Author: Virgin News

New Delhi | December 20, 2024 Tensions flared between ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs and the Opposition INDIA bloc outside Parliament on Thursday over alleged remarks insulting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. A heated confrontation escalated into physical clashes, leaving two BJP MPs injured and prompting mutual police complaints. The BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, used force to enter Parliament, injuring BJP MPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput in the process. Gandhi and other Congress leaders countered, accusing BJP members of “manhandling” and blocking Opposition MPs from entering the building. FIR against…

Ravichandran Ashwin, a towering figure in Indian cricket, announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, marking the end of an illustrious career. The announcement coincided with the conclusion of the third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane, which ended in a draw. Ashwin’s legacy, built on his stellar performances as a bowler and capable batsman, secures him a place among cricket’s all-time greats. Ravichandran Ashwin: A Record-Breaking Journey Ashwin concluded his career as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, with an impressive tally of 537 wickets at an exceptional average of 24 and a strike rate of 50.7.…

In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, India and China have jointly acknowledged the positive outcomes of their disengagement efforts at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This development comes as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi convened for their first boundary talks in Beijing on December 18, 2024. This marked the resumption of the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue after a five-year hiatus, underscoring a renewed commitment to bilateral engagement and peace-building. India and China Affirmation of Disengagement Efforts During the dialogue, both leaders reflected on the importance of learning from the prolonged military standoff at the…

December 19, 2024 | New Delhi Official reports indicate that 79% of rural households across India have gained access to tap water connections, yet over 4 crore rural homes remain without this basic necessity. The Centre has called upon states lagging behind to intensify their efforts in meeting the ambitious targets set under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil acknowledged that the 2024 deadline for universal rural tap water coverage has passed. “Despite substantial progress, there is still a significant gap to fill. Approximately 4 crore households are yet…

Sensex dropped to 79,020.08; Nifty fell to 23,870.30 Updated: December 19, 2024, 12:05 PM IST – Mumbai An employee at a stock trading firm monitors share prices on his computer. | Photo Credit: The Hindu In a significant downturn on Thursday, December 19, 2024, India’s benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced sharp declines during early trading hours. This slump aligns with global market trends following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s announcement suggesting fewer interest rate cuts in the coming year. The 30-share BSE Sensex plummeted by 1,162.12 points, reaching 79,020.08 in the morning session. Simultaneously, the NSE Nifty tumbled by 328.55…

December 19, 2024, 12:00 PM IST – Mumbai Boat Accident: Two individuals, a 43-year-old man and a seven-year-old boy, remain unaccounted for following a tragic collision between a Navy vessel conducting engine trials and a passenger ferry off the Mumbai coast. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon, has left the city grappling with the aftermath of one of its most devastating maritime accidents in recent years. According to Mumbai police, the missing individuals have been identified as Hansraj Bhati, 43, and Johan Mohammad Nisar Ahmed Pathan, 7. Efforts to locate them are ongoing, with extensive search operations being carried…

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has announced an extension of the suspension on futures trading for critical agricultural commodities, now set to last until January 31, 2025. This decision, aimed at controlling food inflation, marks a departure from previous year-long extensions, signalling a possible shift in regulatory strategy. The shorter extension period has sparked optimism among industry stakeholders about the resumption of trading next year. The affected commodities include soybean and its derivatives, crude palm oil, wheat, paddy rice, chickpeas, green gram, and rapeseed. SEBI’s decision was conveyed through a notification issued late on December 18, 2024.…

Five Militants Neutralized in an early morning encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district led to a standoff between security forces and a group of militants. Acting on specific intelligence, security personnel launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kadder village of Behibagh, Kulgam, trapping five militants. The operation began when security forces initiated searches in the area, only to come under fire from the militants. The exchange of gunfire resulted in injuries to two soldiers during the initial clash. Officials confirmed that the five militants have been neutralized, although no bodies have been recovered yet. “Based on credible intelligence, the…

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore will remain aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until at least March 2025 due to a delay in the SpaceX Crew-10 mission. The postponement, caused by the need to complete a new Dragon spacecraft, has extended the astronauts’ time in orbit. Initially, their rotation was expected earlier, but meticulous preparation requirements for the new spacecraft have adjusted the timeline. Steve Stich, who manages NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, highlighted the complexity involved in crafting and testing a Dragon capsule. He commended SpaceX for its commitment to expanding the Dragon fleet to support NASA’s…

India’s extensive road network has been a cornerstone of its economic development, with toll plazas playing a vital role in generating revenue for infrastructure maintenance and expansion. Over the years, these toll collections have become a significant source of income for the government. This article examines the financial implications of toll plaza revenues, the expenditures on road network development under the BJP and Congress regimes, and evaluates which governance model has been more effective for India’s progress. It also explores the proposed GPS-based toll collection model, which could potentially revolutionize toll revenues in the future. Toll Plazas Collections: India’s toll…