PM Modi bats for self-reliant India, hails GST reforms | Top quotes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, i.e., September 21, delivered his address to the nation ahead of the first day of Navratri, coinciding with the implementation of the revised GST rates.
‘Buy swadeshi that carries sweat of our sons and daughter’, PM Modi urges citizens to step towards self-reliant India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday evening, September 21, called on the citizens to promote swadeshi (indigenous) products. He urged citizens to step towards self-reliance by reducing dependence on foreign-made goods.
PM Modi hails ‘GST Bachat Utsav’ as first step of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, know how it will benefit middle class, others
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the implementation of the next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms from September 22, marking what he called a major step towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Addressing the nation ahead of the rollout, PM Modi said the reforms would usher in a countrywide “GST Bachat Utsav,” benefiting poor, middle-class, farmers, traders, and entrepreneurs alike. “From the sunrise of the very first day of Navratri, the nation is taking another important and major step towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Tomorrow, on the first day of Navratri, September 22, along with the rising of Suryadev, the Next Generation GST Reforms will come into effect,” he said.
GST 3.0: THESE lifesaving medicines, drugs to get tax-free’, check full list here
The fresh GST rates with revised slabs, approved by the central government-led GST council, will take effect tomorrow, i.e., September 22, coinciding with the first day of Navratri. Here’s a complete list of lifesaving medicines and drugs that will become cheaper under the ‘two-tier’ tax system.
Piyush Goyal’s sharp jibe at Trump’s H-1B visa fee hike: ‘A bit afraid of…’
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal sharply reacted to US President Donald Trump’s recent order to hike H-1B visa fee to USD 100,000 (Rs 88 lakh). Here’s what he said.
Former Punjab Minister Harmail Singh Tohra dies from prolonged illness
Former Punjab Minister Harmail Singh Tohra died after a prolonged illness. He had been undergoing treatment at Fortis Hospital in Punjab’s Mohali.
Alabama conducts first state-federal checkpoint operations with ICE, detaining over 20 people
In what is reportedly one of the first instances of “checkpoint” operations between the Department of Homeland Security and a state police agency, more than two dozen people were detained within the past several days. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey confirmed to Fox News Digital that she directed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and other cabinet agencies to “work closely with ICE to catch criminal illegals.” Ivey praised ALEA’s work on a particularly lucrative “bust” in Russellville, which saw at least 20 people detained. In a statement to Fox News Digital, ALEA confirmed that operation in which agency troopers conducted drivers’ license checkpoints in Franklin and Colbert counties, where ICE special agents were present. GOP GOVERNOR GREENLIGHTS STATE TROOPERS TO JOIN ICE IN IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN More than one-third of area residents identify as Hispanic, according to census figures, which eclipses the statewide proportion of 6%. ALEA directed Fox News Digital to ICE for immigration-specific data from its collaboration. “Driver license checkpoints occur all over the state and are one of the ways we stop criminals in their tracks, and now, we include ICE agents in these efforts,” Ivey said. The Republican, who is term-limited next year, added that criminal illegal immigrants are not welcome in her state, and that every “tool in the toolbox” will be used to keep residents and visitors safe. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who is hoping to shift from Washington to Montgomery and succeed Ivey next year, said he was glad to see ALEA work with ICE in this way. ALABAMA GOV SIGNS WHAT IS A WOMAN ACT: ‘IF THE GOOD LORD MADE YOU A BOY, YOU’RE A BOY’ “When 77 million Americans voted for President Trump, they sent a clear message: they want mass deportations – and they want them now,” Tuberville told Fox News Digital. The longtime Auburn football icon expressed hope that other states will follow Alabama’s lead and adapt such new cooperative strategies with federal law enforcement to crack down on illegal immigrants and maintain public safety. “[Illegal immigrant] criminals shouldn’t be here in the first place,” Tuberville said. Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter also indicated his support for Ivey’s and ALEA’s work. Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, lamented that there are too many other states where leaders “fight harder for criminals than [for] law-abiding citizens.” In those places, he said, “politics matter more to [elected officials] than public safety … I expect this state and federal partnership to continue yielding positive results.” Birmingham immigration attorney Brett Pouncey told statewide news outlet AL.com that numerous communities are also working with ICE to set up license-checking “roadblocks” – citing reports from his own clients. Russellville community organizer Evelyn Servin told the outlet that police should not be working with the feds, and claimed people in her area may be racially profiled and detained. Throughout the summer, ICE also made two dozen arrests in Baldwin County, home of the famed white-sand “Redneck Riviera” beach towns. Arrests were made at sites in Loxley – along Interstate 10 north of Orange Beach – and Spanish Fort, which lies on the other end of the George Wallace Tunnel from Mobile. The operations led one immigration advocate in that region to suggest immigrants write phone numbers on their bodies to be able to contact family in case they are detained by ICE, according to AL.com. Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for further comment and data.
Memorial service for assassinated Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk draws Trump, major GOP figures
More than 100,000 heavy hearts are set to converge on Arizona’s State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., today to commemorate the life of Charlie Kirk — the fiery young activist who ignited fierce loyalty, sharp, yet civil debate, and whose shocking assassination has left a movement in mourning. Those in attendance at Kirk’s service, which begins at 11 a.m. local time in Glendale, will hear from Republican political heavyweights including President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, close allies, and family members who will pay tribute to the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA. LIVE UPDATES: MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR CHARLIE KIRK Kirk’s widow, Erika, will speak about his legacy and her new role at the helm of the powerful national organization he built. The service is anticipated to be both a moment of mourning and a declaration of continuity, signaling how his movement intends to carry forward without its founder. COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. The gathering was the first stop on TPUSA’s planned “American Comeback Tour,” and, at first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The charismatic Kirk, known for his signature debates on college campuses, sat beneath a white tent emblazoned with the slogan “Prove Me Wrong,” taking open-mic questions from a crowd of thousands. Moments later, a single shot ended his life. SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING In the wake of his death, many Americans are learning for the first time of the unlikely rise of the young activist who vaulted from obscurity in suburban Illinois to become a defining voice for a generation of conservatives and one of the movement’s most formidable power brokers. At 18, Kirk dropped out of community college to co-found Turning Point USA. By his mid-20s, he became the youngest speaker at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and a household name in conservative circles. By 31, he commanded a $95 million political empire, galvanized millions of followers online and established a direct line to Trump. CHARLIE KIRK DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE AND BY 31 BUILT A $95M POLITICAL EMPIRE WITH A DIRECT LINE TO TRUMP His death leaves behind an energetic movement that indisputably reshaped conservative youth politics. With backing from Republican donors like Foster Friess, Kirk turned the scrappy campus operation into one of the fastest-growing conservative nonprofits in America. Today, it’s a political juggernaut — its revenue, according to tax filings, soared from just $2 million in 2015 to $85 million in 2024. Add in revenue from its political action arm, Turning Point Action, and the haul climbs well above $95 million. After his death, TPUSA has seen a massive surge in inquiries for new college chapters as the organization works to advance Kirk’s vision. ‘THIS IS THE TURNING POINT:’ TPUSA SAYS CAMPUS CHAPTER REQUESTS SURGE AFTER KIRK’S ASSASSINATION Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” said the organization has received more than 54,000 requests to establish new campus chapters in the week since the assassination — a surge that would add to its existing network of 900 nationwide. He also told Fox News Digital that he has “personally received hundreds of offers to work” for TPUSA. Kirk’s widow, recently tapped to head the organization, vowed to carry on her husband’s mission in her first public comments since his death. “To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die,” Kirk said on Sept. 12. “I refuse to let that happen. No one will ever forget my husband’s name. And I will make sure of it. It will become stronger. Bolder. Louder and greater than ever,” she added. Kirk said that TPUSA’s annual “AmericaFest” conference in Phoenix this December will continue as scheduled.
Trump to honor Charlie Kirk at Arizona memorial, tens of thousands of young conservatives expected to attend
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk is set to be honored Sunday at a massive public memorial service that will include speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The memorial service for Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 during the first stop of Turning Point USA’s “The American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University, is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors, including senior White House officials and young conservatives influenced by the late 31-year-old. Trump said he would attend Sunday’s memorial in Arizona to honor Kirk, though he admitted “there are no words to really describe what happened.” “He had just an army of young people,” Trump said, describing Kirk’s influence on young conservatives. “They loved him so much. I mean, they’re devastated right now. Everybody is devastated.” LIVE UPDATES: CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL SERVICE TAKING PLACE TODAY AT STATE FARM STADIUM IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded in 2012, released guidelines Saturday night for those attending the service, including a patriotic dress code and a strict no-bag policy. The memorial, titled, “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk,” will begin at 11a.m. local time (2p.m. ET) and is “first come, first served based on stadium capacity,” according to the event website. State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, has fixed seating for 63,400 and can expand to over 73,000 for larger events, according to the venue. CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA Other scheduled speakers include Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, White House advisor Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor. Kirk’s widow and Turning Point’s new CEO, Erika Kirk, is also set to speak. The memorial will be broadcast on Fox News Channel and streamed on Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman and Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
WATCH: Defiant Kash Patel says he’s ‘proud’ to lead FBI after explosive hearing
After facing intense criticism from Democrats during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, embattled FBI Director Kash Patel remained defiant, saying that he is “proud” to lead the nation’s premier investigations agency. Speaking with reporters after the hearing, Patel, who was confirmed to the role by the Senate in late February, touted its historic recruiting efforts, saying that the agency “has the most applicants to become FBI agents and intel analysts in the history of the FBI.” One of the major criticisms he received from Democratic senators during the hearing was for initially misstating on social media that conservative leader Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer was in custody. Patel has conceded that he could have worded his social media post better, but that he does not regret it because he issued it in the name of transparency. ANTIFA AGITATORS DISRUPT BOSTON CHARLIE KIRK VIGIL; 2 ARRESTED Speaking after the hearing, Patel added that “the American people are seeing and hearing what the FBI is doing on a daily basis, crushing violent crime and defending the homeland.” “So, I’m proud to be the director of the FBI that has seen the most significant, expansive application pool in history,” he said. In his opening statement to the committee, Patel listed a series of accomplishments the agency has achieved since President Donald Trump took office, including tens of thousands of arrests, a realignment of the agency and an emphasis on cracking down on illicit drugs. Patel acknowledged the growing criticism over his direction of the FBI and challenged lawmakers on the panel to come after him, saying, “I’m not going anywhere” and “if you want to criticize my 16 years of service, please bring it on.” 58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK Patel was also scrutinized over a wave of firings at the FBI, which some have alleged were politically motivated. Ranking member Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., criticized Patel’s deference to Trump, saying the director “installed MAGA loyalists” to key positions and initiated internal “loyalty tests,” including polygraph tests. Durbin claimed that some FBI officials who failed those tests needed waivers to continue working at the bureau. Durbin also noted that Patel has little experience working in law enforcement, calling his inexperience “staggering” and accusing him of fast-tracking similarly unqualified recruits to fill the FBI’s open jobs. Patel was also grilled by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, for requiring FBI field agents to perform push-ups as part of their physical fitness standards. SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCK DEMOCRATS’ ‘FILTHY’ COUNTEROFFER AS SHUTDOWN DEADLINE LOOMS Hirono expressed concerns that female agents may be negatively impacted by the push-up requirement, saying, “There are concerns about whether or not being able to do these kinds of harsh pull-ups is really required of FBI agents.” Patel responded, “If you want to chase down a bad guy, excuse me, and put him in handcuffs, you had better be able to do a pull-up.” In a particularly tense exchange, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., drilled into Patel, saying, “I think you’re not going to be around long” and “I think this might be your last oversight hearing, because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the Constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term, and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you.” Patel shot back that Booker’s “rant of false information does not bring this country together,” before adding, “It’s my time, not yours.”