Junior Digest

Churachandpur, Sep 13,2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured the people of Manipur that he and his government are ‘’with them’’ and appealed for peace saying the land of courage and strength must once again become the land of hope.

Addressing the people of the state, especially the tribal people in hill districts of the state, he said that while recent violence has deeply affected lives, hope is knocking at the doors of Manipur.

The Prime Minister, who met displaced families staying in relief camps, said that the government at the Centre stood firmly with the people of Manipur.

“I appeal to all organisations to walk the path of peace and ensure the future of their children. I promise, I am with you. The Indian government is with you,” he said.
He also underlined the cultural vibrancy and resilience of the state, adding that Manipur’s sentiment, courage and affection were unforgettable and that he bows his head in gratitude before the people.

Emphasising his government’s commitment to development, Modi recalled that in the last decade the state has seen unprecedented investment in connectivity, infrastructure, health and education.

He noted that road and rail projects worth thousands of crores have transformed access across hills and plains, with Rs 3,700 crore already spent on national highways and another Rs 8,700 crore worth of work underway. Rail connectivity alone has seen an investment of Rs 22,000 crore, while Imphal airport has been upgraded at a cost of Rs 400 crore.

He said that the efforts to improve the lives of the people have touched every household, from 60,000 new homes and free electricity for more than one lakh families to 3.5 lakh households now getting drinking water under the Har Ghar Jal scheme.
The health sector, which had long been neglected, is also undergoing change with a medical college set up in Churachandpur and advanced facilities coming up in five hill districts. A special package of Rs 3,000 crore, including Rs 500 crore for displaced families, has been announced to help Manipur get back on its feet.

The Prime Minister stressed that more than 500 villages are currently witnessing development works, with particular focus on empowering tribal youth and women. He said Manipur is a symbol of peace, prosperity and progress, and the government will continue to stand with displaced families until they return to their homes and rebuild their lives.

He also laid the foundation for 19 projects worth Rs 7,300 crore and expressed confidence that in the coming years Manipur would shine as a true jewel of the Northeast.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 12,2025: The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration outlining “tangible, time bound, and irreversible steps” towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of a meeting of world leaders.

The seven-page declaration is the result of an international conference at the U.N. in July – hosted by Saudi Arabia and France – on the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the event.
A resolution endorsing the declaration received 142 votes in favor and 10 against, while 12 countries abstained.

The vote comes ahead of a meeting of world leaders on September 22 – on the sidelines of the high-level U.N. General Assembly.
The declaration endorsed by the 193-member General Assembly condemns the attacks against Israel by Palestinian militants Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.
It also condemns the attacks by Israel against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, siege and starvation, “which have resulted in a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the resolution secured the international isolation of Hamas.
The resolution was supported by all Gulf Arab states. Israel and the United States voted against it, along with Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga.
The declaration endorsed by the resolution says the war in Gaza “must end now” and support the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission mandated by the U.N. Security Council.

The United States described the vote as “yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt” that undermined serious diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

“Make no mistake, this resolution is a gift to Hamas,” U.S. diplomat Morgan Ortagus told the General Assembly. “Far from promoting peace, the conference has already prolonged the war, emboldened Hamas and harmed the prospects of peace in both short and long term.”

Israel, which has long criticized the U.N. for not condemning Hamas by name for the October 7 attacks, dismissed the declaration as one-sided and described the vote as theater.

“The only beneficiary is Hamas …When terrorists are the ones cheering, you are not advancing peace; you are advancing terror,” Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and about 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 64,000 people, also mostly civilians, have since been killed during the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

WASHINGTON, Sept 13,2025: Group of Seven nations’ finance ministers discussed in a call on Friday further sanctions on Russia and possible tariffs on countries that they consider “enabling” its war in Ukraine, as the U.S. called on its allies to impose tariffs on purchasers of Russian oil.

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne chaired the G7 meeting, which was held to discuss further measures to increase pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine, according to a statement from Canada, the head of the rolling G7 presidency.
The ministers agreed to speed up discussions to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense, and discussed a “wide range of possible economic measures to increase pressure on Russia, including further sanctions and trade measures, such as tariffs, on those enabling Russia’s war effort,” the statement said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told finance ministers during the call that they should join the U.S. in imposing tariffs on countries that purchase oil from Russia, Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a separate statement following the meeting.

“Only with a unified effort that cuts off the revenues funding Putin’s war machine at the source will we be able to apply sufficient economic pressure to end the senseless killing,” Bessent and Greer said.
Bessent and Greer welcomed commitments made during the call to increase sanctions pressure and explore using immobilized Russian sovereign assets to benefit Ukraine’s defense, according to the joint statement.
Earlier in the day, a U.S. Treasury spokesperson called on G7 and European Union allies to impose “meaningful tariffs” on goods from China and India to pressure them to halt their purchases of Russian oil.
President Donald Trump has imposed an extra 25% tariff on imports from India to pressure New Delhi to halt its purchases of discounted Russian crude oil, bringing total punitive duties on Indian goods to 50% and souring trade negotiations between the two democracies.

But Trump has refrained from imposing additional tariffs on Chinese imports over China’s purchases of Russian oil, as his administration navigates a delicate trade truce with Beijing.

Bessent is due to travel to Madrid on Friday for another round of talks with his Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, that will cover trade issues, Washington’s demands for Chinese-owned TikTok to divest its U.S. operations, and anti-money laundering issues.

Kathmandu [Nepal], September 11,202: The death toll from the ongoing Gen Z protests in the Kathmandu Valley has climbed to 31, The Kathmandu Post reported, citing officials from the Department of Forensic Medicine at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, where the deceased have been brought for postmortem examinations. As per The Kathmandu Post on Wednesday, so far the identities of 25 victims have been preliminarily confirmed.The remaining six individuals, five men and one woman, are yet to be identified.Moreover, over 1000 people were injured in the protest across the region. Meanwhile, the wife of Former Nepalese PM Khanal is currently in a critical condition after an arson attack that took place during the violent demonstrations across the country, The Kathmandu Post reported.Despite earlier reports stating that she was killed in the arson attack, Ravi Laxmi Chitrakar, the wife of former PM and senior CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhala Nath Khanal, is in critical condition after suffering severe burns.As per The Kathmandu Post, Chitrakar was admitted to Kirtipur Hospital on Tuesday following the incident, which occurred when demonstrators set fire to her residence in the Dallu area of Kathmandu while she was still inside.
Negotiations are also on between the Nepalese Army, Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel, and representatives of Gen Z youth to determine the leadership of an interim government amid ongoing political unrest, The Himalayan Post reported.According to The Himalayan Post, citing sources, the Gen Z protest leaders have chosen Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as their unanimous nominee for the interim Prime Minister position.The talks will begin between Karki’s team and the Army leadership, including Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel, and may proceed to the President’s Office at Sheetal Niwas depending on how the situation unfolds.Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ has also voiced his support for Karki, strengthening her standing as the agreed-upon candidate of the Gen Z movement.
The protests began on September 8, 2025, in Kathmandu and other major cities, including Pokhara, Butwal, and Birgunj, following the government’s imposition of a ban on major social media platforms, citing concerns over tax revenue and cyber security.Curfew was imposed in several cities, including Kathmandu, to control the situation, which will continue till Friday morning, as per a statement issued by the Nepalese Army.Protesters have been demanding an end to “institutionalised corruption and favouritism” in governance. They want the government to be more accountable and transparent in its decision-making processes. Public frustration deepened further when the “Nepo Babies” trend on social media exposed the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, highlighting the economic disparity between them and ordinary citizens.

New Delhi/Kathmandu, Sep 10,2025: Army took control of Nepal security today after two days of debilitating political turbulence that left 21 people dead and more than 300 injured and saw residences of prominent Ministers either torched or vandalised forcing Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and four of his cabinet colleagues to resign.

Capital Kathmandu witnessed semblance of normalcy after Army took over the security and an uneasy calm prevailed. However, the scars of two days of unbridled violence by the youth, described as Gen Z protestors, were quite visible with torched and vandalised residences and smoke billowing out from some areas.

