As 18th Lok Sabha begins, know salary and perks of MPs
Apart from salary, they also get many types of allowances. Let’s explore the salary of MPs in India.
Why the big debate question is not Biden’s stamina but Trump’s discipline
When you strip away the hype, blather and speculation surrounding Thursday’s presidential debate, the core narrative is this: Can Joe Biden get it done? In other words, can the 81-year-old president, beset by doubts about his stamina and sharpness, be sufficiently cogent and aggressive in a way that transforms the campaign narrative? But I would suggest that may be the wrong question. There’s no way that the president, if he doesn’t wander into the curtains, doesn’t turn in a reasonably strong performance after a week of prep at Camp David. Sure, he could stumble, mix things up or just look frail. ‘NO QUESTION’ BIDEN’S GAINED GROUND AHEAD OF THE DEBATE: HOWARD KURTZ But Biden will clear the absurdly low bar that Donald Trump, Republican allies and conservative commentators have set for him. Dazed, confused, senile, doesn’t know where he is, can’t string two sentences together. That portrayal is so deeply embedded that Trump’s last-minute effort at course correction – suddenly Biden is a “worthy” debater who “destroyed” Paul Ryan in 2012 – is a drop in the bucket. And if Biden just holds his own, most of the media will declare him the winner and insist he shattered expectations. In my view, the larger question of the CNN debate is focused on Donald Trump. There’s now a concerted effort by the anti-Trump media to hammer home the message that the former president is losing it. WHITE HOUSE DOWNPLAYS BAD BIDEN MOMENTS AS FAKE Trump rambles quite a bit at his rallies. In his view, he’s entertaining the crowd with yarns that are often semi-facetious or even self-deprecating. But as his critics see it, Trump, 78, is showing his age through stream-of-consciousness digressions and detours. So with his weekend appearances in Philadelphia, Trump told the tale of a boat owner telling him they can’t switch to electric because the batteries are so large they sink the boats (the conversation may have been real, but the reality is not). And then there was his familiar lament about showers. Trump talked about how much he likes to lather up his beautiful hair because that makes it thicker, and then the water comes out drip drip drip. (I’d wager that the showers at Mar-a-Lago, Bedminister and Trump Tower, at least, provide plenty of pressure.) Still, Trump knows the difference between doing shtick for adoring crowds and handling a debate. He’ll obviously come on strong, as no one questions his energy level. BIDEN TEAM ARGUES THAT ALL UNFLATTERING VIDEOS OF HIM ARE FAKE, BUT THAT’S NOT TRUE But what most people are missing here is his level of discipline. Trump is perfectly capable of turning it on for as long as necessary. I speak from personal experience. When I interviewed the former president for an hour at Mar-a-Lago some weeks ago, he was sharp and substantive. Knowing full well that my audience is more independent, Trump easily fielded questions on abortion, immigration, Israel, indictments, Tik Tok, retribution, law enforcement and other topics–a couple of which had just broken hours earlier. While he got in a few zingers, especially about the 2020 election, he didn’t miss a beat, even about something he’d done in 1985. He acknowledged sometimes using inflammatory language to drive the news cycle. Now I wasn’t under any illusion that he had morphed into a different candidate. Within a couple of days he was dropping hand grenades again. The risk for Trump this week is that he gets irked and hits Biden with below-the-belt shots. But no one thinks he won’t come out swinging. Here’s how I see it unfolding: Biden and Trump both perform fairly strongly. And since the president is the one who’s been pilloried as a doddering old fool, the media, as I said, declare him victorious. But the bigger surprise in the Atlanta studio will be the more disciplined Trump. And he’ll be aided by the lack of an audience and the muted-mic rule, which will keep him from the constant interruptions that marred his first debate in 2020. Oh, Trump seems pretty serious. You know, this is not the Trump I remember. He looks more presidential. That may be the reaction among Republicans or independents who were leaning against Trump but might like the more restrained version. Of course, debates are unpredictable and I could be wrong. But it’s not just Joe Biden who has the ability to present a different persona. Footnote: Both presidents will be rusty, since neither has debated in four years. But Trump has an edge here because he’s constantly doing TV, radio and podcast interviews, enabling him to refine his answers. The incumbent, by largely avoiding journalists and being terse with shouted questions, is unaccustomed to such sparring.
Vande Bharat sleeper train to start trial run by August 15, check route details, top speed to be…
There will be a total of 16 coaches in the Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Among 16 coaches, 10 will be reserved for Third AC, 4 coaches will be for Second AC, and one coach will be for First AC.
