oxygen and it would be better if the government deploys all resources in saving lives instead of building a new house for the prime minister. https://opinionexpress.in/vivo-pledges-rs-10cr-aid-to-support-covid-hit-india Smartphone maker Vivo on Tuesday announced aid worth Rs 10 crore to support India's fight against the second wave of Covid-19. The amount includes a donation of Rs 2 crore that Vivo had announced recently. https://opinionexpress.in/less-oxygen-allotment-at-delhi-base-hospital-army-complaints-to-govt Indian Army on Tuesday raised an issue of less allotment of oxygen to its base hospital in the national capital by the Delhi government. https://opinionexpress.in/twitter-suspends-kanganas-ac-actress-says-have-many-platforms-to-raise-my-voice Kangana Ranauts handle @KanganaTeam has been suspended on Twitter, after the actress posted a series of tweets perceived to be controversial. https://opinionexpress.in/ipl-2021-postponed-over-rising-civod-19-cases-in-teams The Indian cricket board on Tuesday "postponed" the 2021 Indian Premier League over rising Covid-19 positive cases among the competing teams. Although the eight teams and officials were in bio-bubble, the vurus penetrated the bubble and some players officials reported positive tests. https://opinionexpress.in/over-1589cr-covid-jabs-carried-out-in-india The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 15.89 crore on Tuesday with more than four lakh people aged between 18 to 44 years vaccinated in the Phase-3 drive. https://opinionexpress.in/a-crime-has-been-committed-against-india-rahul Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday once again attacked the Narendra Modi government for its inaction as "many innocent people" continued to lose the battle against Covid and said a crime has been committed against India. https://opinionexpress.in/bihar-goes-under-lockdown-till-may-15-amid-covid-surge To reduce the rapid surge in coronavirus infections in Bihar, the Nitish Kumar government has decided to impose a complete lockdown in the state till May 15. https://opinionexpress.in/free-ration-for-2-months-to-72l-ration-card-holders-in-delhi-kejriwal In a move towards helping needy people in the national capital amid lockdown imposed across the city, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced free ration for the next two months to 72 lakh ration card holders. https://opinionexpress.in/bcci-mulls-shifting-rest-of-ipl-games-to-mumbai-report Two Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players testing positive for Covid-19 seems to have sent the Indian cricket board in a tizzy, and it was reportedly mulling holding the rest of the 60-match Indian Premier League (IPL) in Mumbai, as one of the options. https://opinionexpress.in/csk-vs-rr-becomes-2nd-ipl-match-to-be-postponed Wednesday's Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) has reportedly been postponed after two members from the CSK contingent tested positive for Covid-19. https://opinionexpress.in/aiadmk-legislators-to-meet-on-may-7-to-elect-opposition-leader The newly elected members of the AIADMK will meet at the party headquarters on May 7 to elect the leader of opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly.