Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has passed away, AIIMS Delhi announced on Thursday night.
The 92-year-old statesman was brought to the hospital’s emergency department earlier in the evening in critical condition following a “sudden loss of consciousness,” according to the hospital authorities.
After the shocking NYC subway burning incident on December 22, 2024, Valentina Gomez stirred further outrage with a highly controversial and disturbing video she posted on X. In the video, Gomez, a Colombian-born American political activist, called for the public execution of undocumented immigrants who commit violent crimes against Americans. She shockingly simulated the killing of a migrant, presenting it as a form of “proof” of her defiance against the political establishment. This dangerous message quickly went viral, igniting a firestorm of backlash from across social media platforms.
The video was an appalling display of violent rhetoric. In it, Gomez endorsed the gruesome idea of executing immigrants accused of violent crimes, simulating the act as if it were a bold political statement. “This is my defiance of the establishment,” she claimed, as if promoting such extreme violence against a group of people was justified by her own political beliefs. The video’s release quickly gained attention, with many social media users condemning her for inciting hatred and division while also calling attention to the disturbing, unhinged tone of her messaging.
Gomez’s video was nothing short of inflammatory. She framed her message as a rejection of what she perceives to be a “weak” political establishment. However, rather than addressing the complexities of the immigration debate, she chose to spread harmful, oversimplified, and dangerous ideas. The outrage was swift and widespread. Social media users quickly took to their platforms to condemn her, pointing out the fatal flaws in her argument and the sheer recklessness of her message.
One user commented, “Instead of dividing people by labels of colour, nationality, or origin, why can’t we unite in the simple truth of good vs. evil? Who is keeping humans divided? I wonder…” The comment highlighted the central issue with Gomez’s rhetoric: her attempt to oversimplify complex societal problems and weaponize division. Another user remarked, “Okay, we’re not gonna start executing people and become the same evil. This is not the way, even if we are at our ends.” This response reflected the growing alarm over her call to violence, emphasizing that such actions only perpetuate the same kind of evil they claim to fight.
Valentina Gomez, born on May 8, 1999, in Medellín, Colombia, moved to the United States in 2009, settling in Jersey City, New Jersey, with her family. Over the years, she has made a name for herself as a real estate investor, financier, and political activist. Her professional career includes roles in the financial sector, notably with Nestlé, where she focused on financial optimization and strategic planning. She has also gained recognition as a real estate strategist, handling multimillion-dollar investments.
Despite these professional achievements, it is Gomez’s increasingly controversial political activism that has captured the public’s attention. Beyond her corporate endeavours, Gomez co-founded Fundación Flor de Mayo, a nonprofit organisation that provides over 1,200 children in Colombia with access to education, sports, and cultural activities. However, her recent political endeavours have been marked by provocative and inflammatory actions that have earned her both support and condemnation.
In 2024, Gomez entered the political arena by launching her campaign for Missouri Secretary of State. Her campaign quickly became a spectacle of controversy, largely due to her inflammatory rhetoric and provocative actions. One of the most shocking moments of her campaign came when she posted a video in which she urged voters not to be “weak and gay” while running through a historically LGBTQ+ neighbourhood in St. Louis. This crude and insensitive gesture was meant to attack what she sees as the “liberal establishment,” but instead, it drew widespread outrage for its homophobic overtones.
Gomez also posted videos of herself burning LGBTQ+ books with a flamethrower, vowing to ban such books if elected. This act of destruction was seen as not only reckless but also as a direct attack on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ individuals. The videos sparked widespread condemnation and further fuelled the perception of Gomez as a far-right extremist.
Despite the media attention these actions garnered, Gomez’s campaign ended in failure. She secured only 7.4% of the vote in the Republican primary, finishing sixth out of eight candidates. Her political career, at least for the time being, was cut short. Nevertheless, Gomez’s notoriety did not fade. She remains a polarising figure, continuing to use social media to express her controversial views and promote her far-right ideologies.
On December 22, 2024, the horrific NYC subway burning incident took place at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, New York. A woman was tragically set on fire while sitting on a stationary F train. The assailant, identified as 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen Sebastian Zapeta, allegedly approached the victim, who appeared to be dozing, and set her clothes ablaze using a lighter. Despite immediate attempts by nearby police officers and subway workers to extinguish the flames, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surveillance footage captured the chilling moments of the attack, showing Zapeta calmly setting the woman on fire before sitting on a bench and seemingly watching her burn. The brutal and senseless nature of this crime sparked outrage across the city and beyond. Public officials, including Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYC Mayor Eric Adams, condemned the attack as a horrific and senseless act of violence, pledging to ensure justice for the victim.
The incident has further fueled concerns about public safety, particularly within the New York City transit system, which has been plagued by rising violence in recent years. Advocacy groups have called for stronger security measures and increased police presence to protect commuters. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has pledged to review safety protocols and cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
In light of the NYC subway burning incident, Gomez’s video calling for executions and advocating for such extreme measures has sparked outrage for all the wrong reasons. Her rhetoric, filled with hate and violence, presents a dangerous precedent. Instead of addressing the root causes of crime, immigration issues, and public safety with thoughtful and responsible dialogue, Gomez chooses to advocate for brutal, inhumane solutions that only serve to further divide society.
Gomez’s extreme far-right views have already caused significant harm to political discourse, and her recent video has only deepened the divide. While she continues to promote these divisive, toxic messages on social media, it is clear that her controversial actions and inflammatory rhetoric have crossed a dangerous line. Her call for public executions and the simulation of migrant killings are not only morally reprehensible but also a direct incitement to violence.
Valentina Gomez’s controversial rhetoric and actions have revealed a deeply troubling trend in political discourse. Through inflammatory language, provocative stunts, and dangerous calls for violence, Gomez has shown that she is willing to do whatever it takes to capture attention, even if it means inciting hatred and division. The tragic NYC subway incident and her subsequent video are just the latest examples of the growing influence of extremist voices in politics. If such rhetoric continues unchecked, the consequences could be dire, leading to further polarization and violence in an already fractured society.
Gomez’s brand of far-right politics may have garnered her a degree of notoriety, but it has also exposed the dangers of promoting violence as a political tool. Her calls for execution and her divisive messaging are not only irresponsible but also put lives at risk. It is crucial that we confront this toxic rhetoric and work toward healing the divides in our society, rather than exacerbating them with dangerous ideologies.
A 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, police said.
According to police, the incident occurred late on Tuesday night when the victim left home in an autorickshaw after a dispute in the family.
Mantu Yadav (19) and Amit Prajapati (22) allegedly lured the girl and raped her.
Based on a complaint filed by the girl’s father, a case was registered against the accused under relevant sections of the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station Rakesh Singh confirmed the incident and said, “Both accused, Mantu Yadav and Amit Prajapati, were arrested on Wednesday. Further investigation is underway.”
Unincorporated sector enterprises witnessed a 10.01 per cent increase in employment to over 12 crore during the year ended September 2024, while the number of establishments rose 12.28 per cent to 7.34 crore, according to a government survey.
The survey, which covers unincorporated non-agriculture sector enterprises, showed gross value added (GVA) grew 16.52 per cent during the October 2023–September 2024 period.
These findings form part of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) for 2023-24 for the reference period—October 2023–September 2024—referred to as ASUSE 2023-24, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Tuesday.
The sector employed more than 12 crore workers between October 2023 and September 2024, marking an increase of more than one crore workers from 2022–23 and reflecting robust labour market growth.
The total number of workers employed increased to 12,05,99,800 in ASUSE 2023-24 from 10,96,26,000 in ASUSE 2022-23.
Among the broad activities, the “Other Services” sector showed the highest annual growth of 17.86 per cent, followed by 10.03 per cent by the manufacturing sector.
The percentage of female-owned proprietary establishments has increased from 22.9 per cent in 2022–23 to 26.2 per cent in ASUSE 2023-24.
This trend indicates a positive shift in the participation of women in business ownership, highlighting an increase in female entrepreneurship over the given period, it stated.
In ASUSE 2023-24, data were collected from a total of 4,98,024 establishments (2,73,085 in rural and 2,24,939 in urban) from 16,842 surveyed FSUs (8,523 in rural and 8,319 in urban).
ASUSE 2023-24 has been conducted based on area frame and establishments have been listed in the selected FSUs of both rural and urban sectors.
Mostly, data were collected from the selected establishments through oral enquiry pertaining to the ‘monthly’ reference period, barring a few big establishments, which had provided annual data from their audited Books of Accounts.
The data for the survey were collected in Tablet using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).
The percentage of establishments using the internet has also grown significantly from 21.1 per cent in 2022–23 to 26.7 per cent in ASUSE 2023–24.
This substantial growth reflects a strong trend toward digital adoption among establishments, highlighting the increasing reliance on the Internet for business operations.
The average emolument per hired worker also increased by 13 per cent in 2023-24 compared to the previous year 2022-23, signalling improvements in wage levels.
This wage growth serves as a catalyst, strengthening the labour market, enhancing productivity, and fuelling broader economic demand.
The highest increase in this metric was observed in the manufacturing sector with a growth of little more than 16 per cent.
The total number of establishments in the sector increased substantially from 6.50 crore in 2022–23 to 7.34 crore in 2023–24, representing a healthy 12.84 per cent growth.
Among the broad sectors covered, the number of establishments in the “Other Services” sector recorded a growth of 23.55 per cent, followed by a 13 per cent increase witnessed by the manufacturing sector.
This significant increase highlights consistent sectoral expansion and reinforces the sector’s critical role in driving the overall growth of the unincorporated sector, the report stated.
During the same period, the Gross Value Added (GVA), a key indicator of economic performance, rose 16.52 per cent, driven by a 26.17 per cent growth in the other services sector.
Gross Value Added (GVA) per worker, a measure of labour productivity of the sector, increased to Rs 1,49,742 in 2023-24 from Rs 1,41,769 in 2022-23 in current prices, showing a 5.62 per cent increase.
During the same period, the Gross Value of Output (GVO) per establishment also increased from Rs 4,63,389 to Rs 4,91,862 in current prices.
The unincorporated non-agricultural sector plays an important role in the Indian economy, contributing significantly to employment, gross domestic product, and the overall socio-economic landscape.
This sector not only sustains livelihoods for millions but also acts as a backbone for the incorporated sector by supplying goods and services, reinforcing its role in the domestic value chain.
ASUSE is carried out with the primary objective of measuring various economic and operational characteristics of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments in manufacturing, trade and other service sectors (excluding construction).
The survey collects data on various economic characteristics of this sector, including the number of workers, GVA, emoluments paid, fixed assets owned, and outstanding loans; besides, different types of operational characteristics, such as type of ownership, nature of operation, registration status, use of ICT, etc.
The data serves as a key input for policy-making, supporting National Accounts Statistics, fulfilling the requirements of ministries, such as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME), Textiles, Labour & Employment, and empowering stakeholders to make informed, data-driven decisions.
The survey has been conducted following a multi-stage stratified sampling scheme, where first-stage units (FSUs) are census villages in rural areas (except for rural Kerala, where Panchayat wards have been taken as FSUs) and UFS (Urban Frame Survey) blocks in urban areas.
The ultimate stage units (USUs) are establishments for both sectors. In the case of large FSUs, one intermediate stage of sampling has been done in the form of hamlet groups in rural and sub-blocks in urban.
The Delhi government’s Women and Child Development and Health departments issued public notices on Wednesday distancing themselves from the ruling AAP’s promised schemes of providing Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment for the elderly, triggering a fresh row ahead of assembly polls.
The two departments also cautioned the people against providing personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration for “non-existent” schemes, saying any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms or information is “fraudulent and without any authority”.
The development, which came days after AAP leaders launched the exercise of registering people for the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana with much fanfare, left the AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal furious.
Kejriwal, who is leading the registration drive, alleged that the BJP was rattled by the two schemes and claimed that Chief Minister Atishi could be arrested in a “fake” case in the coming days.
“They are completely rattled with Mahila Samman Yojna and Sanjeevani Yojna. They have hatched a plan to come up with a fake case and arrest Chief Minister Atishi in the next few days,” he said on X.
He also claimed that before Atishi’s arrest, raids would be conducted against senior AAP leaders.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj had on Tuesday claimed that she spoke to the health secretary of the Delhi government and was informed that there was no “Sanjeevani Yojna” in existence.
Both the schemes were announced by Kejriwal ahead of Assembly polls in February next year and AAP had started registrations for the schemes in campaign mode. Its leaders are confident that the measure will help woo voters as many believe that such schemes were a factor in the ruling parties retaining power in several state elections.
“It has been brought to the notice of the Department of Women and Child Development, through media reports and social media posts, that a political party is claiming to disburse Rs 2100 per month under Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana to women in Delhi.
“It is clarified that no such scheme has been notified by the Government of Delhi,” said the public notice by the department.
If and when the scheme begins, the department will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit their applications online as per the approved guidelines, it said.
Since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms for registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise, read the notice.
“Any private individual/ political party collecting such physical forms/applications or collecting information from applicants under the name of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana is fraudulent and without any authority,” it said.
The notice cautioned the people that providing personal details and sensitive information like PAN account numbers, phone numbers or Voter ID, in the name of the scheme may lead to crime including cyber and banking frauds.
It advised people not to entertain the “misleading” promise of non- non-existent scheme and to exercise caution and asked them not to provide personal details to unauthorised persons.
The Mahila Samman Yojna was announced by the AAP government in the budget 2024-25 to provide Rs 1000 per month to all eligible women aged above 18 in Delhi. Kejriwal recently promised to raise the amount to Rs 2100 per woman if AAP returned to power.
The Health and Family Department public notice similarly cautioned the people about “Sanjeevani Yojna” announced by the AAP supremo for free treatment of senior citizens above 60 years at government and private hospitals.
It has also come to the notice of the department that a registration drive to get enrolled under this scheme by filling up physical forms has also been started by some political functionaries and volunteers who are visiting door to door to collect information from elderly citizens and handing over to them some sort of “Health/Sanjeevani Scheme Card”.
The notice said details of senior citizens like phone numbers, addresses, Aadhar and bank accounts were being sought for the registration and many of the elderly people have started visiting government hospitals and government offices to enquire about the scheme.
The notice said the Health and Family department does not have any supposed “Sanjeevani Scheme” in existence till date.
“Any private individual/political party collecting such physical forms/ applications or collecting information of applicants under the name of “Sanjeevani Yojna” is fraudulent and without any authority,” read the notice clarifying the department has not authorised any health officials to collect personal details of the elderly.
The Pakistan government and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, in their maiden meeting on Monday, agreed to continue talks to address contentious issues, including the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
The long-anticipated talks between the committees representing the government and the PTI were chaired by the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who had last week announced to facilitate the two sides in their effort to defuse the prevailing political tension.
Those who attended from the government side include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s political aide Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, former premier Raja Parvez Ashraf, former minister Naveed Qamar, lawmaker Farooq Sattar and Privatisation Minister Aleem Khan.
PTI was represented by former speaker Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and Senator Raja Nasir Abbas.
Sadiq thanked the government’s leadership and senior leaders of the opposition for holding the talks. He announced that the next session would be held on January 2 and PTI’s team would present a charter of their demands in the next meeting.
“We discussed things about past and present and I hope that if we work together for the country’s betterment, it will strengthen the political stability, strengthen democracy and help in dealing with challenges faced by Pakistan,” he said after the meeting.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui read out the communiqué regarding the talks that both sides described the talks as a positive development and emphasised the importance of keeping the negotiations ongoing.
Both committees expressed goodwill, saying that Parliament is the appropriate forum for resolving issues, the handout said.
PTI’s Qaiser informed the members that several members of his committee could not attend due to court proceedings.
It was agreed that both sides stand united in the fight against terrorism. A tribute was also paid to the martyrs for their sacrifice. There was also a declaration of support for standing alongside the forces in the war against terrorism.
The talks began amidst the ongoing political tension between the government and PTI as the latter was demanding the release of all political leaders, including Imran Khan.
An anti-graft panel in Bangladesh has launched an investigation against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family in connection with the allegations of embezzling USD 5 billion in the Rooppur nuclear power plant, according to a media report.
Indian companies are participating in constructing the Rooppur nuclear power plant which is being built by Rosatom, Russia’s state-run corporation, in Bangladesh.
The first Bangladeshi nuclear power plant, the Russian-designed Rooppur, is being built 160 km west of the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka.
Along with Hasina, her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Tulip Siddiq, her niece and the UK’s Treasury minister, were also questioned, BDNews reported on Sunday.
There are accusations of embezzling USD 5 billion in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, the report added.
The development came two days after the High Court issued a rule asking why the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) inaction over an alleged transfer of USD 5 billion from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project to a Malaysian bank by Hasina, Joy, and Tulip should not be declared illegal, the report added.
According to ACC documents, the allegations of corruption in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project were brought to light by Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM).
Hasina, 77, has been living in India since August 5 when she fled the country following a massive student-led protest that toppled her 16-year regime.
Her sister Rehana accompanied her. Joy resides in the US, while her niece Tulip is a member of the British parliament.
Bangladesh-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide”.
They are also named in multiple murder cases filed in connection with the demonstrations.
Five soldiers were killed when a vehicle carrying them skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Tuesday evening, sources said.
The accident occurred in the Gharoa area when an Army vehicle was on its way to Banoi in the district, they said.
The vehicle plunged into a deep gorge, approximately 300-350 feet deep, resulting in serious injuries to 8-9 jawans, they added.
The Army and police teams rushed to the spot for rescue operation, sources said.
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday appointed IAS officer Anbalgan P industries secretary and civil servant Harshdeep Kamble general manager of Mumbai civic transport undertaking BEST as it effected a reshuffle in the bureaucracy with the transfer of 12 officers.
Anil Diggikar, a 1990-batch IAS officer who was GM, Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Divyang Kalyan Department, Mantralaya (state secretariat) in Mumbai, according to an official statement.
Kamble, a 1997-batch officer who was principal secretary (industries), industries, energy and labour department, will replace Diggikar at BEST. Anbalgan, a 2001-batch bureaucrat and Chairman and Managing Director, MAHAGENCO, will succeed Kamble, it said.
Radhakrishnan B, a 2008-batch officer and joint secretary to the Chief Minister, will be the new chairman and managing director of MAHAGENCO, the state-run power generation company.
Collector of Gadchiroli district Sanjay Daine has been named Commissioner (Textile) and posted in Nagpur.
Rahul Kardile, collector of Wardha, has been transferred and appointed the new commissioner of the Nashik Municipal Corporation. Vanmathi C, joint commissioner (state tax), will succeed Kardile in Wardha, according to the statement.
Sanjay Pawar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chandrapur Zilla Parishad, will replace Vanmathi. Avishyant Panda, Commissioner (Textile), Nagpur will be the new Gadchiroli district collector. Vivek Johnson (IAS-2018 batch) will take the place of Pawar in Chandrapur, it informed.
Annasaheb Dadu Chavan, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Pune Division, has been moved to Mumbai where he will take over as Mahtma Phule Jiavandai Arogya Yojna Society CEO. Gopichand Murlidhar Kadam (promoted to IAS cadre from state civil service) has been posted as CEO of Smart City, Solapur, the statement added.
The legal proceedings in the Pooja Khedkar case have triggered widespread debate across Maharashtra and the nation. Khedkar, a former IAS probationer, allegedly secured her position through fraudulent means, exploiting quotas meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and persons with disabilities. The allegations have raised serious concerns about the misuse of reservation policies and the integrity of public administration.
Khedkar was selected for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) through the 2022 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination under quotas for disadvantaged groups. Investigations revealed that she falsified her eligibility by submitting fabricated certificates. It was discovered that Khedkar neither belonged to the OBC category nor qualified as a person with disabilities. Following these revelations, the Delhi Crime Branch registered an FIR based on a complaint from the UPSC.
Khedkar’s petition for anticipatory bail was denied by both the Patiala House Court and the Delhi High Court. On December 23, 2024, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh of the Delhi High Court highlighted the gravity of the allegations, describing Khedkar’s actions as a betrayal of public trust. The court stated, “Her conduct undermines not only the UPSC but society at large,” and emphasised the necessity of custodial interrogation to uncover the extent of the fraud and identify other conspirators.
The case underscores the vulnerabilities in India’s reservation system, designed to provide equitable opportunities for marginalised groups. By allegedly exploiting these provisions, Khedkar jeopardised the credibility of the UPSC and deprived deserving candidates of opportunities. The High Court’s ruling reflected this, stating that the alleged actions constituted a “serious betrayal of the principles of fairness and equality.”
In her defence, Khedkar denied the allegations, asserting the authenticity of her documents. She claimed to be targeted for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a senior official. To support her disability claim, she presented a hospital certificate diagnosing her with an “old ACL tear with left knee instability.” However, both the Delhi Police and the UPSC countered these claims, maintaining that her custody was essential for a thorough investigation.
The case has reignited debates on the effectiveness of current verification mechanisms for reservation benefits. Civil society organisations and policymakers have called for stricter checks to prevent misuse. Public outrage has been fuelled by reports that Khedkar’s affluent and well-connected family may have facilitated the production of fraudulent certificates.
In September 2024, the Union Government dismissed Khedkar from her probationary position, reflecting its commitment to addressing breaches of trust in public service. Justice Singh’s ruling emphasised the judiciary’s role in maintaining accountability and transparency, underscoring the importance of upholding democratic principles.
The Pooja Khedkar case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing India’s reservation system. It highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms to prevent similar abuses and ensure that affirmative action policies fulfil their intended purpose. As investigations continue, restoring public trust in the UPSC examination process and the reservation system remains a critical priority.
