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<keyword id="19909031" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana" source="keywords">Telangana</keyword> <keyword id="19924917" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Minister" source="keywords">Chief Minister</keyword> A <keyword id="19931047" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Revanth-Reddy" source="keywords">Revanth Reddy</keyword> has assured leaders of the <keyword id="20208359" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sikh-community" source="keywords">Sikh community</keyword> that the state government will carefully consider banning the release of <keyword id="19941210" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kangana-Ranaut" source="keywords">Kangana Ranaut</keyword>'s upcoming film "<keyword id="19900245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Emergency" source="keywords">Emergency</keyword>." A PTI report says that this decision will be made after seeking legal advice, as stated by government adviser Mohammad Ali Shabbir. The assurance came after a delegation from the Telangana Sikh Society, led by former IPS officer Tejdeep Kaur Menon, met with Shabbir at the Secretariat in Hyderabad. The 18-member group expressed their deep concerns about the film, fearing that it portrays the Sikh community in a negative light. According to Shabbir, the delegation claimed that "Emergency" portrays Sikhs as terrorists and anti-nationals—a depiction they find offensive and damaging to the community’s image. They urged the state government to ban the film's screening in Telangana. Following the meeting, Shabbir relayed the group's concerns to Chief Minister Reddy, who promised that the government would make a decision on the matter after consulting with legal experts. Earlier this week, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had issued a legal notice to Ranaut and the film's producers, demanding the removal of the film's trailer, which had been released earlier this month. SGPC Secretary Partap Singh had voiced strong objections to the film, revealing that the committee had also sent letters to the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to request a ban on Emergency. Singh had also accused Ranaut of hurting Sikh sentiments, claiming that several "anti-Sikh scenes" had come to light since the trailer's release. The controversy gained further momentum last week when both the GDPC and the Akal Takht called for an immediate ban on the film. They alleged that Emergency attempts to "character assassinate" Sikhs by creating a negative narrative against them. SGPC Chief Harjinder Singh Dhami held a press conference, demanding that an FIR be filed against Ranaut and expressing his strong objections to the film. Dhami had said that this was not the first time Sikh sentiments have been hurt by misrepresentation in films. He also criticised the CBFC as being "biased" and urged for the inclusion of Sikh members on the censor board to ensure fair representation. Ranaut, who announced the film in 2021, had earlier clarified that although the film is a political drama, it is not a biopic of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Besides playing the lead role, Ranaut is also directing the film. The cast includes prominent actors like Anupam Kher, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry, and <keyword id="20045058" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shreyas-talpade" source="keywords">Shreyas Talpade</keyword>, with Talpade portraying Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Kher as Jayaprakash Narayan. The late Satish Kaushik will be seen as Jagjivan Ram, India's former Deputy Prime Minister.

Kangana Ranaut's Emergency might get banned in Telangana as Sikh community leaders raise concerns

<keyword id="19895037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru" source="keywords">Bengaluru</keyword>, Karnataka’s bustling capital, is currently witnessing a worrying surge in dengue fever cases, sending waves of concern across its populace. In just 20 days, the city has recorded an alarming 1,000 cases, highlighting a drastic surge compared to previous years. Alongside dengue, there has been a notable uptick in viral fever cases, further straining local healthcare resources. Experts point to the unusual weather conditions as a key culprit. The lack of rain and unexpected cold winds have created a breeding ground for mosquitoes, the carriers of dengue. Additionally, BBMP's increased vigilance with fever surveys has led to more detections, contributing to the higher case numbers. Chief Health Officer Dr. Syed Madani emphasised the proactive stance of the health department, noting a quadrupling in checks compared to previous years. In the first half of 2024 alone, Bengaluru has already reported nearly 5,000 dengue cases, significantly surpassing last year’s figures for the same period. Most of the surge came after May this year. The eastern and Mahadevpura zones of Bengaluru have been hit the hardest by dengue, with construction work creating stagnant water – a perfect haven for mosquitoes. The southern zone, meanwhile, is grappling with chikungunya, another mosquito-borne illness. The health department is pulling out all the stops to combat the outbreak. Fogging drives are underway to kill mosquito larvae, and public awareness campaigns are educating residents on preventing water stagnation around their homes. Continuous fever surveys are also being conducted to identify potential cases early on. The severity of the outbreak hit close to home when Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath tested positive for dengue. Despite the setback, Nath is expected to resume his duties shortly, underscoring the personal toll of the city's health crisis. In response to mounting cases, <keyword id="19909918" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chief-Minister-Siddaramaiah" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Chief Minister Siddaramaiah" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Chief Minister Siddaramaiah">Chief Minister Siddaramaiah</keyword> has convened high-level meetings with BBMP officials and health authorities to strategize further containment efforts. With June alone witnessing 1,036 reported cases, Bengaluru braces for potentially higher numbers during the monsoon season, traditionally conducive to mosquito proliferation. However, BBMP officials are confident that their preventative measures, including extensive surveillance, fever detection, and source reduction activities, will help control the situation.

Bengaluru on dengue alert: City reports over 1,000 cases in 20 days; BBPM Chief falls prey to disease

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump has tapped Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and Fox News host, to be secretary of defense.</li><li>BI reviewed Hegseth's past statements for clues on how he might lead the Defense Department.</li></ul>US President-elect <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-white-house-staff-cabinet-picks-list-2024-11">Donald Trump</a> has tapped Pete Hegseth, a Fox &amp; Friends host and US Army National Guard veteran, to be secretary of defense.Hegseth is a combat veteran and conservative commentator who gained clout during Trump's first term and successfully <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-listened-fox-host-pete-hegesth-over-his-secretary-defense-2019-11">pushed for</a> pardons and rank reinstatement in three war crimes cases over the objections of top military officials. He has been skeptical of the US's support for the NATO alliance and an embattled <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pentagon-pick-pete-hegseth-criticized-us-involvement-ukraine-aid-2024-11">Ukraine</a>, while advocating for full support for Israel.Trump announced Hegseth's nomination on Tuesday night, calling him a "warrior for the troops and country" and a "true believer in America First." His selection is a sign Trump is focused on purging the military's top ranks of purported "woke generals," along the lines of the external "warrior board" reviews first <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-draft-executive-order-would-create-board-to-purge-generals-7ebaa606?mod=national-security_news_article_pos3">reported</a> by The Wall Street Journal.Hegseth was considered for Veterans Affairs secretary during Trump's first term and faced pushback from veterans group leaders. This time is no different."Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political. Brace yourself, America," Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Independent Veterans of America, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/PaulRieckhoff/status/1856502867126857911">said</a>.<div type="image" title="Pete Hegseth" height="2555" width="3600" msid="115272720" hostid="261" sizebytes="482454"></div>Hegseth is a Fox News fixture known for his military service and weighing in on culture war controversies. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan but has less leadership, national security, and Department of Defense experience than Trump's former defense secretaries."I confess I didn't know who he was until 20 minutes ago," Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on House Armed Services, told reporters Tuesday night. Adam Kinzinger, a former lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard and a Republican who left Congress after clashing with Trump, said the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1856491538920157477">nomination</a> is "the most hilariously predictably stupid thing."Hegseth was among a group of US National Guard members who had their orders<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/JimLaPorta/status/1856492437402947704"> to secure then President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration</a> revoked after the January 6 insurrection. Hegseth said on "The Shawn Ryan Show" he was dismissed because he was "deemed an extremist" over his tattoo of a Jerusalem cross; he also has a tattoo of a Christian motto that dates to the Crusades and has been adopted by the alt-right.When asked for comment, the Trump transition team referred Business Insider to Trump's announcement. Hegseth didn't respond to BI's request for comment on Wednesday.If Hegseth is confirmed, he'll come to the Pentagon at a perilous time for a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conflicts-and-tensions-the-next-president-could-face-2024-9">US military stretched thin by conflicts and tensions across the world</a>. Here's where he stands on some key issues.<h2 id="e801149c-517d-4369-944b-247efc37a121">Hegseth has criticized women serving in combat roles and diversity in the military</h2><div type="image" title="U.S. Army Spc. Sammantha Ohm assigned to 5th Squadron, 1st Calvary Regiment, Delta Co, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division pulls security on the M2HB .50-caliber machine gun during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 24-02 exercise at Donnelly Training Area, Alaska, Feb. 17, 2024." height="4219" width="6329" msid="115272725" hostid="261" sizebytes="885108"></div>During a recent interview on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoN5ovwB8s4">"The Shawn Ryan Show" podcast</a>, he said women serving in combat roles hurt the military. "Everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated, and complication in combat, that means casualties are worse," Hegseth said, adding that minority and white men can perform similar tasks that women can't. By allowing women to serve, "we've changed the standards in putting them there, which means you've changed the capability of that unit." <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/women-in-us-military-history-2019-2">All US military combat roles opened to women in 2015</a>.Hegseth is highly critical of "woke" diversity and equity policies. "The dumbest phrase on planet Earth in the military is our diversity is our strength," he said on "The Shawn Ryan Show," adding, "Any general that was involved, any general, admiral, whatever, that was involved in any of the DEI/woke shit has got to go."He has called for shifting away from diversity and inclusivity in the US military, whose highest ranks remain overwhelmingly male and white. Branches of the military face issues fulfilling recruitment goals, specifically with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/14/armys-recruiting-problem-male.html#:~:text=Since%202013%2C%20male%20enlistments%20have,around%2010%2C000%20recruits%20each%20year">lower numbers of white male recruits in recent years</a>.<h2 id="0522ec27-5fc0-47a0-81ea-2e4fe1dd158a">Hegseth is critical of NATO and has flip-flopped on Ukraine</h2><div type="image" title="A tank sitting on a barren grassy field fires with a cloudy grey sky in the background." height="5504" width="8046" msid="115272714" hostid="261" sizebytes="1688200"></div>Hegseth has echoed a growing opinion among Republicans that questions <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pentagon-pick-pete-hegseth-criticized-us-involvement-ukraine-aid-2024-11">whether it's in the US's interest to support Ukraine's war of self-defense against Russia or the larger security of America's European allies</a>. He's also said Ukraine's war for its existence pales in comparison to the war on "woke" in America.In February 2022, Hegseth defended Trump's controversial comments describing Russian leader Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as "savvy" and "genius," suggesting Trump was just attempting to "troll" American media. Throughout the war, Hegseth has shifted stances, calling Putin a "war criminal" and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxDe0KtJJio">criticizing Biden for not getting Ukraine military aid quickly enough</a>. He told Fox News in March 2022, "What's at stake is repelling an authoritarian who basically is saying 'I want the Soviet Union back, I want Ukraine back, I want Kyiv back.'" He has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-nato-views-threaten-key-to-alliances-strength-article-5-2024-2">criticized the NATO alliance</a>, saying the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/these-nato-frontline-countries-are-readying-for-war-with-russia-2024-3">US's European allies need to lead efforts to defend their borders</a>. In his recent book, "War on Warriors," Hegseth called some NATO allies "outdated, outgunned, invaded, and impotent." He wrote,"Why should America, the European 'emergency contact number' for the past century, listen to self-righteous and impotent nations asking us to honor outdated and one-sided defense arrangements they no longer live up to?"<h2 id="71858f8f-1362-4561-81bc-a85b00383c38">He's a staunch supporter of Israel </h2><div type="image" title="Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020." height="1500" width="2250" msid="115272721" hostid="261" sizebytes="198048"></div>Hegseth has repeatedly advocated for Israel, including in his coverage of the war in Gaza. He has supported <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-burns-through-key-missiles-needed-for-china-fight-2024-10">Israel striking back against Iran and its proxies</a> and pushed against calls for a cease-fire.He interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year, asking about Trump's support for Israel during his first term. And in November 2023, he criticized pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrating in Washington. In a 2016 interview, he said Israel wasn't "a historical land that can be dismissed," emphasizing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-taps-fox-news-host-who-said-us-must-stand-by-strong-ally-israel-to-head-pentagon/">how important it is for the US to stand by Israel as its ally</a>. <h2 id="ccea315c-2018-4c38-94b7-711ee1d6d51a">Hegseth's stance on China is murky</h2>China could be a top priority for Hegseth if he's confirmed. The Pentagon has called China its "pacing challenge" and has raised alarms on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-china-missile-problem-getting-worse-2024-5">Beijing's meteoric military growth</a>. On "The Shawn Ryan Show," Hegseth said China was "building an army specifically dedicated to defeating" the US, pointing to how its <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-and-japan-teaming-up-to-defeat-hypersonic-missiles-2024-5">hypersonic missiles</a> could take US aircraft carriers out quickly in a conflict as a major concern. <div type="image" title="Chinese aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong in formation exercise in the South China Sea in late October 2024." height="2907" width="4948" msid="115272712" hostid="261" sizebytes="1330486"></div>His comments on China's economic influence echo Trump's talking points. "They want to corner the market completely on the technological future. We can't even drive our cars without the stuff we need out of China these days. So China has a full spectrum long-term view of not just regional but global domination and we have our heads up our asses," he said on the podcast. If confirmed, Hegseth would lead the Defense Department at a pivotal moment in the Asia-Pacific region. The US has assessed that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/red-flags-tell-us-when-chinas-ready-to-invade-taiwan-2024-4">China wants its military ready to seize Taiwan by 2027</a>, and that US military forces need to be ready for a potential conflict with China by then.

How Trump's Army veteran pick for Pentagon chief, Fox & Friends' Pete Hegseth, sees the world

New <keyword id="19900881" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi" source="keywords">Delhi</keyword>: Delhi Chief Minister <keyword id="19901384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="arvind-kejriwal" source="keywords">Arvind Kejriwal</keyword> was arrested by the <keyword id="19895344" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="enforcement-directorate" source="keywords">Enforcement Directorate</keyword> (ED) on Thursday night in an excise policy-linked money laundering case, officials said. The arrest, the first of a sitting chief minister, came hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant protection to the <keyword id="19914482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aap" source="keywords">AAP</keyword> national convenor from any coercive action by the agency. The 55-year-old leader's arrest, amid campaign for the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections, drew angry reactions from his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Soon after the high court order, an ED team reached his residence and carried out searches. Subsequently, he was arrested, officials said. Officials said the ED would produce the chief minister before a court here on Friday and seek his custody for interrogation. As the ED officials carried out their action inside, additional Delhi Police personnel and Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF teams were deployed around the chief minister's residence. The additional deployment was made as the ED sought extra security measures in anticipation of protests by AAP supporters, sources said. A large number of AAP workers and leaders gathered near the chief minister's residence and shouted slogans against the ED action. During the day, <keyword id="19895701" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kejriwal" source="keywords">Kejriwal</keyword> moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order denying him any relief in the matter. The ED's action is virtually a replay of what transpired during the arrest last week of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader <keyword id="19987244" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="k-kavitha" source="keywords">K Kavitha</keyword>, who is now in ED custody in the same case. The case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped. AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh are in judicial custody in the case. Kejriwal's name has been mentioned multiple times in the charge sheets filed by the ED. The agency has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal for formulating the excise policy that resulted in undue benefits to them in return for which they paid kickbacks to the AAP.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrested by ED

Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 19 (ANI): The <keyword id="6375844" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-micro" source="Orion">Ministry of Micro</keyword>, <keyword id="6375845" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small-and-medium-enterprises" source="Orion">Small and Medium Enterprises</keyword> launched a new initiative called the 'Yashaswini' initiative under the '<keyword id="22467687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Empower-Her-Udan" source="Orion">Empower Her Udan</keyword>' campaign on Thursday, July 18, to encourage and support women entrepreneurs across the country. Under this campaign, the first phase is set to start on Friday, July 19, in Jaipur. According to the Director of <keyword id="6358354" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MSME" source="Orion">MSME</keyword>, <keyword id="657556" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ankita-Pandey" source="Orion">Ankita Pandey</keyword>, around 600 women entrepreneurs in the state will be participating in the event, which will start at the <keyword id="14599491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajasthan-International-Centre" source="Orion">Rajasthan International Centre</keyword> today. Pandey said that the initiative is being introduced to provide a formal education for women operating commercial enterprises, along with creating awareness among them of all the <keyword id="7776964" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MSME-schemes" source="Orion">MSME schemes</keyword> they can utilise. "The initiative is to introduce formal education for the women who operate commercial enterprises, along with creating awareness among them to utilise all the MSME schemes,' she said. Pandey further mentioned that women can register at different stalls at the centre based on the skills they require to develop to run an enterprise, including training, capacity building, how to make full use of their capital, how to get market access, how to develop their product, and also how to do digital marketing. She also mentioned that this will not be a one-day event and that workshops will be organised at local MSMEs for further development. "This is not a one-day event; it will be a continuous process and training workshops will also be organised at local MSME organisations for further development in this matter," she said. <keyword id="22467688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Minister-for-MSME" source="Orion">Union Minister for MSME</keyword> Jitan Ram Manjhi, Union Minister of State for MSME Sobha Karandlaje, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhajan Lal Sharma and State Cabinet Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will be participating at the event today.

MSME launches Yashaswini Initiative to support women entrepreneurs; First phase to start on July 19 in Jaipur

New Delhi [India], July 23 (ANI): <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> is set to present the <keyword id="15626720" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024" source="Orion">Union Budget 2024</keyword> in Parliament today, marking her seventh consecutive budget and eclipsing the late Moraji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets, which is likely to focus on changes in the income tax structure and improving the ease of doing business in India. At 11 am today, the much-awaited full budget for 2024-25, the first under the Modi 3.0 government, will be presented on the floor of the Parliament. All eyes will be on the major announcements made by the finance minister and the government's forward-looking guidance about the overall economy. Sitharaman will lay on the table a statement (in English and Hindi) of the estimated receipts and expenditures of the government for the year 2024-25 in the Rajya Sabha. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111946291" title="Union Budget 2024-25: Focus on employment, skilling, MSME and middle class" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>She will table the budget one hour after the conclusion of the presentation of the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Minister also lay on the table, under subsection (1) of Section 3 of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003, a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers: medium-term fiscal policy strategy statement and macro-economic framework statement. The Finance Minister will further lay on the table statements (in English and Hindi) of the estimated receipts and expenditures (2024-25) of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with the legislature). The interim budget, tabled on February 1, took care of the financial needs of the intervening period until a government was formed after the Lok Sabha polls, after which a full budget was to be presented by the new government. With this upcoming budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will surpass the record set by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who presented five annual budgets and one interim budget between 1959 and 1964 as finance minister. The <keyword id="105431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-session" source="Orion">budget session</keyword> of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12. Before presenting the Budget, the finance minister will go to the North Block, where the Ministry of Finance is housed. She will meet the secretaries of her ministry, and later, along with them, she will reach the President's residence to get permission before presenting the Budget. About half an hour before the budget is presented, a Cabinet meeting headed by the prime minister is usually held, where ministers are briefed about the budget and Cabinet approval is taken. Putting aside the details of the upcoming budget, let us review the budget-making process and sequence of events typically followed. The Ministry of Finance typically issues circulars to all ministries, Union territories, States, and autonomous entities to send their demands and recommendations for the Union budget around September-October, with budgets typically tabled on February 1. Another key event before the budget presentation is the 'halwa ceremony'. A few days before the budget is presented, the government has a tradition of conducting a 'halwa ceremony', marking the start of budget document printing. The Halwa ceremony is significant as it also marks the beginning of a lockdown at the finance ministry, meaning no official is allowed to leave the ministry compound. Everyone on the budget team is allowed to leave only after the financial document is presented in Parliament. The printing of the Union Budget inside the basement located in the North Block has been a permanent feature since 1980. A day before the budget is scheduled to be tabled, the government typically releases its Economic Survey. This year, too, the same norms were followed. The Economic Survey serves as a crucial input for budget formulation. It is prepared by the Chief Economic Advisor and provides an overview of the country's economic performance, prospects, and policy recommendations, including future outlook. India is poised to remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2024-25, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said in a press conference after the tabling of the Economic Survey. The Economic Survey tabled projected India to grow at 6.5-7.0 percent in 2024-25. As per the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Indian economy is on a strong and stable footing, demonstrating resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. The first Economic Survey reportedly came into existence in 1950-51, when it used to be a part of the budget documents. In the 1960s, it was separated from the budget documents and presented a day before the Union Budget. The budget, once it is presented, is then subjected to detailed debate and discussion in both houses of Parliament, allowing members to scrutinise its provisions, raise concerns, and propose amendments. Following its presentation and approval by Parliament, the Union Budget sets in motion a series of post-budget activities aimed at implementing its provisions and achieving the outlined objectives. Like the previous few full Union budgets, the Budget 2024 will also be delivered in paperless form. An Interim Union Budget 2024 was presented on February 1, as the country was due for general elections later in the year. All the Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as the Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), and Finance Bill, as prescribed by the Constitution, will be available on the "Union Budget Mobile App" for hassle-free access to budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the public. The app is bilingual (English and Hindi) and available on both Android and iOS platforms. The app can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in). SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi arrives in Parliament ahead of Budget 2024 presentation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/why-did-the-latest-economic-survey-of-india-heavily-shun-the-western-ways-of-climate-action/articleshow/111947230.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Why did the latest Economic Survey of India heavily shun the ‘Western ways’ of climate action?</a>

Here's a quick overview of PM Modi 3.0 government's first budget, to be presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman today

<ul class="summary-list"><li>NATO chief Mark Rutte has a message for Donald Trump: Europe knows it must spend more on arms.</li><li>Rutte made a point of highlighting Poland's strong defense spending during a recent trip to Warsaw.</li></ul>NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has a "clear message" for the US: Europe knows it must spend more on defense.Rutte met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw earlier this week, taking the opportunity to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_230437.htm?selectedLocale=en">praise Poland's defense spending</a>.Poland is set to lead NATO in defense spending as a percentage of GDP for the second year in a row, with Warsaw investing more than 4% of its economic output on defense in 2024.Speaking in the capital on Wednesday, Rutte said: "This sends a clear message not only to our adversaries but also to the United States. That Europe understands it must do more to ensure our shared security. And that starts with spending more and also fielding more capabilities."It seems a timely reminder following Donald Trump's election win last week.During his first term in the White House, Trump <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/natosource/trump-confirms-he-threatened-to-withdraw-from-nato/">threatened to withdraw from NATO</a> if allies did not start spending more on defense.Rutte's appointment as head of NATO earlier this year has offered some hope of appeasing Trump's apparent skepticism of the alliance — Rutte has garnered a reputation as a "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-next-chief-donald-trump-whisperer-vladimir-putin-critic-2024-6">Trump whisperer</a>," and analysts say he understands the need for European allies to increase their share of the defense burden.Rutte said last week that Europe would have to spend more than the 2% of GDP target.In a visit to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron this week, the Secretary General also touched on the topic of Ukraine, stressing that the war also posed a threat to the US."Russia, working together with North Korea, Iran and China is not only threatening Europe, it threatens peace and security, yes, here in Europe, but also in the Indo Pacific and in North America," Rutte said."So, we must stand together – Europe, North America and our global partners - to keep our people safe and prosperous," he added.<h2 id="c4d5b324-6bb6-4ece-8ecf-bc230176f44b">Poland and NATO</h2>Poland's surge in defense spending has come in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which it launched in February 2022.Some in Poland are now hopeful that Trump will appreciate the country's efforts as he returns to office, seeing it as "a leading example of what a NATO member state should look like," Aaron Korewa, the director of the Atlantic Council's Warsaw Office, has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/what-the-world-thinks-of-trumps-return-to-the-us-presidency/">said</a>."However, that won't amount to much if Ukraine is overrun by Russia and if the United States, either frustrated over lack of progress with countries such as Germany or due to rising 'Asia first' voices in the incoming administration, decides to turn away from Europe," he added.

NATO's 'Trump whisperer' chief has a clear message for the president-elect: Europe knows it must spend more on arms

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Donald Trump won the presidential election Wednesday, clearing the way for his return to the White House.</li><li>His past rhetoric has raised concerns over the future of US security assistance to Ukraine and support for NATO.</li></ul>Former president Donald Trump's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-results-trump-harris-presidential-election-2024-11">victory</a> in the US presidential election on Wednesday has amplified long-standing concerns about the future of American support for Ukraine as the grinding war against Russia continues.Against this backdrop, the head of NATO is warning that the military alliance can't afford to stop providing Kyiv with the security assistance it needs to fight the Russians. The Ukrainian defenders are facing a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-facing-powerful-russian-offensive-in-east-grim-outlook-2024-11">precarious moment in the war</a> as Moscow's troops gain momentum in the east and the arrival of North Korean troops signals, as NATO leadership said, that "darker" times may lie ahead."Since the start of Russia's full-fledged invasion, NATO allies have provided more than 99 percent of all military support to Ukraine," Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister who became NATO's secretary general in October, wrote in an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/north-korea-troops-europe-turning-point-mark-rutte/">op-ed</a> published by POLITICO on Wednesday."And we're on track to deliver on the financial pledge of 40 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year," Rutte said, adding that "what we need now is the political commitment to stay the course for the long haul."<div type="image" title="Former President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony with then-Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in July 2019 in Washington." height="2923" width="4384" msid="115029427" hostid="261" sizebytes="625262"></div>"So far, our support has kept Ukraine in the fight. But we need to do much more in order to shift the conflict's trajectory. We need to raise the cost for Putin and his enabling authoritarian friends," he said, referring to the leaders of China, Iran, and North Korea, which have been accused of supporting and fueling Moscow's war efforts.Rutte's op-ed focused on the recent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-soldiers-attacked-under-fire-russia-kursk-ukraine-official-2024-11">deployment of North Korean soldiers</a> to Russia to fight against Ukraine. It did not mention Trump, nor did it single out the US over its military support.But the article comes at an influential moment. Trump has long been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-trump-nato-summit-world-leaders-debate-2024-7">critical of NATO</a> and some member states over their defense spending. He has also repeatedly expressed concerns about the large amount of security assistance the US has sent to Ukraine.The Biden administration has given Ukraine over $60 billion in military aid since Russia launched its full-scale war in February 2022. NATO countries have also provided Kyiv with tens of billions of dollars in security assistance during this time.<div type="image" title="A Ukrainian serviceman aims a D-30 artillery cannon at Russian positions in the Donetsk region in September." height="5258" width="7887" msid="115029428" hostid="261" sizebytes="3899018"></div>NATO countries have sent Ukraine fighter jets, drones, tanks, armored vehicles, missiles, rockets, artillery shells, bombs, guns, bullets, and more lethal aid in what leaders have described as an investment to defend European security."Backing Ukraine costs a fraction of our annual military budgets," Rutte said. "That's a small price to pay for peace. The question is, can we afford not to?"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Trump in September, was among the first world leaders to send a congratulatory note on Trump's election win."Ukraine, as one of Europe's strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the Transatlantic community with the support of our allies," he wrote on social media, saying he hoped to work with Trump to strengthen bilateral ties with the US.<div type="image" title="Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York in September." height="1978" width="2960" msid="115029429" hostid="261" sizebytes="333736"></div>In Ukraine and in countries across Europe, there has been concern throughout the election season that a Trump win could threaten support for Ukraine, especially after an earlier Republican logjam in Congress in which Trump was involved hindered Ukrainian defensive operations for months.At a consequential NATO summit in Washington over the summer, NATO unveiled plans to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-fueling-ukraine-fight-concerns-about-us-politics-2024-7">assume more control</a> over Western efforts to arm and train Ukraine's military. The move was seen as an effort to protect long-term support for the country from political uncertainty in the US, Kyiv's biggest provider of weapons.Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Lithuania's defense minister, said at the time that there is no "safe and secure" Europe without US support, adding that NATO "should be prepared to work" with whoever wins the White House.Months later, as news broke on Wednesday of Trump's victory, NATO allies seemed to adhere to this approach, with several leaders <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/AlarKaris/status/1854078986407584180">offering congratulatory messages</a> and expressing their desires to continue close defense cooperation with the US.In a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/SecGenNATO/status/1854073276688904323">social media post</a> earlier in the day, Rutte said he congratulated Trump on winning the election. "His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength" through NATO, he wrote.

NATO chief warns that the alliance can't afford to not back Ukraine as Trump snatches a White House win

<ul class="summary-list"><li>New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited the UK on Thursday.</li><li>Rutte met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.</li></ul>Mark Rutte addressed the prospect of a second Trump presidency during his first official visit to London as NATO Secretary General on Thursday.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-next-chief-donald-trump-whisperer-vladimir-putin-critic-2024-6">Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister</a>, was in the capital to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-approves-historic-tax-hike-to-help-cover-defense-spending-2024-10">Ukrainian</a> President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Speaking to reporters outside 10 Downing Street, Rutte said: "I know that he (Trump) understands completely, and agrees with me that this fight in Ukraine is not only about Ukraine, it's also about the safety and the future security of the United States. He knows this.""So, really, stop worrying about a Trump presidency. We do not know who will win. I will work with Kamala Harris if she is chosen, I will work with Donald Trump if he is chosen," he added.Pressed by a reporter on whether he's worried about the US potentially withdrawing support for Ukraine, Rutte said: "I am not worried about that because I am absolutely convinced that the US is in this because they understand it is not only for Ukraine but also for them, and that from Washington to San Francisco, the whole of the US will be less secure if Putin would be successful in Ukraine."Before taking the helm at NATO, Rutte was the prime minister of the Netherlands for 14 years, during which time he developed a reputation as a "Trump whisperer."He earned the nickname after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-next-chief-donald-trump-whisperer-vladimir-putin-critic-2024-6">successfully placating Trump during</a> a 2018 meeting in which the former president warned that the US would go its "own way" if other countries did not start spending more on their militaries, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/mark-rutte-nato-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/">Politico</a>.Rachel Rizzo, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center, previously said that Rutte could help "Trump-proof" NATO."He's seen as cool, calm, and collected. He knows how to handle big egos, he's worked with Trump before (even praising him at times), and he understands the need for European allies to increase their share of the burden of European security," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react-dutch-prime-minister-mark-rutte-will-be-natos-next-secretary-general-how-will-he-lead-the-alliance/">Rizzo said</a>.Rutte also answered questions about the potential use of Western-donated weapons to carry out long strikes on Russia — something Zelenskyy has long requested."That is up to the allies," Rutte said.In a post on X following their meeting in London, Zelenskyy said the trio had discussed "Euro-Atlantic integration and the military reinforcement of Ukraine."

'Stop worrying about a Trump presidency,' NATO's new chief says during UK visit

In a major setback to Delhi's <keyword id="19935664" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aam-Aadmi-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aam Aadmi Party" meta.hostid="345" meta.entityid="Aam Aadmi Party">Aam Aadmi Party</keyword> government, the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Supreme Court" meta.hostid="345" meta.entityid="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</keyword> on Monday ruled that the law "expressly enables" the lieutenant governor to nominate <keyword id="22669982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aldermen" source="keywords">aldermen</keyword> to the <keyword id="19900879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mcd" source="keywords">MCD</keyword> and he is not bound by the advice of the council of ministers in the matter. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala rejected the <keyword id="19925995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-government" source="keywords">Delhi government</keyword>'s plea challenging the LG's power to nominate 10 aldermen in the <keyword id="19907640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Municipal-Corporation-of-Delhi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Municipal Corporation of Delhi" meta.hostid="345" meta.entityid="Municipal Corporation of Delhi">Municipal Corporation of Delhi</keyword> without the aid and advice of the council of ministers. The apex court pronounced its verdict on the Delhi government's plea after reserving it for nearly 15 months. In its ruling impacting the fraught relationship between the LG's office and the AAP-led Delhi government, the bench said the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act as amended in 1993 "expressly enables the LG to nominate persons having special knowledge to the corporation". It said the power expressed by the statute in the name of the LG, also seen in the context of other provisions, demonstrates the statutory scheme in which the powers and duties are distributed among authorities under the Act. "The context in which the power is located confirms that the LG is intended to act as per the mandate of the statute and not guided by the aid and advice of the council of ministers. The power to be exercised is the statutory duty of the LG and not the executive power of the state. This is how we analysed the constitutional provisions," Justice Narasimha said while pronouncing the verdict on behalf of the bench. The bench said the statutory power under provision 3(3)(b)(1) which deals with nomination of persons having special knowledge was vested with the LG for the first time by the 1993 amendment of the DMC Act of 1957. The bench said the DMC Act as amended in 1993 recognises five authorities exercising the state's power and duties under the Act -- these are the Central government, the government of NCT, administrator, corporation and the commissioner. It said the amendment Act of 1993 carries out several amendments to the original DMC Act of 1957 by which the power, duties were allocated to the authorities depending on the function they perform under the law. The bench said by way of the amendment the power of nomination of aldermen was given to LG under the provision just like the power of nomination of MLAs was given to the speaker of the House. On May 17 last year, the top court had said that giving the LG the power to nominate aldermen to the MCD will mean he can destabilise an elected civic body. The MCD has 250 elected and 10 nominated members. In December 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party defeated the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="345" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> in the civic elections, winning 134 wards and ending the saffron party's 15-year run at the helm of the MCD. The BJP won 104 seats and the Congress finished a distant third with nine. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, had contended during the hearing that no separate powers have been accorded to the state government to nominate people to the MCD. For the past 30 years, the practice of the LG nominating aldermen on the aid and advice of the city government has been followed, he said. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the LG's office, submitted that just because a practice has been followed for 30 years does not mean it is correct. The top court had observed that giving the LG the power to nominate aldermen will effectively mean that he can destabilise a democratically elected MCD because these aldermen get appointed to the standing committees and have voting power. Earlier, the top court had questioned the "source of power" of the LG under the Constitution and the law to nominate aldermen to the MCD without the aid and advice of the elected government. On May 12 last year, the top court observed that LG has to act on the "aid and advice" of the council of ministers of the Delhi government in nominating 10 aldermen to the MCD.