Five killed, dozens injured in Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s Pokrovsk
Officials say the town near the eastern front line was hit by two Iskander-M missiles fired 30 minutes apart. At least five people were killed and 41 injured, including four children, after Russia launched two missiles on the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk. “This is one of the largest enemy attacks on civilians recently,” regional Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram. Three girls – aged 9, 11 and 13 – and a 12-year-old boy were injured, he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, said that Ukraine would respond to the attack “in an absolutely fair manner”. Petro, a local, was circling a badly damaged blue car, the driver’s seat soaked with blood. His son had been killed at the wheel and his grandson was taken to hospital. “My son, he is dead already, it’s done,” he said, weeping. Six cars and 16 houses were damaged, and one house was destroyed, Filashkin said. Petro was grief-stricken after his son was killed and his grandson injured in the attack [Alina Smutko/Reuters] Russian troops had launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles at the town, which is about 24km (15 miles) from the front line, he added. The strikes were half an hour apart, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office said. ‘Boom’ The attack left a huge crater, with nearby houses in ruins; their windows blown out and roofs ripped away. The town had a population of about 61,000 before Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Nikolay Kurilov said he was watering flowers in his garden when the first missile landed fewer than 500 metres (about a third of a mile) away. “And boom. I almost fell over,” the 70-year-old told the AFP news agency. “And about 15 minutes later, there was another boom. We started calling relatives.” Over recent weeks, Moscow has concentrated its firepower on Ukraine’s eastern industrial region of Donetsk, which the Kremlin claims is part of Russia. The area around Pokrovsk has seen some of the heaviest fighting along the 1,000km (600-mile) front line in recent months, with the Russians advancing towards the town after capturing Avdiivka in February. “Today, the hottest area is the Pokrovsk direction, where the aggressor continues attempts to break through our defence,” the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on Monday, citing 45 enemy attacks in the vicinity. “The defence forces are taking measures to exhaust the Russian occupation troops and prevent their advance deep into Ukrainian territory.” People injured in the Russian attack receive treatment in hospital [Alina Smutko/Reuters] Separately, Filashkin said a 62-year-old man had been killed in a Russian bomb attack on the town of Kurakhove, south of Pokrovsk. He said Russian forces had also killed a 63-year-old civilian in the town of Toretsk, where Moscow’s troops have stepped up attacks following a protracted lull. Russia claimed to have annexed Donetsk in late 2022, along with three other regions of Ukraine it had partially occupied. Parts of Donetsk have been controlled by Kremlin-backed armed groups since 2014. Adblock test (Why?)
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 851
As the war enters its 851st day, these are the main developments. Here is the situation on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Fighting At least five people were killed and 41 injured, including four children, after a Russian missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, according to Donetsk regional Governor Vadym Filashkin. About 61,000 people lived in Pokrovsk, which is about 24km (15 miles) from the front line, before Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Two people were killed in the northeastern region of Kharkiv when their car hit a Russian antitank mine near the border village of Lyptsi. One man was killed in the southern Kherson region, which is partially occupied by Russian forces, after a Russian-guided aerial bomb attack. Four people were injured after a Russian cruise missile hit a warehouse in the southern port city of Odesa, sparking a fire that spread across 3,000 square metres (3,590 square yards), Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol as the commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine’s Armed Forces after he was accused of incompetence and abuse of power, replacing him with Brigadier General Andriy Hnatov. The Ukrainian military said it registered 715 cases of the use of ammunitions containing “hazardous chemical compounds” by Russian forces in May. Some of the people injured in the Russian attack on Pokrovsk receive hospital treatment [Alina Smutko/Reuters] Politics and diplomacy The Kremlin warned the United States of “consequences” and summoned its ambassador after a Ukrainian attack on Moscow-annexed Crimea killed four people. Russia said the attack was carried out with US-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles and claimed Washington bore responsibility. In response to the Russian claims, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the United States regretted any civilian loss of life and that Russia was to blame for the war. “We provide weapons to Ukraine so it can defend its sovereign territory against armed aggression — that includes in Crimea which, of course, is part of Ukraine,” Miller told reporters. Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said that Ukrainians “make their own decisions”. Zelenskyy told Colonel Oleksii Morozov, the new chief of Ukraine’s state guard, to clear its ranks of people discrediting the service after two of its officers were accused of plotting with Russia to assassinate senior officials. The guard provides security for various government officials. Polish President Andrzej Duda said during a visit to Beijing that he hoped China would “support efforts to strive for a peaceful end to the war waged by Russia in Ukraine,” that respects international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The US said it would help print 3 million new textbooks for Ukrainian primary schools, after a Russian strike destroyed the Faktur-Druk printing house in Kharkiv in May. The European Union imposed sanctions on 61 more companies, including 19 in China, for allegedly providing “dual-use goods and technology”, which could be used by Russia’s defence and security firms to advance its invasion of Ukraine. Others targeted included companies from Russia, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, India, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates. The EU was due to open membership talks with Ukraine on Tuesday at a ceremony in Luxembourg. Weapons The US is expected to announce on Tuesday that it will send an additional $150m in critically-needed munitions to Ukraine. The shipment is expected to include munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armour weapons, small arms and grenades and 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds, two US officials told the Associated Press news agency. Adblock test (Why?)
US screens record 2.99 million air travellers in a single day
US Transportation Security Administration says it expects to screen 32 million people over July 4 holiday period. The United States has set a new record for the number of air travellers screened at airports in a single day. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened 2.99 million airline passengers on Sunday, breaking the previous record set in May, the agency said on Monday. The TSA said it expects traffic to surpass the 3 million mark on Friday, when many Americans start travelling in advance of Independence Day on July 4. The TSA said it expects to screen more than 32 million people from Thursday through Monday, an increase of more than 5 percent compared with the same period last year. “We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “Compared to last year, we have cut our attrition rates by almost half and increased our recruiting as a result of the TSA Compensation Plan that was funded in the budget passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. “The traveling public is on the move, which is a sign of a healthy economy. We are ready, along with our airline and airport partners, to handle this boost in passenger volumes.” This year has seen the TSA record seven of the 10 busiest days in its history, as travel continues to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Adblock test (Why?)
Ayodhya Ram temple roof leaking after heavy showers on Saturday, no drainage system: Chief priest
After the senior officials were informed about the incident of water leaking from the roof, the chairman of the temple construction committee, Nripendra Mishra, reached the temple and gave instructions to repair the roof and make them waterproof, temple trust sources said.
Delhi water crisis: AAP leader Atishi hospitalised after her blood sugar level drops due to hunger strike
Delhi Water Minister Atishi was hospitalised early Tuesday after her health deteriorated due to her indefinite fast to demand water for the national capital amid its ongoing crisis.
Excise Policy Case: HC to pronounce order on ED’s plea challenging bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal today
The ED claims that the trial court’s vacation judge improperly considered the prosecution’s evidence and reached incorrect conclusions in almost every line of the ruling, both legally and factually.
Oakland mayor breaks silence after FBI raid: ‘I have done nothing wrong’
Oakland’s embattled mayor Sheng Thao gave her first public remarks Monday after federal agents raided her home. “I want to be crystal clear. I have done nothing wrong,” Thao said, reading prepared remarks from the podium. “I can tell you with confidence that this investigation is not about me. I have not been charged with a crime, and I am confident I will not be charged with a crime because I am innocent.” Her remarks, carried by FOX 2, come four days after FBI agents carried boxes out of the home she shares with her son and partner as part of an investigation that included searches of two other houses owned by another family. Thao said the timing of the very public raid was “troubling” as it came days after backers of a mayoral recall were informed by the city clerk that they had collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, likely in November. DEMOCRAT CHALLENGER SLAMS BOWMAN’S ‘THEATER OF CONFLICT,’ SAYS PROFANITY-LACED RALLY JEOPARDIZES PARTY ‘UNITY’ Thao derided the recall campaign as a waste of time and resources. She suggested that a handful of billionaires from San Francisco and Piedmont are “hellbent” on running her out of office. “I want to know why the day following the qualification of a recall election, funded by some of the richest people in the Bay Area, seemed like the right day to execute a warrant,” Thao said. Backers of the recall say public safety and economic vitality have worsened under the politically progressive mayor, and that she should not have fired Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong. It appears Thao and her son were home Thursday morning during the raid. She said her first priority was to make sure they were safe. Agents also searched two homes owned by members of the politically influential Duong family that owns the recycling company Cal Waste Solutions. The firm has been investigated over campaign contributions to Thao and other elected city officials, the local news outlet Oaklandside reported in 2020. Before resigning Monday, Thao’s attorney, Tony Brass, said that the Oakland Mayor was not the target of the recent investigation. “Mayor Thao is ready, willing and able to cooperate fully with federal investigators. She has nothing to hide,” Brass said. Brass resigned Monday after Mayor Thao gave a press conference without informing him, per reporting from KRON 4. Thao, 38, took office in 2023. She is of Hmong descent and says she grew up poor. “And when my parents came to this country fleeing genocide, they never could have imagined that their daughter would one day be mayor of Oakland. I am my ancestors’ wildest dream,” she said. “And I am your mayor: Mayor Sheng Thao.” Fox News Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi and The Associated Press contributed to this report.