MLAs in Himachal Pradesh who defect to other parties will get no pension, according to a new bill passed by the Congress government in the hill state.

To this end, the Himachal Pradesh government in an unprecedented move passed a new bill in the assembly today to stop pension to defectors.

The bill seeking to stop pension for MLAs who defect was raised in the assembly yesterday. This is applicable for MLAs who have been disqualified under the anti-defection law.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced the bill, titled the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill 2024.

Uttar Pradesh has been recognized as a "Top Achiever" in the Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2022, a prestigious distinction announced by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

The state earned the 'Top Achiever' title in two business-centric and one citizen-centric area under BRAP 2022, underscoring its commitment to industrial growth and citizen welfare. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has made remarkable strides in reducing industrial bottlenecks, improving infrastructure, and creating a more business-friendly environment,” government spokesman Shishir Singh said.

Uttar Pradesh has been the top achiever in DPIIT's BRAP programme. Congratulations and thanks to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,✌️????????????✨????✊⚡????????@myogiadityanathpic.twitter.com/y2a5JsNrYz

Senior IAS officer Manish Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the new chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, an official notification said.

The Union Home Affairs Ministry on Thursday (September 5, 2024) issued a notification appointing Mr. Gupta, a 1991 batch IAS officer, as the new chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh with immediate effect, replacing incumbent chief secretary Dharmendra, who has been transferred to the national capital.

Mr. Gupta served as the principal secretary (Home) and as the additional chief secretary in the Delhi administration.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has extended his best wishes to outgoing Chief Secretary Dharmendra.

Maharashtra's cabinet on Thursday approved a semiconductor fabrication unit to be established jointly by the Adani Group and Israel-based Tower Semiconductor for an investment of about Rs 83,947 crore ($10 billion) in Panvel, Mumbai.

The unit, which has to get approval from the central government's India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), will be developed in two phases, said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on X (formerly Twitter). The first phase will see an investment of Rs 58,763 crore and produce 40,000 semiconductor wafers monthly. The second phase, with an investment of Rs 25,184 crore, will take the total wafer capacity of the plant to 80,000 per month.

The unit is expected to create more than 5,000 direct jobs, said Fadnavis. It is planned to be set up at the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Taloja Industrial Area, which already hosts a variety of industries and firms.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal in Portugal’s home Nations League game against Croatia on Thursday.

Ronaldo put his side 2-0 up at the Estadio da Luz in the 34th minute when he got on the end of a Nuno Mendes cross with a tap-in volley from close range, before falling to the ground looking emotional at reaching another milestone.

The 39-year-old has now netted 131 international goals, 450 for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus and 68 for his current club Al Nassr as well as five for his first club Sporting Lisbon.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, second in the all-time scorer’s list, has bagged 859 career goals.

Indian para-athlete Praveen Kumar revealed how he was resolutely focused on securing gold and was determined to avoid any regrets upon returning to India, after his historic gold medal win at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Praveen's coaches also shared an emotional moment.

Praveen Kumar clinched the gold medal in the men’s high jump T64 final on Friday at the Paris Paralympics, achieving a record-breaking jump of 2.08 meters. This impressive leap also set a new Asian record.

The para-athlete shared his emotions about the medal win and the honour of hearing the national anthem play on the podium. He further admitted that he did not foresee this outcome but was intent on delivering his personal best, reported the ANI.

Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha member Suresh Prabhu on Thursday nominated to the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Board.

In a communication, Rudy Rabbinge, Chairman of WAF Board, said that Prabhu's expertise would be invaluable to the discussions that shape the future of the agri sector.

"Given your role and respected position in the global food and agriculture arena, I believe you would be invaluable to the WAF Board. Your insights and experience could greatly contribute to the forum's objectives," he said.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals on Thursday said it has received approval from the US health regulator to market a generic drug used to treat infections caused by worms.

The company has received approval from the US Food & Drug Administration for its Abbreviated New Drug Application Albendazole Tablets USP (200 mg), the drug maker said in a statement.

The approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to Impax Laboratories, Inc.'s LAlbenza tablets, it added.

Albendazole tablets are indicated for the treatment of parenchymal neurocysticercosis due to active lesions caused by larval forms of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium.

Zero Hour would be introduced in the Himachal assembly after framing standard operating procedures (SOPs), Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said on Wednesday.

Only urgent issues of public interest which cannot be listed or are not listed under the rules can be raised during the Question Hour but the Speaker has the discretion to allow any issue and giving the reply immediately is also not binding, he added.

The Speaker's remarks came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan raised the issue immediately after the Question Hour.

In a major announcement, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that the Assam Cabinet has approved the implementation of 57 out of 67 recommendations from the Justice (retd) Biplab Sarma Commission on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

CM Himanta in a post on X, stated that this stands as one of the most significant efforts since Independence to protect the rights of the people of Assam.

Clause 6 of the Assam Accord states that the Assamese people's cultural, social, linguistic identity, and heritage should be protected, preserved, and promoted through appropriate constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards.