THE HEADLINES:
- Parliament approves WAQF (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aiming to streamline management of Waqf properties.
- Parliament adopts Statutory Resolution confirming imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand today.
- Global stocks sink after US President Donald Trump announces sweeping new tariffs.
- In IPL Cricket, Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 80 runs in Kolkata.
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Parliament has passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 with the Rajya Sabha approving it in the wee hours today. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar announced that the bill has been approved with 128 members voting in favour of it while 95 members voting against the legislation.
The Rajya Sabha held discussion on the Bill for around 12 hours. The Lok Sabha has already approved the Bill.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties, with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare. The legislation also aims to improve governance by enhancing transparency in property management, streamlining coordination between Waqf Boards and local authorities and protecting stakeholder’s rights.
Replying to a debate on the bill, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said crores of poor Muslims will be benefited from this legislation and in no way it harms any single Muslim. He said, the legislation does not interfere in the Waqf properties. He said, the Narendra Modi government works with the vision of Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas and it does not discriminate against any community.
Earlier while moving the bill, the Minority Affairs Minister said the bill has been brought after a detailed consultation with the stakeholders as well as in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. He urged the opposition parties to support this bill.
While participating in the debate, Union Minister and Leader of the House, JP Nadda hoped that the House will support UMEED- Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development. He added that the basic aim of this Bill is to bring in reforms and proper management of Waqf properties.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge opposed the Bill and demanded the government to withdraw it. He said that there are shortcomings in the bill and it is against the Constitutional norms.
JD(S) chief HD Devegowda congratulated the Narendra Modi government for bringing the Bill. He said Waqf properties have been misused by people who are rich or strong enough in the community.
Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged this Bill is not in the favour of the nation. Samajwadi Party’s Dr Ram Gopal Yadav claimed the country is moving towards a totalitarian state instead of a democratic state.
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said the bill is not unconstitutional as it integrates every minority communities.
The Parliament also gave its approval to the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025 which repeals the Mussalman Wakf Act 1923, with the Rajya Sabha approving it.The Lok Sabha has already given its nod to the Bill.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Chaudhary has termed the Waqf Amendment Bill historic, saying that Muslims will be hugely benefitted from the bill.
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The Parliament has adopted a Statutory Resolution confirming imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur with the Rajya Sabah giving its nod early this morning. The Statutory Resolution is related to the Proclamation issued by the President on the 13th February this year under article 356(1) of the Constitution in relation to Manipur. The Lok Sabha has already approved it.
Replying to a debate on the Resolution, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that since November last year, no violence was reported in Manipur. He also rejected the opposition’s allegation that the President’s rule was imposed in the State due to the failure in handling the situation.
Earlier initiating a discussion on the resolution, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Government of being failed in controlling the violence in Manipur.
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Parliament has passed the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025 with the Lok Sabha approving it yesterday. Rajya Sabha has already passed the bill. The bill seeks to provide for protection of interests in aircraft objects. It also seeks to implement the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment, each signed at Cape Town in 2001.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand today. The theme of the BIMSTEC Summit is “BIMSTEC – Prosperous, Resilient and Open.” The Bangkok Vision 2030 will be adopted at the Summit, and the Report of the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group will also be endorsed to chart the future direction of BIMSTEC. Our correspondent has filed this report:
“BIMSTEC brings together seven countries located in Bay of Bengal – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Bay of Bengal is the heart of the Indian Ocean Region. BIMSTEC is the only regional organization, which brings together five countries from South Asia and two countries from Southeast Asia. BIMSTEC represents a significant share of the global population, GDP and external trade. India is one of the four founding members of BIMSTEC. India’s close bilateral relations with other BIMSTEC member States enable India to play a leading role in forging regional cooperation. BIMSTEC signifies the confluence of 3 key strands of India’s foreign policy – Neighbourhood First Policy, Act East Policy and SAGAR. Suparna Saikia, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
Prime Minister Modi reached Bangkok on a two day visit to Thailand yesterday. He held bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The two leaders reviewed the entire range of bilateral cooperation between India and Thailand. They discussed ways to further strengthen political exchanges, defence and security partnership, strategic engagement, trade and investment and people-to-people ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a bilateral meeting with Senior General of Myanmar, Min AungHlaing, in Bangkok. Following the BIMSTEC Summit, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Sri Lanka later today in the second leg of his two nation tour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok. In a social media post, Mr. Modi described his meeting with him as delightful. He added that Mr. Shinawatra has extensive experience in matters relating to governance and policy making.
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Veteran actor and director Manoj Kumar passed away in Mumbai this morning. He was 87. The legendary Bollywood actor was well-known by his nickname ‘Bharat Kumar’ for his patriotic films. He was a recipient of prestigious Padma Shri and Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his immense contribution to Indian cinema for decades.
Born as Harikrishna Giri Goswami, Kumar has shaped the narrative of patriotic movies in Bollywood and has delivered classics like Upkar (1967), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), and Kranti (1981). His on-screen persona as a patriotic hero earned him the moniker ‘Bharat Kumar’. His unforgettable performances and charismatic on-screen presence left an indelible mark.
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Global stocks have sunk, a day after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs that are forecast to raise prices and weigh on growth in the United States and abroad. The Wall Street Journal reported the US market had lost 2.7 trillion dollars in market cap. We have a report:
“The S&P 500, which tracks 500 of the biggest American firms, plunged 4.8 percent- its worst day since Covid crashed the economy in 2020. Earlier in the day financial markets fell from Asia to Europe. Nike, Apple and Target were among big consumer names worst hit, all of them sinking by more than nine percent. The STOXX Europe 600 index fell 2.7 percent and a 2.8 percent drop in Tokyo’s benchmark led losses in Asia. The Dow Jones closed about 4 percent lower, while the Nasdaq tumbled roughly 6 percent. Earlier, the UK’s FTSE 100 share index dropped 1.5 percent and other European markets also fell. Oil prices sank more than 2 US dollar a barrel. The World Trade Organization said it was deeply concerned, estimating trade volumes could shrink as a result by one percent this year. WITH MOINUDDIN KHAN’S REPORT, VISHNU PS, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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In IPL Cricket, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 80 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last night. Today, Lucknow Super Giants will lock horns with Mumbai Indians at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The match will start at 7.30 PM.
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The 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship is set to kick off today at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. The tournament, which is scheduled to run until 15th of this month, will follow a new division-based format, similar to the Senior Women’s Championship held in March. On the first day, Hockey Rajasthan will face Tripura Hockey, Hockey Arunachal will take on Hockey Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh Hockey will play Hockey Gujarat and Hockey Himachal will face Hockey Association of Bihar.
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In Bihar, the four-day Chaiti Chhath Puja celebrations concluded this morning with Pratahkalin Arghya or morning oblations to the rising Sun. Devotees across the state offered prayers to the Sun God and Chhati Maiya at different Chhath ghat on the banks of rivers in the deep waist water. Lakhs of devotees thronged to different Chhath ghat on the banks of rivers like Ganga, Gandak, Kosi and other prominent rivers to offer prayers.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- “Rajya Sabha clears Waqf (Amendment) Bill; will go for President’s assent”, reports The Asian Age.
- “US declares trade war; Higher levy for China, Silver lining for India” as Trump announces 27 percent reciprocal tariff on all goods imports from India and many other countries, is a top front page headline in Hindustan Times.
- “It’s advantage India in smartphone manufacturing” with the new US tariff announcement, says The Times of India.
- The Tribune reports about a move after the row over burnt notes at a judge’s house under the headline “All Supreme Court judges to declare assets amid chorus for judicial accountability.”
- And Finally, “Delhi’s Old Secretariat may soon be heritage site” writes The Pioneer about the 115-year old secretariat in the National Capital which hosted meetings of the first Parliament of independent India and presently the seat of Delhi assembly.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Parliament approves WAQF (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aiming to streamline management of Waqf properties.
- Parliament adopts Statutory Resolution confirming imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand today.
- Global stocks sink after US President Donald Trump announces sweeping new tariffs.
- In IPL Cricket, Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 80 runs in Kolkata.
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