Nepal’s Parliament building and the Supreme Court were set on fire by the protestors and there were reports of a meeting between Nepal’s President, the Army and Gen Z leaders.
India issued an advisory asking Indians in Nepal to stay indoors and not move around. Several Indian airlines have also stopped flights to and from Kathmandu while security on the Indo-Nepal border has been tightened.

The Gen Z were protesting against corruption and the government’s ban on 26 social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp etc. Although the government removed the ban on social media platforms the first day itself, violence did not stop.
The violence was the outcome of years of frustration and suppressed anger among younger generation against the children of Nepalese elite—described as ‘Nepo kids’–who flaunted their expensive belongings while the common people lived in poverty.

The cycle of violence was triggered on September 6 when hours after ban on social media, an eleven year old school student was hit by a Minister’s vehicle in Lalitpur. The Minister’s vehicle drove away abandoning the school child. The Prime Minister reportedly described it as a ‘’normal incident’’ and promised to cover the student’s medical expenses only. This fuelled the already simmering anger among the youth (Gen Z).
The violence escalated with hundreds of ‘Gen Z’ protestors setting fire to the residences of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and several other leaders yesterday. Prime Minister Oli resigned ‘’to pave way for the constitutional solution of the current crisis.’’ Minister for Water Supply Pradeep Yadav, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Ram Nath Adhikari and Sports Minister Tejulal Chaudhary also submitted their resignations. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak had resigned on Monday.

Residences of several high profile politicians were vandalised, including those of Prime Minister Oli and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The protesters also vandalised and set on fire the house of Energy Minister Deepak Khadka.
India said it is closely monitoring the developments and expressed hope that restraint will be exercised and all issues addressed through peaceful means and dialogue. Indian nationals were advised to exercise caution and stick to the guidelines issued by the Nepali authorities.

The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement “We are closely monitoring the developments in Nepal since yesterday and are deeply saddened by the loss of many young lives…As a close friend and neighbour, we hope that all concerned will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue….Indian nationals in Nepal are advised to exercise caution and adhere to the steps and guidelines issued by the Nepali authorities.”

Amid the escalating violence security forces moved Nepalese leaders to safe locations by helicopter.
Curfew was imposed in many parts including capital Kathmandu and Lalitpur. However, protestors defied the curfew and barged into the Singha Durbar. Domestic flights came to a standstill while reports said the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu was partially closed.

Several countries Including United States, Australia, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea and UK have expressed sadness over the violence and loss of lives. In a statement they said, “We are deeply saddened by the violence seen in Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal today, including the tragic loss of life and injury during demonstrations. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims, all those affected, and wish those injured a swift and full recovery.”
They also expressed support and solidarity for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. “Our governments reaffirm our strong support for the universal rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”

The countries also urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid further escalation, and ensure that fundamental rights are protected, according to the statement.

UN Secretary General said in a statement that security forces “must comply with the basic principles on the use of force”. “The United Nations is obviously following the situation with a lot of concern. It’s critical that the authorities, the government, protect and respect the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

New Delhi, Sep 9,2025: Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today unveiled the UPI-UPU integration project at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai.
It is a landmark initiative set to transform cross-border remittances for millions worldwide.
This initiative, developed by the Department of Posts (DoP), NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and the Universal Postal union (UPU), aims to integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UPU Interconnection Platform (IP).
Addressing the event, the minister called it “ more than a technology launch, but a social impact.”
“The reliability of the postal network combined with the speed of UPI means families across borders can send money faster, safer, and at much lower cost. It reaffirms that public infrastructure built for citizens can be linked across borders to serve humanity better,” the minister said.
Scindia highlighted India’s vision for a modern, inclusive postal sector, anchored in four verbs.
“To connect through seamless data-driven logistics; to include by delivering affordable digital financial services to every migrant and digital enterprise; to modernise with AI, DigiPIN and machine learning; and to cooperate through South-South partnerships with a UPU-backed technical cell.”
Highlighting India Post as a powerful example of scale and inclusion, under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India, the minister added, “ With Aadhaar, Jan Dhan and India Post Payments Bank, we have opened over 560 million accounts, most in women’s names. India Post delivered over 900 million letters and parcels last year. This is the scale and spirit of inclusion we bring to the global stage.”
The Minister also announced financial support, committing 10 million dollars during this cycle to channel technology into innovation, with special focus on e-commerce and digital payments.
Taking forward the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’, he reiterated how India stands ready with resources, expertise, and friendship.
Scindia also announced India’s candidature for the Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council of the UPU.
Concluding his address, the minister said, “ India comes to you not with proposals, but with partnership. We believe in resilience, enabling interoperable solutions that avoid costly fragmentation, and in trust, linking payments, identity, addressing, and logistics so that global commerce becomes seamless.”

Paris, Sep 9,2025: Nearly nine months after the toppling of his predecessor Michel Barnier, France has again plunged into a new political crisis following the defeat of Prime Minister François Bayrou at a confidence vote in the National Assembly on Monday.
Bayrou’s fate was sealed after he unveiled his plan for a confidence vote late last month, when leaders from the far-left France Unbowed, far-right National Rally and centre-left Socialist Party all announced they would vote to bring down the government.
The defeat – by 364 votes to 194 – means that Bayrou will on Tuesday present his government’s resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who must now decide how to replace him.
Macron’s office said this would happen “in the coming days”, reports BBC.
The options before Macron include naming a new prime minister from the centre-right; pivoting to the left and finding a name compatible with the Socialist Party and dissolving parliament so new elections are held.
France is thus on its way to getting a fifth prime minister in less than two years. Before Bayrou, previous prime minister Michel Barnier was toppled in December last year.
Bayrou’s fall came after he supported his government on an emergency confidence debate on the question of French debt.
There was no sign that Bayrou’s warnings have had any impact on parliament or on France as a whole.
Deputies from the left and hard-right accused him of trying to mask his own and Macron’s responsibility in bringing France to its current state.
He warned of the “existential” threat to France if it did not start to tackle its €3.4 trillion liability.
In a budget for 2026 he proposed to scrap two national holidays and freeze welfare payments and pensions, with the aim of saving €44 billion.
Party after party made quite clear they saw Monday’s vote as an opportunity to settle accounts with Bayrou – and through him Macron.
In absence of any majority in the National Assembly, Bayrou saw the left and hard-right uniting against him – and his fate was sealed.
In his speech beforehand, Bayrou made clear that he had his eyes set more on history rather than politics, telling MPs that it was future generations who would suffer if France lost its financial independence.
“Submission to debt is the same as submission to arms,” he said, warning that current debt levels meant “plunging young people into slavery”.
“You may have the power to bring down the government. But you cannot efface reality,” he said.
Bayrou’s warnings have had a significant impact on parliament or on France as a whole, with deputies from the left and hard-right accusing him of trying to cover his own and Macron’s responsibility in bringing France to its current state.
While, the polls showed that few regard debt control as a national priority, as opposed to the cost of living, security and immigration.
A movement calling itself Bloquons Tout (Let’s Block Everything) has promised a wave of sit-ins, boycotts and protests against Macron’s policies from this Wednesday.
The need for financial restraint comes as Macron promises extra funds for defence, and as opposition parties demand the repeal of the latest pension reform that raised the retirement age to 64.
Bayrou took over from Michel Barnier last December after Barnier failed to get his budget through the Assembly.
There are speculations that Macron would turn now to a left-wing prime minister, having failed with the conservative Barnier and the centrist Bayrou.
However the Socialist Party says it wants a total break from Macron’s pro-business policies as well as a repeal of the pension reform.
It therefore seems likely Macron will look initially to another figure from within his own camp, with Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin and Finance Minister Éric Lombard all said to be in the running.
Among the probable candidates, Lecornu is widely expected to become the next PM.
The 39-year-old politician is the only minister to have remained in government since President Macron was first elected in 2017, outlasting countless reshuffles and a snap election.
Over the past seven years, Lecornu has established his credentials as a loyal Macron ally, honing a political style that chimes well that of the president — in particular his engagement with local-level politics.
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Washington DC [US], September 8,2025: US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a final ultimatum to Hamas as 48 hostages continue to remain in captivity. In a sharply worded post on Truth Social, the US President said that Israel has accepted his terms and it is about time Hamas accepts it as well. Trump said that he has warned Hamas about the consequences and called his message the “last warning”, underscoring that there will not be another one. “Everyone wants the Hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end! The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”According to a report by the Times of Israel, of the 48 hostages in Gaza — roughly 20 of whom are believed to be still alive.Times of Israel reported that soon after Trump’s statement, Hamas, in a carefully worded statement said that it “is ready to immediately sit at the negotiating table to discuss the release of all prisoners in exchange for a clear declaration to end the war, a total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and creation of a committee of independent Palestinians to run the Gaza Strip.”According to the Times of Israel, the statement said, “Hamas welcomes any move that helps the efforts to stop the aggression against our people,”. The statement affirmed that it received “some ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire”, Times of Israel said and further reported that Hamas said of being in “constant contact with the mediators to turn these ideas into a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands.”Notably, the remarks by the US President come shortly after on Saturday, CENTCOM’s Admiral Brad Cooper concluded his visit to Israel where he held a situational assessment along with Israel’s Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir. CENTCOM is responsible for “defending and promoting U.S. interests in 20 nations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and the strategic waterways that surround them”, as described by the official website of the US government. The official statement by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said, “In the situational assessment, they discussed the current operational picture and the plans going forward. In addition, Admiral Cooper toured the communities near the Gaza Strip”. The statement noted that Admiral Cooper’s visit focused on the operational cooperation between the IDF and the U.S. military, maintaining regional stability in both nearby and distant arenas, and strengthening joint efforts to address the challenges and threats in the region.

Lalitpur [Nepal], September 8,2025: The CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) has expressed serious disagreement with the agreement between India and China to use Nepal’s Lipulekh for trade.Endorsing the special document that concluded on Sunday, the UML has called on both countries to withdraw from the arrangement.The party has urged the Nepalese government to resolve the issue through high-level diplomatic initiatives and assert Nepal’s rights over the region east of the Kali River. This was included in a 28-point contemporary proposal passed by the policy convention.
The proposal highlighted Prime Minister and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli’s disagreement over the Lipulekh trade route agreement during his China visit from August 30 to September 3, noting that “this stance elevated Nepal’s international standing.” It also cited bilateral and multilateral engagements during the trip that enhanced the country’s visibility abroad.India and China have agreed to reopen border trade through Lipulekh Pass, a point located 56 kilometres inside Nepal’s western frontier in Limpiyadhura. The agreement was made during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India in August. Both countries made the agreement during a meeting between the Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Point nine of the joint communique mentions the resumption of border trade. “Both sides agreed to the re-opening of border trade through the three designated trading points, namely Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass and Nathu La Pass.”Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had objected to the agreement of India and China to open a trade route via Lipulekh, asserting a claim over the land. Issuing a statement, the Ministry asserted claims over the land, objecting to the unilateral move by China and India.
Responding to the release by Nepal’s Foreign Ministry, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected Kathmandu’s claim and reiterated that trade through the route existed for decades.The statement released by Randhir Jaiswal, the Spokesperson for the MEA, claimed that the trade had been disrupted in recent years due to COVID and other developments, and both sides had now agreed to resume it. On Nepal’s territorial claims, Jaiswal said such claims were “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence,” describing them as “untenable.”
Earlier in 2020, Nepal amended its constitution, incorporating a new political and administrative map in the preamble of the constitution. The new map included the tri-junction of Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh, which has remained a disputed area between Nepal and India. Nepal’s updated map, prepared incorporating the missing territories, was submitted to the Ministry of Land Management by the Department of Survey, which claims to have taken accurate scale, projection and coordinate system. It was publicly released on 20 May 2020 after a go-ahead signal from the Cabinet meeting on 18th May of the same year.The department has collected a map drawn during the Treaty of Sugauli, another brought from London, receipts of payment of land revenues and the order issued by the then Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher, as evidence to claim the land belongs to Nepal.The earlier map issued in 2032 BS had left Gunji, Nabhi and Kuri villages, which have now been included in the recently revised map, adding 335 square kilometres of land.Tensions had flared between New Delhi and Kathmandu in 2020 after the issuance of a political map by Nepal in mid-May, including the tri-junction, which India had earlier included in its November 2019 map.Diplomatic ties between the nations severed further after the inauguration of road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh on May 8, 2020 after which Nepal handed over diplomatic note to India objecting the move.Prior to the handover of the diplomatic note, Nepal also had strongly objected to India’s unilateral move to construct the road. Nepal said it has “consistently maintained” that as per the Sugauli Treaty (1816), “all the territories east of Kali (Mahakali) river, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipu Lekh, belong to Nepal.”The Indian Defence Ministry had said the Border Road Organisation (BRO) in Uttarakhand has connected the Kailash Mansarovar route to the Lipulekh pass, which will provide connectivity to border villages and security forces.
India and China discussed the Lipulekh pass for the first time in a decade, following the 2015 visit to China by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During Modi’s visit, then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang agreed to expand trade via Lipulekh. The joint statement issued on May 15, 2015, included the agreement in point 28.The 2015 decision triggered strong protests in Nepal as the agreement was reached without its consultation, despite the pass lying within Nepali territory. The Nepal government formally objected at the time, sending diplomatic notes to both countries.With India and China working to improve strained relations following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, both sides have once again agreed to open trade through Lipulekh. Nepal’s official map includes Lipulekh within its territory.In 2023, China released a new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura as part of India, further complicating the dispute.

