In a significant development in Delhi politics, Kailash Gahlot, a former Delhi government minister and a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), resigned from the party on Sunday and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. The 50-year-old leader, an advocate by profession, announced his decision at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, where he was welcomed by Union ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Harsh Malhotra, along with Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and national m

Delhi is grappling with thick smog, pushing the city's air quality index (AQI) into the 'Severe' category. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated Stage III of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP), effective from 8 am tomorrow. This stage is triggered when AQI exceeds 401, with several stringent measures aimed at mitigating the pollution crisis. Under GRAP Stage III, non-essential construction and demolition work will be banned, and

Donald Trump’s presidential appointments of Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz mark a decisive shift in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to China. Rubio, tapped as Secretary of State, and Waltz, named National Security Advisor, represent a hawkish approach to international relations, one that sharply contrasts with

Despite warnings from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, MLAs from the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh are reportedly continuing to interfere in liquor and sand businesses. Complaints of intimidation and demands for commissions from business owners have been flooding in, despite Naidu's instructions to refrain from such activities. The new excise policy has also been marred by controversies, with allegations of MLAs obstructing businesspeople from participating in the tender process f

The sudden visit of Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan to New Delhi on Wednesday to meet Union home minister Amit Shah created a lot of buzz in the mainstream as well as social media. The visit assumed significance in the wake of his latest strong comments against his cabinet colleague home minister Vangalapudi Anitha over the failure of law and order and rising crimes in the state. There were reports that Shah had called Pawan Kalyan to Delhi to k

Donald Trump’s recent vow to stop renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind farms, on the first day of his potential presidency has raised alarm bells across the clean energy sector. In a statement that shocked industry leaders, Trump promised to “make sure that ends on day one,” referring to the offshore wind farms that are seen as a key component of the Biden administration’s green energy agenda. The pledge sent ripple effects through the stock market, wi

The possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House in 2024 raises important questions about the future of India-US relations. A second Trump presidency could bring significant shifts across several key areas, including trade, immigration, military cooperation, and broader diplomatic engagement. During his first term, Trump’s “America First” agenda and his transactional approach to foreign policy led to major policy changes such as tariffs on foreign goods

The alarming levels of pollution in Delhi have reached a crisis point, particularly highlighted by the aftermath of Diwali, when the Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to a staggering 999 in several areas of the city and the National Capital Region (NCR). A survey conducted by LocalCircles, which garnered over 21,000 responses from residents across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, revealed that 69% of families report at least one member experiencing health issues related to pollu

In a notable shift in immigration policy, Canada has decided to cut its immigration targets significantly, responding to increasing public concerns regarding the impact of new arrivals on housing and resources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the government will lower its immigration goals from a planned 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025 to 395,000 for 2025 and 380,000 for 2026. This decision follows a recent survey indicating that a majority of Canadians now believe the co

During a compelling interview at the  World Summit, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar shed light on the deteriorating diplomatic relations between India and Canada, which have faced significant strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations regarding India's involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jaishankar criticized what he termed "double standards" in diplomatic treatment, noting that while Canadian diplomat

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has expressed his displeasure regarding the rising complaints about the implementation of the new sand policy in Andhra Pradesh, particularly concerning the availability of sand and the high transportation charges associated with it. In light of these issues, the Mining Department has made a crucial adjustment to the policy. Effective immediately, citizens are now permitted to collect free sand from their nearest reaches and fulfillment points using

As of October 16, the long-anticipated liquor policy of the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has officially launched, marking a significant shift in how liquor is sold in the state. Under this new policy, all liquor shops have been privatized, ensuring that only quality liquor will be sold, alongside the introduction of digital payment options, replacing the cash-only system that was prevalent under the previous YCP government. In an impressive start, new license holders have contri

The Andhra Pradesh government's recent call for tenders for new liquor outlet licenses has led to a significant surge in applications, with nearly 90,000 non-refundable applications received as of October 13. The lottery process to select the winning bids took place on October 14, marking a pivotal moment in the implementation of this new policy. From the 90,000 applications alone, the government has already raised ₹1,800 crore, with each application costing ₹2 lakh. The win

The government of Andhra Pradesh has reached a significant milestone in implementing its new liquor policy. The issuance of liquor licenses has been finalized, generating a remarkable ₹1,797.64 crore in revenue for the state. The government invited tenders for the existing 3,396 liquor outlets across AP, resulting in an astonishing 89,882 applications. Each tender application cost ₹2 lakh, with

Telangana has a vibrant culture that sees liquor sales soar during the Dasara season, and this year has been no exception—setting an unprecedented record. From October 1st to 11th, a staggering 10.4 lakh cases of liquor and 17.5 lakh cases of beer were sold, accumulating sales worth ₹1,057.42 crore. By October 10th, the figures had already reached 836,000 cases of li

In response to a stern warning from the Supreme Court, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has taken decisive action to combat air pollution in Delhi by establishing 'flying squads' to monitor and prevent stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. These squads will coordinate with state anti-pollution agencies, focusing on 16 districts in Punjab and 10 in Haryana, particularly ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. During a recent hearing, Supreme Court Justices

In a significant move, the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has initiated steps to overturn the controversial liquor policy implemented by former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. Under Jagan's regime, all liquor shops were government-run, leading to widespread complaints about poor-quality liquor, inflated prices, and a cash-only payment policy. Starting from October 1 to 9, tenders will be invited for

On Thursday, the government revealed a significant increase in minimum wage rates through the revision of the Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA), aiming to assist workers in managing the rising cost of living. This adjustment will particularly benefit those in the unorganised sector, including workers involved in construction, loading and unloading, cleaning, housekeeping, mining, and agriculture within central sphere establishments. The revised wage rates will be implemented startin

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has proposed a tiered vehicle insurance premium system that would link costs directly to the number of traffic violations recorded against a vehicle. In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Saxena emphasized that this system could incentivize safer driving habits, reduce accidents, and alleviate the financial burden on insurers from frequent claims. Citing alarming accident statistics, including over 4.37 lakh road accidents in 2022, Saxen

The highly anticipated launch of the Apple iPhone 16 series took place today, generating palpable excitement among consumers across India. Long queues formed outside Apple’s flagship stores in major cities like Mumbai and Delhi, as tech enthusiasts and loyal customers eagerly awaited the chance to buy the latest devices. At the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) store in Mumbai, a massive crowd gathered overnight. Customers were particularly interested in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone