Landslide Near Vaishno Devi Shrine; Trump's 50 Per Cent Tariffs In Effect From Today; And More

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Heavy Rains Trigger Deadly Landslide Near Vaishno Devi Shrine

At least 30 people died after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra, prompting authorities to suspend the pilgrimage.

Relentless downpours caused widespread destruction across the union territory, with flash floods and landslides damaging infrastructure.

Traffic was suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar and Kishtwar-Doda national highways, while dozens of hill roads were blocked. Multiple train services to Jammu were cancelled.

The disaster follows August 14 flash floods in Kishtwar district's Chisoti that killed 65 people, mostly pilgrims heading to Machail Mata temple. Tuesday's rains claimed four more lives in Doda district—three drowned after falling into rivers, one died in a house collapse.

Major rivers including Taranah, Ujh, Tawi and Chenab overflowed danger marks, forcing evacuations from low-lying areas. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the situation "serious" and ordered emergency funds for restoration work.

The meteorological department predicted continued moderate to heavy rainfall with possible cloudbursts until August 27 for the Union Territory. All schools in Jammu division remain closed through Wednesday.

Trump's 50 Per Cent Tariffs on Indian Goods Effective Today

The United States implemented additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports starting August 27, bringing total duties to 50 per cent. The Trump Administration outlined these plans in a draft notice published Monday, signalling heightened levies as efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine stall.

From today, Indian goods entering the US will face the doubled tariff rate, covering a wide basket of products. The steep duties will particularly impact gems, textiles, leather and shrimp sectors, while pharmaceuticals and electronics remain exempt.

India now faces the highest tariff rate globally, being part of a small group of major economies without a trade deal.

The US is India's largest export market, accounting for nearly a fifth of outbound shipments. Indian products already in transit before 12:01 am EDT (09:30 am IST) on August 27 will be exempt from the new tariffs.

Meanwhile, on 25 August, Indian and American senior officials participated in the virtual 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue. The meeting focussed on evaluating existing partnerships and discussing avenues to expand collaboration in various fields.

Xi Jinping Likely To Welcome Modi And Putin Personally At SCO Summit Later This Week

President Xi Jinping will host over 20 world leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin from 31 August to 1 September. In the process, he is likely to personally welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi will visit China for the first time in more than seven years. The immediate context for this meet is the current White House administration singling out India for tariffs and blaming New Delhi for 'funding' Russia's war effort in Ukraine.

PM Modi, Xi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin last appeared together at the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan. Moscow recently expressed hope for trilateral talks with Beijing and New Delhi.

Other developments

Navy Commissions Two Advanced Stealth Frigates at Visakhapatnam

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned two Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Eastern Naval Command base in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday afternoon.

Singh called it a "historic moment" demonstrating the success of 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives. He said the ships, equipped with next-generation weapons and systems, will enhance the Navy's ability to safeguard national interests across maritime missions and reinforce India's role as first responder in the Indian Ocean Region.

"Self-reliance is no longer a mere slogan but becoming a ground reality," Singh stated, adding that India "does not believe in aggressive expansionism, but we will not bow before those who mean to harm us."

Built with 75 per cent indigenous components, the frigates are products of an industrial ecosystem spanning over 200 MSMEs.

This marks the first simultaneous commissioning of major surface combatants from two prestigious Indian shipyards. Both ships feature modern propulsion systems, integrated platform management, and advanced indigenous weapons and sensors.

CJI Questions Why Governors Can't Be Reviewed for Sitting on State Bills

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Tuesday questioned why courts cannot examine governors who delay state bills for years when they can review gubernatorial recommendations for President's rule.

Heading a Presidential Reference Bench, CJI Gavai asked the Centre and BJP-ruled states: "If the discretion exercised by a Governor under Article 356 can be judicially reviewed, why not the discretion under Article 200?"

The reference stems from an April Supreme Court judgment that set three-month deadlines for governors to decide on state bills, stating bills would be deemed approved if no action was taken within the timeframe. Tamil Nadu had petitioned against its governor for sitting on bills since 2020.

The Centre and states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh argued governors' discretion under Article 200 cannot be restricted by deadlines or judicial review.

"So if the Governor sits on Bills from 2020 to 2025, the court should sit powerless," the CJI responded to Maharashtra's counsel.

The bench is examining whether governors' bill-approval powers can face judicial scrutiny and time limitations.

Eighteen Retired Judges Criticise Amit Shah Over Salwa Judum Remark; 56 Retired Judges Counter

A group of 56 retired judges Tuesday countered a joint statement by 18 former judges who defended Opposition Vice-Presidential candidate B. Sudershan Reddy against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's criticism.

Shah had stated recently that Reddy's 'Salwa Judum verdict' "helped Naxalism spread" and claimed Left-wing extremism could have been eliminated from India before 2020 had the court not struck down the anti-Maoist militia movement.

The 56 judges, including five former Supreme Court justices and ex-Chief Justices Ranjan Gogoi and P. Sathasivam, accused their colleagues of "political partisanship under the language of judicial independence."

"It has become a predictable pattern, wherein every major political development is met with statements from the same quarters," they said, arguing this "projects judges as political actors" and erodes judicial dignity.

The judges stated that Reddy, having entered politics as an Opposition-backed candidate, "must defend his candidacy like any other contestant, in the realm of political debate."

They called upon fellow judges to "desist from lending their names to politically motivated statements."

Karnataka: Yaduveer Wadiyar Counters D.K. Shivakumar On Chamundeshwari Peetha

Mysuru MP and head of the royal family of Mysuru, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, came out strongly against Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's recent remarks about the Chamundeshwari temple.

"On the sacred day of Gowri Habba, DCM D.K. Shivakumar claimed that “Chamundi Betta and Chamundi Devaru are not Hindu property.” This remark is utterly condemnable. Chamundi Betta is a Shakti Peetha - sanctified by the Shastras and revered by crores of Hindus. The temple was, is, and will always remain Hindu property. The people of Karnataka respect every religion, but they will never tolerate the continuous assault on Hindu festivals, traditions, and temples.", Wadiyar posted on X, 26 August.

The context for both Shivakumar's and Wadiyar's remarks is Karnataka government's invitation to author-activist Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the annual Mysuru Dasara festival. Mushtaq has in the past made remarks which suggest that she does not hold faith in Devi Chamundeshwari. The BJP, including Wadiyar, has been objecting the invite to Mushtaq for this reason.

Uttar Pradesh to Become First State Guaranteeing Minimum Wages to All Youth: Yogi Adityanath

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Tuesday that the state will become India's first state to guarantee minimum wages to every working youth. He was speaking at the launch of a three-day "Rozgar Mahakumbh 2025" in Lucknow.

Adityanath assured companies must pay employees fairly while the state government will cover any additional burden, guaranteeing "dignified employment, job security, and complete protection of workers' rights."

You’re all caught up—until next time.