WASHINGTON, Sept 6,2025: The United States is not talking about regime change in Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Friday, as the United States ordered an additional 10 stealth fighter jets to a military buildup in the Caribbean.
“We’re not talking about that, but we are talking about the fact that you had an election which was a very strange election, to put it mildly,” Trump said, referring to the contested 2024 election the Venezuelan government says President Nicolas Maduro won.
Trump had been asked by reporters about a claim Maduro has made this week that the United States was seeking “regime change through military threat.”
“The government of the United States should abandon its plan of violent regime change in Venezuela and in all of Latin America and respect sovereignty, the right to peace, to independence,” Maduro said on state television.
“I respect Trump. None of the differences we’ve had can lead to a military conflict,” Maduro added. “Venezuela has always been willing to converse, to dialogue.”
Trump demonstrated his new approach to fighting the drug war with a U.S. military strike on Tuesday that killed 11 people and sank a boat from Venezuela which Trump said was transporting illegal narcotics.
The U.S. president is weighing options for further strikes, including potentially attacking suspected drug cartel targets inside Venezuela, CNN reported on Friday, citing multiple sources briefed on the administration’s plans. Such a strike would mark a major escalation.
‘THEY’LL BE SHOT DOWN’
The Trump administration has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to a Puerto Rico airfield to conduct operations against drug cartels, sources told Reuters on Friday.
The new deployment comes on top of an already bristling U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean as Trump carries out a campaign pledge to crack down on groups funneling drugs into the United States.
The disclosure about the F-35s came just hours after the Pentagon accused Venezuela of a “highly provocative” flight on Thursday by fighter jets near a U.S. Navy warship.
Trump warned Venezuela that the U.S. military had authorization to shoot down the jets if commanders believed they needed to, saying: “If they do put us in a dangerous position, they’ll be shot down.”
At every turn, the Trump administration has sought to tie Maduro’s government to narco trafficking, allegations Caracas denies.
Specifically, Trump has accused Maduro of running the Tren de Aragua gang, which his administration designated a terrorist organization in February. Maduro has denied any connection to Tren de Aragua, which his government says was rendered inactive in Venezuela by a prison raid in 2023.
Trump on Friday compared the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans in overdoses to war dead, as he sought to justify the muscular military activity in the Caribbean.
“Think if you’re in a war and you lose 300,000 … We’re not going to allow it to happen,” he said.
Venezuela’s Communications Ministry did not respond to a request for comment about the F-35s or the allegations that Venezuelan fighter jets flew over a U.S. warship.
DEMOCRAT CONDEMNS ‘LAWLESS’ ACTS
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity about the latest U.S. deployment, said the 10 fighter jets are being sent to conduct operations against designated narco-terrorist organizations operating in the southern Caribbean. The planes should arrive in the area by late next week, they said.
F-35s are highly advanced stealth fighters and would be effective in combat against Venezuela’s air force, which includes F-16 aircraft.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two Venezuelan F-16s flew over the guided missile destroyer Jason Dunham on Thursday. The Dunham is one of at least seven U.S. warships deployed to the Caribbean, carrying more than 4,500 sailors and Marines.
U.S. Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit have also been carrying out amphibious training and flight operations in southern Puerto Rico.
The buildup has put pressure on Maduro, whom U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called “effectively a kingpin of a drug narco state.”
U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, condemned what she called Trump’s “lawless” actions in the southern Caribbean.
“Congress has not declared war on Venezuela, or Tren de Aragua, and the mere designation of a group as a terrorist organization does not give any President carte blanche to ignore Congress’s clear Constitutional authority on matters of war and peace,” Omar said in a statement.
U.S. officials have not clearly explained what legal justification was used for Tuesday’s air strike on the boat or what drugs were on board.
Trump said on Tuesday, without providing evidence, that the U.S. military had identified the crew of the vessel as Tren de Aragua members.