SC backs LG's right to nominate aldermen to MCD, setback for AAP govt

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Mark Rutte became NATO's new secretary-general on October 1, replacing Jens Stoltenberg.</li><li>He faces a war in Ukraine, escalations in the Middle East, and the US presidential elections.</li></ul>NATO has a new leader at its helm.Mark Rutte, the Netherlands' longest-serving prime minister, replaced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-chief-alliance-generational-transformation-military-power-has-limits-stoltenberg-2024-9">Jens Stoltenberg</a> as NATO's new secretary-general on October 1, at what is seen as a crucial and turbulent time for the alliance, with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and the US election in November.He is entering his term "with threats and challenges everywhere," Abishur Prakash, the founder of The Geopolitical Business, Inc., a strategy advisory firm in Toronto, told BI.Rutte will not only have to decide the next phase of NATO's involvement in the Ukraine war, but will also have to navigate whether NATO chooses to come to Israel's aid and how to deal with the possibility of reduced US commitment to the alliance, Prakash added."Stoltenberg left big shoes to fill," said John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies."Rutte will need to take the baton in terms of pushing alliance members to fulfill their defense spending commitments and continue providing aid to Ukraine," he said.And then, with the US presidential elections now less than five weeks away, there is the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency.Rutte has experience working with Trump: He earned the nickname the "Trump whisperer" for his ability to appease the former president when he threatened to go his "own way" during a NATO meeting in 2018, per <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/mark-rutte-nato-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/">Politico</a>.Even so, a Trump victory in November would "present a challenge for Rutte in terms of managing that relationship and maintaining alliance unity," Hardie said.<h2 id="d98bcc95-e3dc-4d35-8577-3d14b72b7e18">Russia-Ukraine war</h2>Rutte's most pressing NATO challenge stepping into his new role is figuring out the alliance's stance on letting Ukraine use Western long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia, Prakash said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy views permission to use Western weapons to strike Russia as a key part of the "victory plan" he presented to US officials last week.<div type="image" title="Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (C) walked with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. (L) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., (R) at the Capitol in Washington, On September 26, 2024." height="3368" width="5052" msid="113849910" hostid="261" sizebytes="859396"></div>However, the alliance has shown differences of opinion on the matter, with countries like <a target="_blank" href="https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-can-use-f-16s-to-strike-russian-territory-danish-foreign-minister-says/">Denmark</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hallandsposten.se/asikter/ledare/landgrans-ska-inte-skydda-rysk-angripare.09212cc1-6c94-4389-8b1a-2956a1aa9f9e">Sweden,</a> the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.euronews.com/2024/09/15/nato-chair-backs-ukraines-use-of-long-range-weapons-to-strike-inside-russia">Czech Republic,</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://yle.fi/a/74-20076971">Finland</a> publicly saying that Ukraine can use their weapons but others showing more reluctance.The Pentagon justified the US decision not to allow such strikes last month, <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3896569/deputy-pentagon-press-secretary-sabrina-singh-holds-a-press-briefing/">saying</a> that 90% of Russian aircraft launching glide bombs are out of range of Ukraine's ATACMS, and also cited the potential for an <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3896569/">escalation in the conflict</a>.Pressure, however, is building. In late August, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-eu-weapons-restrictions-05bb594069ae7f9afdec8910ae65f467">said</a> EU countries should lift restrictions on the use of weaponry against Russian military targets "in accordance with international law."Several top House Republicans also signed a <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ATACMS-letter-FINAL.pdf">letter</a> on September 9 urging President Joe Biden to lift the remaining restrictions on US-provided long-range systems, including the ATACMS, against "legitimate" military targets deeper inside Russia.And in a <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240913IPR23906/meps-ukraine-must-be-able-to-strike-legitimate-military-targets-in-russia">resolution</a> adopted on September 19, the European Parliament called on EU countries to lift restrictions preventing Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against "legitimate" military targets inside Russia.<h2 id="05677739-e626-4ee3-afe1-6f7b6f7e11c0">Escalating tensions in the Middle East</h2>Prakash said NATO would also have to decide whether to get involved in the Middle East.Since Hamas' October 7 terror attacks on Israel and Israel's subsequent invasion of Gaza, tensions have ramped up between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.<div type="image" title="Smoke rises after Israeli army strikes in town of Lebanon on September 25, 2024," height="4000" width="6000" msid="113849924" hostid="261" sizebytes="871398"></div>Violence between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-pushed-hezbollah-corner-may-trigger-an-all-out-war-2024-9">intensified</a> last month, and Lebanon recorded its <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-strikes-lebanon-hezbollah-posts-warns-civilians-move-away-2024-9">deadliest day</a> for decades after Israel ramped up strikes on the country.This followed the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-devices-explode-in-lebanon-after-deadly-hezbollah-pager-blasts-2024-9">deadly pager and walkie-talkie explosions</a> that hit Hezbollah members in Lebanon.Hezbollah has blamed Israel for those attacks, but it has not yet claimed responsibility.The US has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-hezbollah-us-sending-troops-middle-east-help-us-citizens-2024-9">stepped up</a> diplomatic and military efforts in the region to try to bring about a cease-fire — but NATO has so far not gotten involved.Benjamin Friedman, policy director at the Defense Priorities think tank, said the alliance will likely not play any role as it has enough on its hands with Ukraine."They have enough to do in Europe, and I think NATO should focus on Europe," he told BI.<h2 id="76766d05-e1ce-4020-9a4b-1a87024f57de">US elections</h2>However, the US presidential election could be a decisive factor in NATO's trajectory in the coming years.Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Programme, said that "it's not going to get easier" if Trump is elected in November.During his time in office, the former president <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-threatens-to-pull-out-of-nato/">publicly</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4745235/president-confirms-threatened-withdraw-nato-funding-levels">threatened</a> to leave NATO if other members failed to meet their commitments to spend 2% of their GDP on defense.Congress passed a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/sjres37/BILLS-118sjres37is.pdf">bill</a> in 2023 to prevent a president from suspending, terminating, denouncing, or withdrawing the US from NATO, except via an Act of Congress or the approval of two-thirds of senators in attendance.But if elected, Trump could still heavily influence NATO, including by reducing the US military presence in Ukraine, withholding support for NATO's Article 5 mutual defense pact, or limiting America's involvement in the alliance.In a rally <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-touts-russia-army-history-justify-deal-putin-over-ukraine-2024-9">speech</a> last month, he again argued for ending US involvement in the war in Ukraine.<div type="image" title="Former US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia, on September 24, 2024." height="1333" width="2000" msid="113849921" hostid="261" sizebytes="81086"></div>Even if Trump loses, he could still exert "baleful" influence on US politics and get in the way of policy initiatives through his network of supporters, Giles said, pointing to Republicans blocking aid to Ukraine earlier this year.Friedman of Defense Priorities struck a more positive tone, saying he doesn't believe Trump is "seriously" considering withdrawing US commitment to the alliance.The "big question," Friedman says, is whether Trump, if elected, would behave like he did during his first term, which he said was "more bark than bite."Meanwhile, Prakash said that ongoing geopolitical flashpoints and tensions around the world could actually result in Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris being markedly similar US presidents on the world stage.Prakash cited the ongoing territorial disputes in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-taking-over-south-sea-us-not-stopping-experts-philippines-2024-9">South China Sea</a> between the Philippines, a US ally, and China as likely the "single greatest" flash point facing the US right now.If Harris "feels that NATO doesn't connect with that in its current form, then she may also raise objections to NATO," he said. "So, it is not just Trump."<h2 id="005db675-3121-42fd-88f4-5f9564598e52">Looking beyond Europe</h2>NATO appears to be considering the possibility of a reduced US commitment to the alliance.In April, Stoltenberg, the outgoing secretary-general, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-plan-trump-proof-future-ukraine-aid-us-leadership-worries-2024-4">proposed</a> shifting control of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which organizes the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, from the US to the alliance.NATO also established the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-fueling-ukraine-fight-concerns-about-us-politics-2024-7">NSATU</a>, in July, to coordinate the future supply of military aid and training for Kyiv, amid growing concern about a potential change in US leadership.However, Rutte's past statements and familiarity with Trump suggest he would try to keep the US in the fold.<div type="image" title="Donald Trump (R) and former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (L) posed for photographs in the Oval Office at the White House on July 18, 2019." height="3550" width="5325" msid="113849925" hostid="261" sizebytes="813472"></div>And in an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/02/20/met-steun-aan-oekraine-verdedigen-we-onze-manier-van-leven-a4157623">op-ed</a> for Dutch newspaper NRC in 2023, a year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Rutte stressed how different the first year of the war would have been without the "colossal" deployment of US material and resources.According to Prakash, Rutte is "coming into the role from a certain outlook, and that outlook is essentially saying: 'We need to stand with America.'"Beyond the most immediate threat of Russia in Europe, NATO may also want to tackle the China threat, he said.NATO's deputy secretary-general, Mircea Geoană, told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.euronews.com/2024/07/12/china-is-a-threat-to-our-security-nato-deputy-chief-tells-euronews">Euronews</a> in July that China, as a direct enabler of Russia's war in Ukraine, threatened the alliance's security.Shifting NATO away from Russia and toward other threats is going to be "perhaps the greatest challenge facing Mark Rutte," Prakash said.All in all, it's likely to be a bumpy ride for NATO's new chief.

NATO's new chief is inheriting messy wars and a possible second Trump presidency. It's not going to be easy, security analysts say.

Union Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Saturday morning chaired a <keyword id="20255269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pre-budget-meeting" source="keywords">pre-budget meeting</keyword> with Finance Ministers of all States and Union Territories. The Pre-Budget Meeting is organised by the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs with Finance Ministers of all the States and Union Territories (with Legislature) to take suggestions for the upcoming <keyword id="20387181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024-25" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024-25</keyword>. Ministers of State along with other stakeholders are participating in the meeting and visuals showed Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, and finance minister of Rajasthan Diya Kumari at the Bharat Mandapam venue before the meeting commenced this morning. The Union Finance Ministry had begun consultations on the budget a few days ago with different stakeholders of economy. Sitharaman has met economists, finance and capital market experts and industry bodies. Sitharaman chaired the first pre-budget consultations with leading economists on June 19. The meeting was attended by Union minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, the finance secretary, secretaries of the departments of economic affairs, revenue, financial services and corporate affairs and the chief economic adviser. Meanwhile, Sitharaman will also chair the 53rd <keyword id="19922145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Goods-and-Services-Tax" source="keywords">Goods and Services Tax</keyword> (GST) Council Meeting scheduled in the second half of the day. This is the first meeting of the <keyword id="19994390" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="GST-Council" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="GST Council" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="GST Council">GST council</keyword> after the formation of the new government. State finance ministers will also be present at the 53rd meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council. As is the norm, the GST Council gets together to discuss issues pertaining to the GST regime, such as tax rates, modifications to policies, and administrative challenges. The Council is a key player in shaping India's indirect tax system, making sure that it facilitates company and citizen tax relief while also being in line with the country's economic objectives. The information on the agenda of Council meeting is not yet in public domain. However, the decisions and recommendations arising from the 53rd GST Council meeting will be closely watched by various stakeholders, including businesses, policymakers, and the general public, as they have the potential to influence taxation, trade, and overall dynamics. Goods and Services Tax was introduced in the country with effect from July 1, 2017, and states were assured compensation for loss of any revenue arising on account of the implementation of GST as per the provisions of the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 for five years. Meanwhile, preparation has commenced for the Union budget 2024-25, the first for the third term of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led <keyword id="22141478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Democratic-Alliance-government" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Democratic Alliance government" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Democratic Alliance government">National Democratic Alliance government</keyword>.

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