Shops, restaurants and cafes in Egypt have been told to close early as part of a raft of temporary measures to combat soaring energy prices caused by the Iran war. Retail and dining premises will have to close by 21:00 (19:00 GMT) each night for the next month, beginning on Saturday.Shops
As temperatures rise across India this summer, a quiet shift is taking place on plates and menus alike. Diners are rethinking what a ‘complete meal’ looks like by opting for lighter, cooler, yet nutritionally balanced options that align with both climate and lifestyle
Dhurandhar 2 Box Office Collection Day 10 Worldwide: Ranveer Singh aka Hamza, continues to rule the box office globally with Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge. The film has now surpassed the lifetime earnings of Prabhas' Kalki 2898 AD ( ₹1,042.25 crore) and Yash's KGF Chapter 2 ( ₹1,215 crore)
Karnataka MLAs finally get free tickets to watch Indian Premier League (IPL) tomorrow at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. After a state-wide stir over the free tickets, the wish of “VIPs" is fulfilled by the Congress-led state government. As per a report by India Today
India and Russia are boosting technological ties. The Indo-Russia Innopraktika Technology Hub has partnered with Indian academic institutions. This collaboration will establish a state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Satellite Laboratory
P Chidambaram questions timings of GST reforms: ‘Welcome but…'
P Chidambaram questions timings of GST reforms by Modi Govt: ‘Welcome but 8 years too late’
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has welcomed the Centre's recent GST rationalisation and rate cuts but criticised the move as being "8 years too late".
In a post on X, Chidambaram, the former Union Finance Minister, said the current GST design and rates should not have been introduced in the first place, adding that the opposition had repeatedly warned against these issues for years, but their pleas were ignored.
"The GST rationalisation and the reduction in rates on a range of goods and services are WELCOME but 8 years TOO LATE. The current design of GST and the rates prevailing until today ought not to have been introduced in the first place. We have been crying hoarse for the last 8 years against the design and rates of GST, but our pleas fell on deaf ears," the Rajya Sabha member wrote.
Chidambaram questioned the government's timing for the reforms, speculating on the possible reasons behind the sudden changes while suggesting that multiple economic and political factors that may have influenced the decision after eight years of delay, including the tariffs imposed on Indian goods to the US, as well as elections in Bihar that are to be held later this year.
"It will be interesting to speculate on what drove the government to make the changes: Sluggish growth? Rising household debt? Falling household savings? Elections in Bihar? Mr Trump and his tariffs? All of the above?" he added.
Victory for common people: TMC
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) also reacted strongly, describing the GST rate rollback as a "victory for common people" achieved after sustained pressure on the government.The party highlighted Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's earlier stand on insurance premium taxation, which West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee had criticised as "cruel" and "anti-people".
It further slammed the BJP-led NDA government for being "tone-deaf" and only acting "when cornered".
"A victory wrested from a tone-deaf regime that only listens when forced. From day one, Smt. @MamataOfficial warned the Finance Minister that taxing insurance premiums was cruel, anti-people, and would deter families from securing their future, leaving them vulnerable to financial ruin in times of crisis. The @narendramodi Govt. has finally buckled under pressure. This rollback proves that @BJP4India only acts when cornered. We will continue to fight every such Jono-Birodhi decision, in Parliament, on the streets, among the people," the TMC said in a statement on X.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a sweeping reduction in GST, which will benefit households, farmers, businesses, and the healthcare sector.
Termed as the "Next-Gen GST Reform", the decision comes as a Diwali gift to the nation and is expected to ease the cost of living while boosting economic activity.
The 56th GST council meeting decided to rationalise GST rates to two slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent by merging the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates.
(With ANI inputs)
Source: LiveMint
Related Posts: Iran supreme leader admits thousands killed during recent protests Senior Bihar Congress leader Ashok Kumar joins JD(U) Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi starts two-day tour of poll-bound Assam Trump welcomed at Ryder Cup amid partisan atmosphere Modi’s G7 invite by Canada welcomed by industry In West Bank, Palestinian recognition welcomed despite fears of Israeli annexation BJP leaders welcomed Middle East Sheikhs but watched Sufi shrine vandalism with glee Chidambaram's 26/11 ‘US Pressure’ Remark Sparks Congress Infighting ISRO gets ready for one of its busiest times in recent memory Candidate lists OnlyFans as ‘recent experience’ for a director-level job role
Indian stock market: The Indian stock market closed the week on a subdued note, extended its losing streak for a fifth straight week, as rising volatility driven by shifting global cues and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East
7 hours ago
The president of the Maldives has formally told the UK that it does not recognise the deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. President Mohamed Muizzu's office told the BBC the Maldives had expressed its opposition to the "deeply concerning" deal in two written objections and a phone
7 hours ago
Amid the ongoing Iran-US-Israel war, US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that Iran’s top leadership has been wiped out, deepening uncertainty over who is in charge in Tehran during the ongoing war. Speaking publicly, Trump said Iran’s supreme leader is no longer alive and suggested that
7 hours ago
Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi asserted that Iran's regime transition will be orderly, emphasizing the need for its complete removal. He credited US military operations, "Midnight Hammer" and "Epic Fury," for weakening the establishment and eliminating key figures and capabilities
7 hours ago
There may be 80 days before England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Texas, but this international break has been widely seen as last-chance territory. A final opportunity to mould a team capable of competing in this summer's tournament - and for any players hoping to force their
7 hours ago
Loan Rule Changes 2026: In a move aimed at improving transparency and borrower convenience, the Reserve Bank of India has introduced several new rules effective from 2026. These changes will impact loan borrowers, jewellers, and bank account holders across India
7 hours ago
Key takeaways:Discount & Offers: The iPhone 16 Pro price drops below Rs 60,000 through a combination of instant bank discounts (~Rs 4,000) and exchange offers up to Rs 68,000, mainly on online platforms.Key Features: Features a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, A18 Pro chip
7 hours ago
Rakesh Bedi says Jameel Jamali from Dhurandhar 2 isn’t his first acclaimed role, cites this Kamal Haasan filmRakesh Bedi is gaining stupendous recognition for his role as Jameel Jamali in Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge also starring Ranveer Singh. Mar 29, 2026
7 hours ago
Every day, food scraps disappear into trash bags, are hauled away and forgotten. But that waste could be turned into something productive. Across the United States, about 97 million metric tons of food waste are discarded each year, of which about 37 million metric tons end up buried in landfills
7 hours ago
Shah Rukh Khan praised Mohit Suri for keeping Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda away from spotlight before Saiyaara's releaseFilmmaker Mohit Suri recalled how Shah Rukh Khan praised the promotional strategy of Saiyaara at Siddharth Anand's Diwali party. Mar 29, 2026
7 hours ago
PDP MLA Waheed Para voiced serious concerns regarding security for political leaders in Kashmir. He highlighted the eviction of Mehbooba Mufti from her official residence and reduced security for leaders like Tariq Karra and Sajad Lone. Para described these actions as an 'attempt to murder' and a
7 hours ago
There are no reported dry-out at LPG distributorships and online LPG cylinder bookings increased to 91 per cent on industry basis yesterday, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. New Delhi: government on Saturday said that more than 54 lakh LPG refills were delivered yesterday and
7 hours ago
Bihar Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar on Friday said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has time until March 30 to resign from the Legislative Council, in view of his election to the Rajya Sabha, The Hindu reported. Prem Kumar was referring to the 1950 Prohibition of Simultaneous Membership Rules that
7 hours ago
Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin walked away from a terrifying high-speed crash during second practice at Barber Motorsports Park. Charging down the front straight at around 165 mph, McLaughlin clipped the grass on entry to Turn 1. Then, in a chaotic turn of events, the rear snapped loose
7 hours ago
Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off their IPL 2026 campaign with a dominant six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Chasing 202, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal set a strong foundation, guiding RCB to the top of the points table with a swift chase. Earlier
7 hours ago
Union Home Minister Amit Shah campaigned in Guwahati with a roadshow. The Bharatiya Janata Party expelled nine leaders for six years for standing against official nominees. Six other workers were removed from primary membership for supporting rebels
7 hours ago
![Taipei [Taiwan], March 29 (ANI): Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of 19 sorties of Chinese military aircraft](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/taiwan-detects-19-chinese-sorties.webp?height=520)
Taipei [Taiwan], March 29 (ANI): Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of 19 sorties of Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels and two official ships operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Sunday.Of the 19
7 hours ago
Did you know that Akshaye Khanna, Sunjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal were hesitant to sign Dhurandhar? Ever since its first instalment, Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has dominated conversations. At the heart of its success are the film’s standout performances
7 hours ago
Software developer refuses call from IITian CEO who used AI to write email: ‘I definitely won’t have time'A UK-based software engineer publicly declined a meeting request from an IIT-educated founder, citing his AI-written email as the reason. Updated on: Mar 29
7 hours ago
Key takeaways:Heavy Rain Alerts: Orange alert for Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam on 27 March; scattered rainfall expected in northwest plains till 31 March due to active Western Disturbances.Thunderstorms & Gusty Winds: Forecast includes thunderstorm, lightning
7 hours ago
Dhurandhar has been getting attention since its release in December and now its second part is also receiving a lot of love from viewers. Along with the story and acting, many have been talking about the film’s shooting locations. Scenes from places like Bangkok
7 hours ago
On Friday, MCX gold April futures added 0.15 per cent while MCX silver May futures declined 0.09 per cent. Currently, gold futures stand at Rs 1,44,500, while silver futures at Rs 2,27,750 per kg. New Delhi: Gold prices gained 5.77 per cent during the week
7 hours ago
The government on Friday cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre, reducing it to Rs 3 per litre on petrol and Rs 0 on diesel. According to a government order dated Thursday, the excise duty on petrol has been reduced from Rs 13 per litre to Rs 3 per litre, a cut of Rs 10 per litre
7 hours ago
Filmmaker Vetrimaaran stirred conversation at the trailer launch of Neelira after speaking out against what he described as “hate propaganda" in cinema. His remarks quickly caught attention online, with several users speculating that he was referring to Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh’s
7 hours ago
Income Tax Rules 2026: From April 1, 2026, the credit cards of individuals will function as extensions of their tax identity under the new rules of the Income Tax framework. This is in line with the new rules and regulations that are being enforced in the country
7 hours ago
In today’s high-pressure world, anger often slips into daily life, whether through stress, frustration, or emotional overload. But what happens when these moments become routine? Experts warn that persistent anger isn’t just an emotional response; it’s a physiological trigger that can quietly
7 hours ago
Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Refining the compact flagship formula with meaningful upgradesCan the Samsung Galaxy S26 deliver a complete flagship experience in a compact form? Lets check out in this review. Published on: Mar 28, 2026 3:00 PM IST Share via Copy link You may be interested in Samsung
7 hours ago