New Delhi, Sep 5,2025: Industrialist Harsh Goenka has slammed White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro for his casteist remark on Indian billionaires that ‘Brahmins’ were profiteering at the expense of common Indians.

Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG enterprises, posted on X “ Dear Peter Navarro, India’s boardrooms aren’t run by Brahmins. Tata? Not Brahmin. Reliance ? Not Brahmin. Mahindra? Not Brahmin. Wipro? Not Brahmin. Birla? Not Brahmin.”

“But India’s soldiers, scientists, poets? Many were. From Param Vir Chakra heroes to Nobel minds like CV Raman, S Chandrasekhar, and Tagore. Unlike some others who are trying to lobby for the Nobel prize, our Brahmins got their prize only through merit,” Goenka said while taking a dig at US President Donald Trump for lobbying for Nobel Prize.

Earlier this week, Navarro accused India of being an ‘Oil money laundromat for the Kremlin’ and claimed that Brahmins were profiteering at the cost of ordinary Indians. The remark was slammed as casteist, racist, and misplaced.

However, Navarro himself got trapped after commenting ‘Brahmins are profiteering’ due to once popular ‘Boston Brahmins’ in US who were the members of Boston’s historic upper class.

The term ‘Boston Brahmin’ was coined by author Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in 1861, which was used to describe a small, exclusive group of Anglo-Saxon protestant families who traced their lineage back to the earliest English Colonialists of Massachusetts Bay.

Navarro’s remark blurred two worlds: India’s caste hierarchy and America’s old “Boston Brahmins,” a wealthy Protestant elite. But Goenka’s response today cut through the noise. Reminding Navarro that India’s strength lies not in stereotypes, but in the achievements of its people.

Goenka signed off as ‘An Indian (Not a Brahmin)

NEW DELHI, Sept 4,2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled tax cuts for hundreds of consumer items, from soap to cars, in the biggest overhaul of the goods and services tax (GST), set to take effect from September 22.
Here are key highlights:
MAJOR CHANGES
India will have two key tax rates of 5% and 18% from September 22, versus four now. A new tax slab of 40% will apply to high-end goods, but all additional levies above that are to be abolished, bringing down effective tax rates on mid-size and big cars.
REVENUE LOSS, INFLATION IMPACT

The government estimates the cuts will cause revenue loss of 480 billion rupees ($5.5 billion), far lower than economists’ estimate ranging from 1 trillion rupees to 1.8 trillion rupees.
India’s retail inflation rate fell in July to its lowest in eight years.
TAX CUTS ON DAILY ITEMS
A tax panel approved lower GST of 5% on items of everyday use such as packaged food, medicines, toothpaste, fruit, milk products, talcum powder and shampoo, against 12% to 18% now.

It will abolish tax on individual life and health insurance products sold by companies such as LIC
The government has cut taxes on items such as cars, TVs and even cement, which could boost sales during the festival season that typically runs from the last week of September until November. India’s tax panel also cut GST on air conditioners, ambulances, dishwashers, three-wheelers and hybrid vehicles.
The tax panel also lowered the effective tax for big cars to 40% from the current rate of as much as 50%, making cars from Mercedes-Benz , AUDI and BMW, opens new tab attractive. GST on EVs was kept at 5%, giving relief to carmakers such as Tata Motors (TAMO.NS), opens new tab and Mahindra & Mahindra after a panel recommended an increase.
Government lowered taxes on fertiliser and tractors to help lower costs for farmers, recently come in the spotlight as Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to protect them following a breakdown in India-U.S. trade talks.

New Delhi, Sept 3,2025: The Government has issued new exemption rules under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, through a Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, has come into effect from September 1, 2025, and introduces significant changes to immigration policy, exemptions, and penalties.

As per the order, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan will not require a passport, visa or other travel documents to enter India through land borders shared with these countries or to return to their home nations from India.
However, They will not be entitled to any exemption if they enter India via China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan or travel from India to these countries.

Tibetan nationals who entered India after 1959 and before May 30, 2003, and are already residing in the country with proper registration and a valid Registration Certificate, will be exempt from the provisions of the new Act.

Tibetans who entered India after May 30, 2003, via the India-Nepal border with a special entry permit issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu will also be eligible for the exemption.
Individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who entered India from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh due to religious persecution or fear of persecution on or before December 31, 2024, will be granted exemption under the new rules.

Registered Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who sought asylum in India by January 9, 2015, will continue to be exempt from the Act for the duration of their stay.

A separate Gazette notification outlines the roles of state and central governments in the implementation of the Act. While state governments will be primarily responsible for enforcement, the central government reserves the right to amend or revoke any state-issued orders.
All foreign nationals will be required to enter and exit only through designated immigration checkpoints.

The third notification has fixed the penalty amounts for violations of the rules and has also specified the names of the officials authorized to impose these fines. A fine of Rs 5 lakh will be imposed for entering India without valid documents.

For overstaying beyond the validity of the visa or permit — up to 30 days overstay is Rs 10,000 fine; 31 to 90 days overstay is Rs 20,000 fine; up to 180 days overstay the fine is Rs 50,000; up to 1 year overstay Rs 1 lakh fine and Rs 3 lakh fine for over 1 year overstay.

Tianjin/New Delhi, Sept 1,2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today underlined India’s vision for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), framing it around three pillars: Security, Connectivity and Opportunity (SCO).
Speaking at the SCO plenary session in Tianjin, Modi called on member-states to act against terrorism without double standards, ensure sovereignty in connectivity projects, and work together for economic progress.

With Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in attendance, PM Modi raised the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, stressing that India has been facing the scourge of terrorism for over four decades. “Recently, we saw the worst side of terrorism in Pahalgam. I express my gratitude to the friendly countries that stood with us in this hour of grief,” he said.
Calling terrorism a “shared challenge for humanity,” the PM said it must be condemned in all its forms, adding that “some countries openly support terrorism,” in an indirect reference to Pakistan. He also highlighted India’s consistent stand against the funding of terror networks.
On regional connectivity, the Prime Minister sent a strong message linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) without naming it directly. “Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty loses trust and meaning. Connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty of nations,” he said.
PM Modi also urged reforms in the United Nations, pointing out that global institutions must reflect current realities. He highlighted India’s economic progress and reform agenda, stressing that the SCO should create opportunities for growth and cooperation.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) currently has 10 member states — India, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In addition, the grouping includes several dialogue partners and observer states.
India, which became a full member of the SCO in 2017 after holding observer status since 2005, has actively contributed to the organisation’s agenda. It chaired the SCO Council of Heads of Government in 2020 and the SCO Council of Heads of State from 2022 to 2023.